FYI, Lea Salonga WON THE TONY AWARD FOR MISS SAIGON. Lea is actually a child prodigy..While singing, acting and dancing on stage, TV and movies, she still got the top honor in high school as a valedictorian.
FACTS ABOUT OUR QUEEN LEA SALONGA!!! 👑💛 ✅ Lea sang for 5 Philippine Presidents, 3 American Presidents, former American President's first lady, Hillary Clinton, AND the royalties of United Kingdom; Princess Diana of Kensington palace, and YOUR MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH II of many other commonwealth realms. ✅ Lea received a "Presidential medal award of Merit" from President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines back in 1990. Same as "Hidilyn Diaz" being a Presidential awardee also this 2021. The highest award a president/ government of the Philippines can give. ✅ Lea received a "Komandante" for the "Orden ni Lakandula" from the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines also. The second highest honors given by the government. ✅ Lea received the "Congressional Medal of Achievement" from the House of Representatives of the Philippines. ✅ Lea being a valedictorian in elementary, Salutatorian in highschool and Suma-Cumlaude in college.. eventhough she was already starting to practice in theatre then. ✅ Lea being the Philippines "Best child performer" for 3 years straight. ✅ Lea being the first Filipino to sign an international record label. ✅ Lea being called a "Disney Legend" with her handprints displayed in the museum by Walt Disney inc. company. ✅ Lea being a Goodwill FAO Ambassador of the United Nations with Celine Dion and two others from foreign countries. ✅ Lea being a Grammy nominee. ✅ Lea being a Hollywood actress. ✅ Lea collected a GOLD RECORD for her FIRST ALBUM, "Small voice" at the age of ten. ✅ Lea played the title role of “Cinderella” for the 30-week Asian tour. ✅ Lea being one of the best actresses in FAMAS awards. ✅ Lea having a "Golden Artist Award" at the FAMAS for her international achievements. ✅ Lea has been able to perform at the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. ✅ Lea closed the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar by performing “Triumph of the One,” with 50,000 people in the crowd. ✅ Lea being look up to by such singers nationally and internationally: Angun, Idina Menzel, Anne Hathaway, Brad Kane, Taylor Swift, Shay Mitchell, Tiffany Young, Rachelle Ann Go, Catriona Gray, Regine Velasquez, Morissette Amon, Sharon Cuneta, Sarah Geronimo, Charice Pempengco, Julie Anne San Jose, Aicelle Santos, Martin Nieverra, Gary Valenciano, Moira Dela Torre, Darren Espanto, and Toni Gonzaga. ✅ Lea being look up to by most actors and actresses in GMA and ABS-CBN television stations in the Philippines, especially Vice Ganda (ABS-CBN) and Carmina Villaroel (GMA). ✅ Lea being the FIRST ASIAN to sold more than 3 million copies of her self-entitled international debut album WORLDWIDE (sold first in the USA then went platinum in the Philippines, then soon sold globally). ✅ Lea has been one of the judges in the "60th MISS UNIVERSE" Beauty Pageant in Sao Paolo, Brazil. ✅ Lea has been able to play "Grace Farrell" in the HOLLYWOOD Bowl production of "Annie." ✅ Lea having a continues award of "BEST CONCERT OF THE YEAR" nationally and mostly internationally since then and early this 2020. ✅ Lea being in every book of our school subjects (A.P., E.S.P., MAPEH and FILIPINO) together with Manny Pacquiao and Charice Pempengco. ✅ Lea being the only Filipina in rank 10 as one of the most beautiful girl in the world rating, along with other 99 different races back then. ✅ Lea being the highest streamed artist in Spotify in the Philippines until 2021. ✅ Lea being the FIRST FILIPINA to perform in Sydney opera. ✅ Lea being the ONLY FILIPINA who proves the world that Asians are talented or the ONLY ASIAN who broke racial barriers as foreign countries aren't accepting any audition from an Asian person back then UNTIL Lea Salonga showed her talent. ✅ Lea remains humble inspite of lots of award she got til' then and now. ✅ Lea being a lovely Queen to her husband and child. ✅ Lea having a precious and crystal clear voice! Period. 😉 ✅ LEA BEING SIMPLY THE BEST. #LeaSalonga 👑 #Respect 💛
The production team went to several world capital cities and finally landed in Manila, Philippines and ended up hauling away more than half the cast all from Manila alone! Testament to the talent pool in Manila alone .
They were in despair and for some reason ended up in Manila. Surprise! They wanted to take the whole Philippines with them. The whole documentary is worth watching.
She is a living legend! Laurence Olivier and Tony award winner (for her role in Miss Saigon) and bona fide Disney legend having voiced 2 Disney princesses.
Lea Salonga was 17 yrs old during the Miss Saigon auditions. And she is 52 y/o now. Her voice is just as beautiful. And her singing is always perfection.
