but the fact is this is not the audition. it's already part of the rehearsal, 1st day of the rehearsal to be specific, then the role Kim was offered to her. the description of this vi is kinda misleading.
This was an audition, another video on RU-vid mislabeled this as the first day of rehearsal. First day of rehearsal was in London at the theater. This was when they were still searching for cast members and they had been traveling around the world searching for "Kim" when they finally landed in the Philippines and then this moment happened. I remember watching the original documentary during the time that Miss Saigon was created and this was the moment she was discovered.
@@julieannlabador2100 I am a GenXer and I remember this audition. Actually, many foreigners were not aware then and even now that many Filipinos can speak English with native-like fluency like Lea Salonga so she floored them with her diction and singing prowess at such a young age. Cameron even went to Vietnam but couldn't find a good singer without the Vietnamese accent. In another video, Cameron said he was astounded by the Filipino theater artists that he recommended Western theater people to cast Filipino singers in musicals needing an Asian character.
Yes She said in a interview that even as a kid She never felt so scared performing at the young age in front of the crowd How unbelievably amazing and gifted
I read in one article that during the rehearsal, Lea is in diffrent key only to find out that she's the only one in the right key, everybody including the orchestra are all in the wrong key... Really musically gifted...everyone who works with her says that she never ever fail to hit a single note... So perferct hindi nagkakamali when it comes to singing...
@@yoronjo Initially I had the same question, only to find out that it is said, they changed the key of all the musical pieces of the orchestra but they forgot to change the piece given to Lea. So, she was singing the original notes, from the piece given to her which was different from all others in the orchestra. It shows she can sing the notes exactly from the piece, independent of the instruments on her background.
I originally saw this audition many years ago, and it still gives me goose bumps. At age seventeen, Lea was already so extraordinarily gifted and poised, it's almost otherworldly. The giddy look on the faces of the composers, producers, etc. says it all.
Nancy Smith me too. I've watched this video a million times but still it gives me volts of goose bumps! Until now.. even she's quite old.. ( not totally old, I mean she already had a children) her voice is still the same. Very powerful and angelic.
My impression is the sense of destiny or inevitability surrounding Lea and the reactions of the crew to her audition. Its as if they realise they are watching history / destiny unfold with a truly great talent and just want to spectate and take in the moment - because as much as they are selecting her, she has in fact chosen them.
I agree!!! The video is amazing: We are able to watch the artistic magic of two extraordinary talents - legendary composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and the angelic Lea Salonga - quickly and almost effortlessly read each other's artistic genius and produce phenomenal beauty right before our eyes. I love this!
It was kind of evidenced by the fact that her audition song was On My Own from Les Mis a show by the same composers. Your right on there, she literally chose them since she sang their song.
It was like a “eureka” for the team after her first try. You can see their smiles of excitement as if wanting to listen more of her runs...and the rest is history, indeed. She’s just shown them a glimpse of what she is and could become-a package known. Her enunciation is one that makes her distinct, captures audience, and makes us all believe in all her portrayals. What a talent. I could watch videos of her here in YT again and again, still in awe. And again in 2019. Haha. Thank for uploading.
I agree with you completely. Her unsurpassed advantage over other singers is her impeccable enunciation, in addition to her keen interpretation of the emotions/feelings that go with the message of the song/s she's singing. I also notice that her face doesn't contort even when she's reaching high notes.
Miss Lea Salonga raised the Philippine Flag in Broadway, made every Filipino proud and graced the world with her beautiful and magical voice. She is and will always be a precious princess. A musical legend.
I'm 15 year old girl, but I'm absolutely in love with Lea Salonga. I feel that not much younger generations today appreciate old classical musicals or releases. I've been idolizing her since I was little, there's something in her magical voice that always gives me the chills and makes me extremely emotional. I remember, young little me would always search her performances on the internet and I would watch it all day, I basically binge-watched anything Lea related haha. She's like my comfort. It's been years and I still listen to her, and my only wish is to hear her sing live; that'd truly be a dream come true. Thank you Ms. Lea for inspiring people ❤️
Love this! And I agree with you. 17-yr old Lea still gives me goosebumps even now that I'm 34. If I could make a suggestion, listen to Laufey. She's bringing classical jazz a modern twist and she's starting to gain traction. Although it's not similar to this, but she has that theatrical, dreamy feel to her. I hope you enjoy her music!
These auditions for Ms Sagon Saigon were held more than 30 years ago. They were really searching for their Miss Saigon ( Kim). They searched in UK, US and finally the Philippines. I noticed that during Lea Salonga's audition, the other key persons were really watching Lea so intently, it is only after that they SMILE and BREATHE a SIGH of RELIEF. After searching for so long and from so far .. They FINALLY FOUND THEIR MISS SAIGON.... NOT ONLY ONE BUT TWO( 2) young girls Lea Salonga and Monique Wilson ý( childhood friends) from the Philippines who could perform the very much coveted role alternately. .. when shows starts running. It still really amazes watching the videos of this audition after 30 years .. The music and her voice is so BEAUTIFUL AND TIMELESS!!!
Imagine their feeling of finally finding their Kim. Flash forward, Lea has grown into an elegant, beautiful woman. Lea will always be Cameron's wild card. When Frances refused the 10th anniversary, Lea was there to save it. After critics, audiences practically ran Daphney out as Fantine, Lea was the replacement. Thus boosting ticket sales. Same as Miss Saigon when she reprise her role. 25th Les Mis gave the anniversary west end/broadway royal status with her in it. Amazing to see her blossom.
She can read keys.. the composer, director and producer were so impressed. Monique Wilson was also an understudy Kim. Wilson then played Kim in London when Lea conquered US.
