Different forms of art intertwine on the nine-piece band’s most ambitious concert so far
Aptly titled Kuwaderno: A
Ben&Ben Online Concert, the Filipino nine-piece collective are
pushing the boundaries of music shows in the new normal setting by integrating
creative disciplines such as drama, dance, orchestra, and technology with a
live performance. Their highly anticipated major concert will be staged at the
SMART Araneta Coliseum, and will be streamed live on December 5, 2021, from 8pm
to 11pm via digital streaming platform, KTX.ph.
“We can’t deny the fact that it’s the
biggest project we’ve undertaken so far, and I think you just somehow know that
it’s a leap of faith when the streams of guidance and providence lead you to
the right people who believe in the same vision you have: To bring the music
and the messages they carry to life,” the award-winning group said. “This
spirit of collaboration was one of the defining themes of our album ‘Pebble
House Volume One: Kuwaderno’ and it was only by natural desire that we
brought the same spirit and attitude when we began working on the concert. As
for the play between grand and intimate, we really wanted our listeners to
relish in the grandiosity of what their support means to us. Doing a concert on
this scale and bringing them closer into that bigger picture is our way of
expressing immense gratitude to them as well.”
The audio-visual spectacle promises to
bring the immense joy of experiencing live music and give an impression of
conceptual grandness that are at par with the most memorable concerts in recent
history. From mounting multiple-stage setups to performing in one of the
biggest live music venues in the country, Kuwaderno aims to open new
possibilities despite the limitations of the platform, and intimately build a
connection with the audience all over the world.
The awe-inspiring creativity and
ambition that Kuwaderno dares to achieve, wouldn’t be possible without
the collaborators that painstakingly put their heart and soul into the project.
Concert director Paolo Valenciano, along with co-director Maribel Legarda,
Philippine Theater Association (PETA), and veteran light designer Shakira
Villa-Symes—to name a few, understood Ben&Ben’s unique vision and
translated them so clearly to create a cohesive piece of work. Ben&Ben
attest to how significant their contributions are, not only in turning the
concert into a reality, but in making sure that they are able to nurture a
creative environment that promotes healthy exchange of ideas. “Working closely
with them on this concert only made it clearer to us why they are the biggest
names in the industry. The flow of ideas and creative energies really went on
naturally because of their openness, and their generosity to share with us
their thoughts, but what makes them more admirable is their skill to work
within the limitations that we have and to adapt when faced with challenges. We
definitely learned a lot from their work ethic.”
Believing in the magic that happens when
different forms of art intertwine, the prolific folk-pop asserts that some
feelings are best conveyed not just by the music elements alone. This prompted
Ben&Ben and their team to include actors and dancers as part of the visual
narrative to give the audience a semblance of being physically present with
them throughout the concert journey. “Movement and dance and the entire visual
narrative of it all woven into our music brought our songs to life,” the band
said in a statement. “The talented dancers we’ve worked with, headed by choreographer
Gio Gahol, are from different dance groups as well. It is amazing to see how
they seem to get along and dance so passionately with each other easily.”
In terms of production design, the team
stepped up their game in being more in line with the times, and pushing the
envelope in terms of how the music can be represented visually. According to
the nine-piece ensemble, each stage has its own purpose, its own symbolisms and
visual elements. Even the lighting has its own poignant significance. “We want
our listeners to know that each piece of the puzzle was thoughtfully included,
and we’re excited to see them piece everything together when they watch the
full show.”
The band is confident that Kuwaderno:
A Ben&Ben Online Concert will not only deliver unparalleled innovation
to local concert productions, but also bring light to a lot of people suffering
in silence during the most challenging of times. “Having the opportunity to do
so during the pandemic, we also felt such a huge responsibility to be able to inspire
more people with stories of humanity and hope. We’ve received a lot of messages
from Liwanag (the fan club) telling us how the band has helped them get
through the tough times. Hopefully through this concert, we’ll be able to use our
platform in making them feel that they’re not alone in this fight.”
Ms. Val Guico, the General Manager of
Ben&Ben Music Productions, is also equally grateful to the people involved
in the production for making strides in pulling off an envelope-pushing event.
According to her, one of the main goals of mounting Kuwaderno is to
extend help to the production team whose livelihood and work have been greatly
affected by the pandemic. “Bulk of the concert earnings will be shared to
everyone behind the scenes,” the concert producer reveals. “They are the unsung
heroes of the show. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to bring Ben&Ben’s
vision to life.”
Tickets to Kuwaderno: A
Ben&Ben Online Concert can be purchased via the KTX website. The TINATANGI package
(priced at PHP 8,000), which gives you access to the online concert, plus an
Exclusive 1 on 1 Harana Session with the band on Zoom and a raffle entry
to the Exclusive Ben&Ben House Tour, is already SOLD OUT. Other
ticket tiers that are still available include KAIBIGAN (priced at PHP 1,000),
MAGKA-IBIGAN (priced at PHP 3,500), and MAHIWAGA (priced at PHP 5,500)—all
containing different packages and inclusions.
Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert is brought to you by
Ben&Ben Music Productions and SMART Telecommunications Inc., and is
co-presented by Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Sony Music
Philippines, Big Bulb, Chapters, Robinson’s Mall, KTX.ph, Elesi, Cream Silk,
Primo, Phirst Park Homes, Novotel, JB Music,
Urban Smiles, Summit, Philippine Red Cross, Sennheiser,
Verona Audio Design, and Jilla Sara. Special
thanks to the media partners: MYX, 96.3 Easy Rock, and Wish
107.5.
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