Lea was THE first Miss Saigon. Macintosh's team held auditions in different countries but couldn't find the right one to play the lead role, til they came to Manila and found not just Lea but Monique Wilson too as the understudy, and a whole bunch of other stage talents, all products of Repertory Philippines stage company.
@@rm06dakind4 ok but your first comment states that she was only 18 when she auditioned. So I invalidated it because as far as I remember she was younger than 18 during that time.
Many consider Lea's performance of "On My Own" with the London Symphony on the 10yr. anniversary of "Les Miz" to be the best ever done. It is a masterclass in vocals. Well worth anyone's time.
Plus, Lea's rendition of 'A Fall of Rain' (also from her role as Eponine in Les Miz), Eponine's dying scene with Marius (Michael Ball) will bring you to tears. It is lesser known but so poignant of a scene. Link: ua-cam.com/video/IyPy2Iqq-NM/v-deo.html
They went around the world to search for that one voice they are looking for. And when they heard her voice. They all packed up and went home because they finally found the treasure ❤😊 The voice the will be loved by all generations 😊
🗡️🚿Would have never expected to see an RV on Lea Salonga yet but I’m glad you checked this out. She had already been in theatre since she was 5, I think. She played Annie in the theatre. I think she was 17 or 18 years old in this video. She is known to have a photographic memory and perfect pitch.
Ms. Lea is talented singer can read the notes. That is the advantages of her way back the audition. The Philippine pride. The Legend. Thank you guys for this reaction. God Bless. Watching from Riyadh. ❤❤❤
They've gone around LA, NY, SF, Hawaii, Vietnam, Thailand , round asia in search of KIM, .. No luck, but they were so surprised to find the wealth of talents who auditioned in the Philippines including Lea and Monique.... pls search for that "Making of Miss Saigon" film which i saw during that time....
This is an excerpt from the documentary film called The Heat is On: The Making of Miss Saigon which came out around 1989/1990. Lea Salonga was 17 in 1988 when she auditioned for the lead role. In the movie Boublil and Schönberg went to several major cities looking for Kim (aka Miss Saigon) and though they found many talented young women, they still haven’t found THE ONE. They noticed though that many of the “almost Kims” were of Filipino heritage so they decided to come to Manila even if it wasn’t on the list of audition venues. Not only did they find their Kim in Lea Salonga, they also found her alternate in Monique Wilson as well as 20+ other actors to join the original West End cast. This clip is the call back for Lea to test how she would sound singing songs from the musical. For her original audition she sang On My Own (also by Boublil and Schönberg) and was asked to sing another song. Though she had not prepared a second song she sang The Greatest Love of All, for which Schönberg supposedly asked her to “not sing it like her” meaning Whitney Houston. Obviously Lea did an excellent job because she eventually was casted as Kim (for which she won the Laurence Olivier and Tony as well as others like Theater World, Drama Desk, etc). She also became a Disney Princess twice (!!!) by being the singing voice of Princess Jasmine and Mulan.
🔪🚿 I was amused at Lucas' reaction right after Lea began singing the first line. She was around 17 in this video and had already started in pre-med when she auditioned for Miss Saigon. But before that, she was a child prodigy who started in musical theater and later branched out to pop singing, acting and commercial modeling. She is known to have a perfect pitch on top of her already prodigious vocal chops. Today she would be around 51 or 52, and widely recognized in the Philippines and throughout the world as an icon in musical theater. It's amazing to look back at this and realize that being cast as the female lead in Miss Saigon was both a life-changing and career-defining event for her. Enjoyed the banter in this reaction again!
@@aasoriano8467 It was Regine who said so in an interview some years ago. She said that between the two of them, Lea has perfect pitch, whereas she (Regine) has relative pitch.
Just because someone said so and so doesn't make it true, for you or anyone to echo and post, almost reporting that it is TRUE. Even if it came from Regine or any famous celebrity. It is an obvious misguided claim because several people (I think including you) don't know what Perfect Pitch means. Lea has denied it. Research that for yourself. Also, if Lea had in fact perfect pitch, it would surely be a known thing and made trivial esp in Ph tv, given its uniqueness and entertainment value.
She have a professional singing through out her life. She was since 7 years old in one of prestigious music conservatory in the Philippines so she is in almost into perfection. She is a legend and so sad that kind of talent first recognized outside of her country😢. She is very good but almost underrated in her own country.
Ms. Lea Salonga is the GOAT and the iconic singing voice behind the Disney princesses Jasmin, with the song "A whole new world" and the singing voice of MULAN with the song "Reflection"
Her version of A whole new world with il divo pls, the one they filmed in Japan pls. She recently surprises a bride on her wedding and sang A whole new world and Reflections. It's here on youtube. Also sang for the state dinner in the White house just a few hours ago.