I love how innocent she looked in the audition. Leah was actually a professional singer already singing as a child for many years in the Philippines. When they were doing auditions in San Francisco & looking for Asians who could sing and speak good English, I introduced them to the Philippines for musical talent :-).
1:30 The ethereal quality of her voice at 17 is just mind-blowing and jealousy-inducing. Seriously no wonder why she's in such high demand: it only got better.
0:52 Sun and Moon 3:18 The Movie in My Mind 5:28 I'd Give My Life For You 6:16 Too Much For One Heart 6:42 The Fall of Saigon 7:49 This Money's Yours 8:43 This is the Hour
to be honest, as a filipino myself, she definitely looks mixed. I don't even pass for filipino but I know she doesn't look like the majority, or like people who get more than 80% on a dna test for being austronesian.
I think she dressed the part. When she auditioned (with On My Own) she was dressed in a more sophisticated way. Here you see she’s wearing a plain blouse, hair in a simple pony. Lea is very professional
@@nenabunena My family has seen Lea Salonga in person and she doesn't look like the native Filipina but neither does she look mestiza. She really is very pretty in person compared to her pictures which made her face look flat sometimes.
@Viper 47 She is neither a native-looking Filipina nor white. Neither is she a mestiza but she has a very unique look in person and very pretty compared to her pictures that made her face look flat at times. Yes, my family has seen her in person.
What I really like about Lea is that she's not overdoing it. She sings every note effortlessly yet perfectly. It just sounds naturally! Plus she has that natural beauty and innocent-look, like a main character in a good movie. She's a total package! Ps. First time I had these many likes. Thanks!
Wow! Just wow! Too bad (or perhaps good) that Lea didn’t live in an era when everything is posted on social media. She would have gone viral! Such talent and elegance is very rare nowadays.
Chloe Ann Panapan To be honest I'm glad she's not born in this generation when everything is just an instant. She pave her way through hard work and extraordinary voice.
It's better that she lived that era.. She've gone viral even without social media.. If there is, she might be labeled as a traffic star, and will receive praises as well as bashings from bashers who know nothing but to troll..
Song Titles: - Sun and Moon - The Movie in my Mind - I'd give my life for you - Too much for one heart - Kim's Nightmare - Overture - This money's yours - This is the hour Hope it's all right:)
I always get chills watching Lea sing Gigi's part in The Movie in My Mind during the callback audition. Amazing how she was able to quickly and confidently learn to sing musical pieces she only encountered for the first time that day
Eva Noblezada is now Lea's heir to the role of Kim for the 2014 release. Glad to know Rachel Ann Go nabbed the role of Gigi. Finally, Jonjon Briones as the Engineer. 3 Filipinos, wow!
Jen Cafranca She has to Forge her own path. She doesn't need to measure up to her. Eva IMHO just needs to find where to place here talent so she can shine brighter.
I think I've already heard Lea's audition a thousand times yet it still gives me the chills. Imagine it's the very first time she sang Sun and Moon and I think it's her best performance of it because there's something raw and innocent in the way she sang it at this moment :)
When the camera zoomed out during he first song and we see everyone there for the first time it was then I realized that they were up close and enthralled, rather than sitting at a table in the audience as we usually see them do hehe.
miss lea salonga tony award winner for best actress in 1991 for portraying kim the led character in the hit musical miss saigon, and is the first filipina to won numerous international awards for the same role, taking home the olivier, drama desk, outer critics, and the theater world awards
She's only 17 here? Her audition looks 80's ish. She looks like such a cutie too. Not a stitch of makeup and brows untouched. It looks like she grooms her brows now days but still looks good.
Here are some remarks from the people behind Miss Saigon after Lea auditioned and got the part of Kim. “We all welled up with emotion because we knew, for the first time in a long audition process, that Miss Saigon could be done. She unlocked the door to the show.” - Vincent Liff, one of the show’s casting directors “Until we went to Manila and heard Lea sing our songs, we never thought that we would find Kim. She is the most amazing and intuitive professional of her age that I have ever met.” - Alain Boublil To familiarize Lea with a song(just not sure which particular song), Schönberg played it 3 times. There were alterations in each version. Lea: “Which version do you want me to sing?” Mackintosh: “She remembered all 3 versions! That’s uncanny! I’ve never come across it in a performer before. It’s a gift!”
I'm surprised that up to now, our local showbiz does not make a film about the life of Lea Salonga. Even a documentary. She is a source of inspiration especially for Filipinas. Intelligent and self-confident. And most of all a very talented singer which almost all Filipinos can relate to. It's our natural gift as a people.
The Miss Saigon team hit it when they reached Manila, Philippines. They found many artists for the completion of the characters including the lead role Kim for Lea Salonga and alternate Kim for Monique Wilson. 🏆🤩
So magical, the audition is the best, even better than its recording. I hope there would be a whole recording with this kind of arrangement. Goosebumps!
I’ve watched this so many times wishing that I’ll get to hear her live one day and that day is finally coming. I still can’t believe I’ll finally get to watch her live performing as Mrs Lovett this Friday 😭
The only singer I heard with the clearest pronunciation of words everytime she sings, she also hits every low and high notes as well consistently in her songs
You just know a winning theater voice like Patti Lu Pone. There is a presence. Something just makes someone an "it" that stands out. You almost are assured they are headed for stardom. The range and strength in her voice, incredible!
At the time she sung "movie in my mind" she had that emotion already even its only audition...that's why she's is the chosen one because all of the song she sing she always put that emotion... and she is beautiful as the way she is... she has no make up..
This brings back so many memories! I was in high school when she was in Miss Saigon, I’m 2 years younger than her, and she was already popular here in the early 1990’s since we have a huge Filipino community here in Hawai’i. I got to watch her sing live in the mid-2000s and she sounds so much better in a concert hall! 😍❤️😍❤️