Those 3 “guys” watching Lea were Nicholas Hytner (director), Cameron McKintosh (producer) and Alain Boublil (lyricist of Miss Saigon and Les Miserables). Of course, the pianist was Claude-Michel Schonberg, music composer of Miss Saigon and Les Miserables.
She’s the reason why I started singing, as a Filipina kid in America not knowing English, listening to her and practicing her songs helped me find my voice randomly when I couldn’t adapt fast enough here
Lea Salonga was only 17 years old when she auditioned for the role of Kim in the musical production of Miss Saigon. That was year 1988. She's 52 years old now. She's a living legend in the Philippines entertainment industry. Her voice has such crystal-clear musicality when she sings, which many have so admired. "The first Filipino to win the prestigious Lawrence Olivier Award, the Tony Award, The Dramatic Desk Award and The Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a musical as she played the original role of Kim in Miss Saigon."
I believe she was 17 in this video because she turned 18 after the premiere of Miss Saigon. I think this audition was for Miss Saigon not Aladdin. Love you guys. God bless!
Because she is one of the few artists in the Philippines who can really read musical notes and knows how the melody goes based on the arrangements. Such a genius lady
Ms. Lea is the GOAT. She has been known to be super strict in her regimen to care for her voice, she still trains and is very disciplined. She does not neglect it so that is why she still maintains that distinct bird-like quality of her voice
Oh, nice! You've finally done Lea. ❤ She originated the role of Kim in Ms. Saigon. Her family were originally skeptical if the production was legit but she went to London for the West End run at 18 years old, did it in Broadway next, even took part in the Manila prod of the show and finally ended her run as Kim at age 30. Her most well loved songs aside from the Disney ones were what she affectionately calls the "dead girl songs", Kim dies in Ms. Saigon and Eponine and Fantine died in Le Miserables, hence the name. My personal favorites: 1. Her performance in closing ceremonies of the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar (in 2008, I don't remember the year exactly). But it was awesome...her voice was flawless and the stage, OMG!!! 2. Her duet with Rachel Ann Go of I Know Him So Well, and 3. Her duet with Josh Groban singing the Prayer. It's Lea like I've never heard her before (and well, she's in her 50s now and I've been listening to her since the 90s) 😊 Oh yeah, #LoveLea.
Story time no one asked for: I'm a 42 year old singer who used to do musical theater from age 13 to 18. Lea Salonga TO THIS DAY has the most pristine, perfect, emotion evoking voice of all time. Every single time I hear her, especially looking back on this audition, I cry in a pile of goosebumps. My first audition ever was for The Wiz. I had no experience whatsoever other than belting out Miss Saigon songs in my room besides my regular Whitney and Mariah jams. In secret. My middle school friends and I all were die hard Depeche Mode and Morrissey fans. I didn't want to be made fun of for singing show tunes in my room. Anyway, my Mom's best friend begged me to audition for The Wiz, which he found in the newspaper, and bribed me with 20 bucks to just go audition. I had no fucking clue what I was doing. This audition was held in this huge warehouse where everyone was wearing jazz shoes and very professional. I rolled up in all black with my Converse high tops and hair that was giving 90's Cranberries. I was given a cassette to borrow that had an instrumental version of "I'd Give My Life For You" so I gave the assistant the tape and went off. I could feel the vibrations of my voice echoing throughout the warehouse and when I was done, everyone stood up and people were crying. I was blown away. I got a "call back" for thr role of Dorothy and was thinking there's no way I would go from belting in my bedroom to carrying a whole entire musical on my own with ZERO experience. I ended up getting that very role and it was hell on earth learning a million lines, acting, following choreography, and learning so many songs. My director used to scream at me until I cried. Longer story longer, I sold out every show and got standing ovations during the last note I held out in the finale song. I was in the newspaper, people knew who I was in my city, and I got asked to sing for the mayor and sang the National Anthem at a few sporting things. 13 and 14 were some crazy years for me and nothing will ever compare to the feeling of a standing ovation. Every single person deserves one at least once in their life. End of story. Thank you for reading if you did! 💕
You have a great writing style! I enjoyed the quick read. Sorry to hear about the director screaming at you, particularly given your age at the time! Awful!
Getting screamed at seems to be part of the job. Do note that by this time lea was already a pro in the musical scene as she startes really young and yeah with those strict and screamung director. I think she starred in a local production of annie when she was just 9 yrs old.
We have a joke here in Ph that her voice is clearer than our future. She is one of the most crystal clear voices in the world. Moreover, she is also pitch perfect.
She was in a Repertoire , Philippines that’s was her voice is really amazing and the clarity of her diction and voice is good . I’m proud of her and a very disciplinarian person ❤️
Oh yes! Her first professional job was in the musical THE KING AND I at age 7. Lea's first album was released at age 10 and I think she also made her first movie at age 10. Lea hosted a musical variety show with her brother when she was 12-14. Lea opened for Menudo (a huge boy band from Latin America in the 80s that became huge internationally - Ricky Martin was part of the band at one time) and Stevie Wonder. Lea had worked a lot before MISS SAIGON came along.
Leah was only 17 during this Ms Saigon audition. And when she was casted as Kim one of their problems was the kissing scene bec of her age, so they got proper approval from her parents. She turned 18 during the run of Ms Saigon. Leah is now 52years old. She really is one of those singers whose voice barely changed throughout the years and she is one of our rare international artists that had formal trainings in music during her early years.
I recall her talking about this audition in other interviews. She did say that they were given some pieces for them to review/prepare ahead for the audition (in addition to their own chosen pieces to perform)
I believe, Lea actually auditioned with "The Greatest Love of All" so this is the second day meet with the producers in which they are honing on her for the main role.
Can we just spend some moments in awe of the fact that she sang with and was recognized and picked by Claude-Michel Schonberg himself? (For those who don't know, he was one of the people who came up with the idea to make a musical version of Les Miz and composed the score for it.) Legend.
She’s been my number one idol since I started singing. Which was really early in my childhood coz of all the karaoke in the Philippines hahaha! Love her so much
She was probably 17 years old when she auditioned for Miss Saigon. She’s 52 now and will soon appear in Here Lies Love on Broadway with an all-Filipino cast.
Super excited that Lea will be part of the Broadway show HERE LIES LOVE (she is also one of the producers), but she will only be in the show for 5 weeks and she won't be in the show for the first few weeks of the show. (I believe she goes in right before the show opens). Still, I'm excited because it means Lea will promotion for that new musical. ALSO - There was a tribute concert to the late Stephen Sondheim in London that will now have a 16-week limited engagement: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS. Bernadette Peters was in the concert and this will be her West End debut. And Lea will be part of the limited engagement - her first time in a West End show in almost 30 years! I can't wait for Lea be doing promotion for this show (it begins in September) and to see clips of Lea singing Sondheim!!!
This audition video was in 1989 at the rehearsal hall, precisely an underground studio at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Philippines. I kinda grew up dancing for Ballet Philippines hours and hours of rehearsals for many years.
*Lea Salonga is an absolute global icon! From Princess Jasmine to Fa Mulan, Fantine to Eponine, she has brought so many iconic women characters to life. A true **#Legend*
Whenever I listen to Lea’s songs, especially these classics, I always end up with a huge smile on my face and my eyes would get teary. Her voice is so beautiful
Lea has been in the Musical Theatre in the Philippines since she was a kid so she knows music and notes very well. Same with her brother which is more on playing musical instruments.
Ms Lea Salonga has high praises for SB19 and to it's other member Stell This Manila audition was in the 90s. The voice of Mulan and Jasmine. The innocence of the voice. Watch this as a kid and still in awe.
Lea Salonga won awards and international recognition so early in her life. I’ve often wondered how or who her influences were in going the path she has chosen-very selective projects, which always turned out excellent; keeping the Philippines as her base; and managing to have a normal family life. She seems to have it all plus an exceptional talent & professionalism that has only improved thru the years.
🗡🚿 Thank you. Yes Lea's voice hasn't changed at all. She still sounds like when she originally sang her songs. Kindly include Lea Salonga and Brad Kane "A Whole new World" Good Morning America. Try checking out her "Don't Cry for me Argentina", On My Own" and my fave of couse "Reflection". Thank you.
Thank you so much for this,I requested this a long time for you to react, She's an amazing artist , She's the original Ms Saigon, Thanks and God bless.
The audition for ms saigon was in 1987 when she was 17yrs old… while aladin was in 1991…Lea was in her 50s now….Cameron Mcintosh who signed was the producer of Ms Saigon…the auditon team came to Manila after doing from other parts of the world realizing that they found the Kim in the Philippines
She won many international awards including Tony awards. She is the original artist in Disney’s Mulan “Reflection” and Disney’s Jasmine “A whole New World”. She started in Miss Saigon broadway in age of 18 and sang for decades in London in New York’s broadway shows as lead cast in Miss Saigon and Eponin in Les Miserables.
I remembered the first song i heard from lea salonga is "we could be in love" her duet with brad kane too, then i know she's filipines, (i thought she's american) i love her voice since i was in high school till now.
Pls try to check her colab singing with regine Velasquez it's amazing it's a digital duet during pandemic where they sang it seperately live online she also did a Xmas colab with pentatonix
🔪🚿 Lea Salonga is one of the greatest Filipino artists. She brought so much pride to the Philippines and helped open doors for Filipino artists to be recognized worldwide.
Miss Saigon is set in Vietnam, yet not a single Vietnamese actor is in the cast--all the lead roles are filled by Filipinos. This speaks volumes about the sheer abundance of world-class talent in the Philippines. Our performers don’t just meet international standards--they redefine them. The fact that a global production like Miss Saigon turns to the Philippines for its top talent is a testament to the excellence, versatility, and artistry of Filipino performers.
she was very active in musical theater at a very young age. she provided the singing voices of two official disney princesses - jasmin and mulan. 🤗💕🎶🎵🎤🎧🎉👏
Lea salonga has the most beautiful voice i have heard. Watched her on some of her theater performances and even if she screams, your ears will still love it! ❤
Dude is musos who went to special music schools had to do choir regardless if you were a singer or not - it was for a reason to help with sight reading and pitch to make us more rounded with our instruments. This those of stuff we would have to do every choir practice with new pieces 😂 Memories But her voice is so pure
She’s the first Asian to win Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards for her performance in Miss Saigon
yan na naman tayo😅 😅 mga pinoy talaga
@@89altheathe guy didn't even mention Filipino in his/her comment. What are you yapping about?
@@89althea true the fire hahaha.
@@neth3712 utot mo
Yeah because demographics changed so what. Why is it important to categorise everyone - guessing you're American?
FYI, Lea Salonga WON THE TONY AWARD FOR MISS SAIGON. Lea is actually a child prodigy..While singing, acting and dancing on stage, TV and movies, she still got the top honor in high school as a valedictorian.
She's a LEGEND.. well known internationally.. Filipinos are so proud of her.
Thank you so much for watching!
Not all Pinoy actually!
Because not all have the access through the internet.
And not all love theater and have a chance to see them.
Get it?
@@evildisaster8149 reading comprehension, dude...
@@evildisaster8149not everything you see in the internet goes global.
The same way that not all global icons are known first in the internet.
stop it
FACTS ABOUT OUR QUEEN LEA SALONGA!!! 👑💛
✅ Lea sang for 5 Philippine Presidents, 3 American Presidents, former American President's first lady, Hillary Clinton, AND the royalties of United Kingdom; Princess Diana of Kensington palace, and YOUR MAJESTY, QUEEN ELIZABETH II of many other commonwealth realms.
✅ Lea received a "Presidential medal award of Merit" from President Corazon Aquino of the Philippines back in 1990.
Same as "Hidilyn Diaz" being a Presidential awardee also this 2021.
The highest award a president/ government of the Philippines can give.
✅ Lea received a "Komandante" for the "Orden ni Lakandula" from the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines also.
The second highest honors given by the government.
✅ Lea received the "Congressional Medal of Achievement" from the House of Representatives of the Philippines.
✅ Lea being a valedictorian in elementary, Salutatorian in highschool and Suma-Cumlaude in college.. eventhough she was already starting to practice in theatre then.
✅ Lea being the Philippines "Best child performer" for 3 years straight.
✅ Lea being the first Filipino to sign an international record label.
✅ Lea being called a "Disney Legend" with her handprints displayed in the museum by Walt Disney inc. company.
✅ Lea being a Goodwill FAO Ambassador of the United Nations with Celine Dion and two others from foreign countries.
✅ Lea being a Grammy nominee.
✅ Lea being a Hollywood actress.
✅ Lea collected a GOLD RECORD for her FIRST ALBUM, "Small voice" at the age of ten.
✅ Lea played the title role of “Cinderella” for the 30-week Asian tour.
✅ Lea being one of the best actresses in FAMAS awards.
✅ Lea having a "Golden Artist Award" at the FAMAS for her international achievements.
✅ Lea has been able to perform at the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland.
✅ Lea closed the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar by performing “Triumph of the One,” with 50,000 people in the crowd.
✅ Lea being look up to by such singers nationally and internationally: Angun, Idina Menzel, Anne Hathaway, Brad Kane, Taylor Swift, Shay Mitchell, Tiffany Young, Rachelle Ann Go, Catriona Gray, Regine Velasquez, Morissette Amon, Sharon Cuneta, Sarah Geronimo, Charice Pempengco, Julie Anne San Jose, Aicelle Santos, Martin Nieverra, Gary Valenciano, Moira Dela Torre, Darren Espanto, and Toni Gonzaga.
✅ Lea being look up to by most actors and actresses in GMA and ABS-CBN television stations in the Philippines, especially Vice Ganda (ABS-CBN) and Carmina Villaroel (GMA).
✅ Lea being the FIRST ASIAN to sold more than 3 million copies of her self-entitled international debut album WORLDWIDE (sold first in the USA then went platinum in the Philippines, then soon sold globally).
✅ Lea has been one of the judges in the "60th MISS UNIVERSE" Beauty Pageant in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
✅ Lea has been able to play "Grace Farrell" in the HOLLYWOOD Bowl production of "Annie."
✅ Lea having a continues award of "BEST CONCERT OF THE YEAR" nationally and mostly internationally since then and early this 2020.
✅ Lea being in every book of our school subjects (A.P., E.S.P., MAPEH and FILIPINO) together with Manny Pacquiao and Charice Pempengco.
✅ Lea being the only Filipina in rank 10 as one of the most beautiful girl in the world rating, along with other 99 different races back then.
✅ Lea being the highest streamed artist in Spotify in the Philippines until 2021.
✅ Lea being the FIRST FILIPINA to perform in Sydney opera.
✅ Lea being the ONLY FILIPINA who proves the world that Asians are talented or the ONLY ASIAN who broke racial barriers as foreign countries aren't accepting any audition from an Asian person back then UNTIL Lea Salonga showed her talent.
✅ Lea remains humble inspite of lots of award she got til' then and now.
✅ Lea being a lovely Queen to her husband and child.
✅ Lea having a precious and crystal clear voice! Period. 😉
✅ LEA BEING SIMPLY THE BEST.
#LeaSalonga 👑
#Respect 💛
The production team went to several world capital cities and finally landed in Manila, Philippines and ended up hauling away more than half the cast all from Manila alone!
Testament to the talent pool in Manila alone .
They were in despair and for some reason ended up in Manila. Surprise! They wanted to take the whole Philippines with them.
The whole documentary is worth watching.
True ❤
@@OrientalMonkeyBusiness may I know where I can watch the whole documentary? Thank you
@@ciocomacchiatto9029
ua-cam.com/video/L6FVLorur-A/v-deo.html
@@ciocomacchiatto9029ua-cam.com/video/L6FVLorur-A/v-deo.html
She has a crystal clear voice...and her diction and pronunciation is really amazing......
She is a living legend! Laurence Olivier and Tony award winner (for her role in Miss Saigon) and bona fide Disney legend having voiced 2 Disney princesses.
Slight correction, she was only the singing voice of both those princesses.
Not voiced, but sang songs.
She was the singing voice of Jasmine in Aladdin, Mulan, Miss Saigon and she also did Les Misérables.
Lea Salonga was 17 yrs old during the Miss Saigon auditions. And she is 52 y/o now. Her voice is just as beautiful. And her singing is always perfection.
Lea was THE first Miss Saigon. Macintosh's team held auditions in different countries but couldn't find the right one to play the lead role, til they came to Manila and found not just Lea but Monique Wilson too as the understudy, and a whole bunch of other stage talents, all products of Repertory Philippines stage company.
This audition was in 1989 in London when she was only 18, and 2 years later, she won the Tony Award for Miss Saigon
No, i think she's 16 that time.
@ESP She was 17 when she auditioned turned 18 when her first performance of Miss Saigon in 1989 in London.
@@rm06dakind4 ok but your first comment states that she was only 18 when she auditioned. So I invalidated it because as far as I remember she was younger than 18 during that time.
@ESP She was 17 years old during her initial audition in Manila to sing ON MY OWN for a part in the musical Les Misserables in 1988.
Sa manila to di sa london
Miss Lea Salonga is 52 yrs of age now, still amazing
Holy crap! How old does that make me growing with Miss Saigon 😳
@@awakespace11😂😂😂
Many consider Lea's performance of "On My Own" with the London Symphony on the 10yr. anniversary of "Les Miz" to be the best ever done. It is a masterclass in vocals. Well worth anyone's time.
Plus, Lea's rendition of 'A Fall of Rain' (also from her role as Eponine in Les Miz), Eponine's dying scene with Marius (Michael Ball) will bring you to tears. It is lesser known but so poignant of a scene. Link: ua-cam.com/video/IyPy2Iqq-NM/v-deo.html
"On My Own" was Lea's audition piece for Miss Saigon...
I saw a compilation Tiktok and honestly, her rendition is a league of its own. You can distinctly hear the difference.
what year???
I just want to hug her. I’ve heard this audition so many times and every time she sounds like sunshine.
They went around the world to search for that one voice they are looking for. And when they heard her voice. They all packed up and went home because they finally found the treasure ❤😊
The voice the will be loved by all generations 😊
Singing voice of jasmine and mulan. She also played eponine and fantine in Les Mis.
🗡️🚿Would have never expected to see an RV on Lea Salonga yet but I’m glad you checked this out. She had already been in theatre since she was 5, I think. She played Annie in the theatre.
I think she was 17 or 18 years old in this video.
She is known to have a photographic memory and perfect pitch.
It doesnt fail to make me smile hearing that...
Ms. Lea is talented singer can read the notes. That is the advantages of her way back the audition. The Philippine pride. The Legend. Thank you guys for this reaction. God Bless. Watching from Riyadh. ❤❤❤
Lea Salonga is one of the Philippines treasure in terms of music!
Proud Pinoy!
They've gone around LA, NY, SF, Hawaii, Vietnam, Thailand , round asia in search of KIM, .. No luck, but they were so surprised to find the wealth of talents who auditioned in the Philippines including Lea and Monique.... pls search for that "Making of Miss Saigon" film which i saw during that time....
please do a reaction of Lea Salonga and Brad Kane before and after singing A whole new world 🙏
Yes, I recommend this one too! :D
This is an excerpt from the documentary film called The Heat is On: The Making of Miss Saigon which came out around 1989/1990. Lea Salonga was 17 in 1988 when she auditioned for the lead role. In the movie Boublil and Schönberg went to several major cities looking for Kim (aka Miss Saigon) and though they found many talented young women, they still haven’t found THE ONE. They noticed though that many of the “almost Kims” were of Filipino heritage so they decided to come to Manila even if it wasn’t on the list of audition venues. Not only did they find their Kim in Lea Salonga, they also found her alternate in Monique Wilson as well as 20+ other actors to join the original West End cast. This clip is the call back for Lea to test how she would sound singing songs from the musical. For her original audition she sang On My Own (also by Boublil and Schönberg) and was asked to sing another song. Though she had not prepared a second song she sang The Greatest Love of All, for which Schönberg supposedly asked her to “not sing it like her” meaning Whitney Houston. Obviously Lea did an excellent job because she eventually was casted as Kim (for which she won the Laurence Olivier and Tony as well as others like Theater World, Drama Desk, etc). She also became a Disney Princess twice (!!!) by being the singing voice of Princess Jasmine and Mulan.
🔪🚿 I was amused at Lucas' reaction right after Lea began singing the first line. She was around 17 in this video and had already started in pre-med when she auditioned for Miss Saigon. But before that, she was a child prodigy who started in musical theater and later branched out to pop singing, acting and commercial modeling. She is known to have a perfect pitch on top of her already prodigious vocal chops. Today she would be around 51 or 52, and widely recognized in the Philippines and throughout the world as an icon in musical theater. It's amazing to look back at this and realize that being cast as the female lead in Miss Saigon was both a life-changing and career-defining event for her. Enjoyed the banter in this reaction again!
Yes, I was amused to watch this. I’m glad this was preserved… mesmerizing to watch her start of her international stardom from this audition stream.
No one ever documented that Lea has perfect pitch.
@@aasoriano8467 It was Regine who said so in an interview some years ago. She said that between the two of them, Lea has perfect pitch, whereas she (Regine) has relative pitch.
Just because someone said so and so doesn't make it true, for you or anyone to echo and post, almost reporting that it is TRUE. Even if it came from Regine or any famous celebrity.
It is an obvious misguided claim because several people (I think including you) don't know what Perfect Pitch means.
Lea has denied it. Research that for yourself.
Also, if Lea had in fact perfect pitch, it would surely be a known thing and made trivial esp in Ph tv, given its uniqueness and entertainment value.
She have a professional singing through out her life. She was since 7 years old in one of prestigious music conservatory in the Philippines so she is in almost into perfection. She is a legend and so sad that kind of talent first recognized outside of her country😢. She is very good but almost underrated in her own country.
Ms. Lea Salonga is the GOAT and the iconic singing voice behind the Disney princesses Jasmin, with the song "A whole new world" and the singing voice of MULAN with the song "Reflection"
Her version of A whole new world with il divo pls, the one they filmed in Japan pls. She recently surprises a bride on her wedding and sang A whole new world and Reflections. It's here on youtube. Also sang for the state dinner in the White house just a few hours ago.
Those 3 “guys” watching Lea were Nicholas Hytner (director), Cameron McKintosh (producer) and Alain Boublil (lyricist of Miss Saigon and Les Miserables). Of course, the pianist was Claude-Michel Schonberg, music composer of Miss Saigon and Les Miserables.
She’s the reason why I started singing, as a Filipina kid in America not knowing English, listening to her and practicing her songs helped me find my voice randomly when I couldn’t adapt fast enough here
Lea Salonga was only 17 years old when she auditioned for the role of Kim in the musical production of Miss Saigon. That was year 1988. She's 52 years old now. She's a living legend in the Philippines entertainment industry. Her voice has such crystal-clear musicality when she sings, which many have so admired.
"The first Filipino to win the prestigious Lawrence Olivier Award, the Tony Award, The Dramatic Desk Award and The Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a musical as she played the original role of Kim in Miss Saigon."
🇵🇭 pride. Filipino’s pride. Lea Salonga the broadway legend.
Ito na naman ang comment na ganito..😂😂😂
She sings a whole new world of Jasmine in Aladdin and reflection in Mulan 😊
I believe she was 17 in this video because she turned 18 after the premiere of Miss Saigon. I think this audition was for Miss Saigon not Aladdin. Love you guys. God bless!
Lea is 52yr/o ✌🏼I’m a fan since a kid. Thank you so much. I hope you also see her video playing Annie & sound of music repertory ❤😊🙏🏼
She was 17 years old here. She's 52 now, and still has that great voice. Watched her in concert a few weeks ago in California.
Lucas' reaction right a second she sang was priceless! ❤
Because she is one of the few artists in the Philippines who can really read musical notes and knows how the melody goes based on the arrangements. Such a genius lady
You're making Filipinos sound like idiots who can't sight read. It's second nature to people with musical background.
Ms. Lea is the GOAT. She has been known to be super strict in her regimen to care for her voice, she still trains and is very disciplined. She does not neglect it so that is why she still maintains that distinct bird-like quality of her voice
Thank you for granting my request Lucas and josh ❤️❤️❤️
Oh, nice! You've finally done Lea. ❤ She originated the role of Kim in Ms. Saigon. Her family were originally skeptical if the production was legit but she went to London for the West End run at 18 years old, did it in Broadway next, even took part in the Manila prod of the show and finally ended her run as Kim at age 30.
Her most well loved songs aside from the Disney ones were what she affectionately calls the "dead girl songs", Kim dies in Ms. Saigon and Eponine and Fantine died in Le Miserables, hence the name.
My personal favorites: 1. Her performance in closing ceremonies of the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar (in 2008, I don't remember the year exactly). But it was awesome...her voice was flawless and the stage, OMG!!! 2. Her duet with Rachel Ann Go of I Know Him So Well, and 3. Her duet with Josh Groban singing the Prayer. It's Lea like I've never heard her before (and well, she's in her 50s now and I've been listening to her since the 90s) 😊 Oh yeah, #LoveLea.
Lea Salonga was the first Asian actress to play Eponine and Fantine in Les Misérables on Broadway
That audition was in 1988, she was 17 at the time.
Story time no one asked for:
I'm a 42 year old singer who used to do musical theater from age 13 to 18. Lea Salonga TO THIS DAY has the most pristine, perfect, emotion evoking voice of all time. Every single time I hear her, especially looking back on this audition, I cry in a pile of goosebumps. My first audition ever was for The Wiz. I had no experience whatsoever other than belting out Miss Saigon songs in my room besides my regular Whitney and Mariah jams. In secret. My middle school friends and I all were die hard Depeche Mode and Morrissey fans. I didn't want to be made fun of for singing show tunes in my room. Anyway, my Mom's best friend begged me to audition for The Wiz, which he found in the newspaper, and bribed me with 20 bucks to just go audition. I had no fucking clue what I was doing. This audition was held in this huge warehouse where everyone was wearing jazz shoes and very professional. I rolled up in all black with my Converse high tops and hair that was giving 90's Cranberries. I was given a cassette to borrow that had an instrumental version of "I'd Give My Life For You" so I gave the assistant the tape and went off. I could feel the vibrations of my voice echoing throughout the warehouse and when I was done, everyone stood up and people were crying. I was blown away. I got a "call back" for thr role of Dorothy and was thinking there's no way I would go from belting in my bedroom to carrying a whole entire musical on my own with ZERO experience. I ended up getting that very role and it was hell on earth learning a million lines, acting, following choreography, and learning so many songs. My director used to scream at me until I cried. Longer story longer, I sold out every show and got standing ovations during the last note I held out in the finale song. I was in the newspaper, people knew who I was in my city, and I got asked to sing for the mayor and sang the National Anthem at a few sporting things. 13 and 14 were some crazy years for me and nothing will ever compare to the feeling of a standing ovation. Every single person deserves one at least once in their life. End of story. Thank you for reading if you did! 💕
❤❤❤
Fantastic story
This is not a brag. This is an awesome story and you should tell it often.
You have a great writing style! I enjoyed the quick read. Sorry to hear about the director screaming at you, particularly given your age at the time! Awful!
Getting screamed at seems to be part of the job. Do note that by this time lea was already a pro in the musical scene as she startes really young and yeah with those strict and screamung director. I think she starred in a local production of annie when she was just 9 yrs old.
Happy you reacted to Lea Salonga,worldclass talent!
We have a joke here in Ph that her voice is clearer than our future. She is one of the most crystal clear voices in the world. Moreover, she is also pitch perfect.
She was in a Repertoire , Philippines that’s was her voice is really amazing and the clarity of her diction and voice is good . I’m proud of her and a very disciplinarian person ❤️
Lea was a already a pro at that age. She was performing in musical theatre at a very young age on top of having a very beautiful voice.
Oh yes! Her first professional job was in the musical THE KING AND I at age 7. Lea's first album was released at age 10 and I think she also made her first movie at age 10. Lea hosted a musical variety show with her brother when she was 12-14. Lea opened for Menudo (a huge boy band from Latin America in the 80s that became huge internationally - Ricky Martin was part of the band at one time) and Stevie Wonder. Lea had worked a lot before MISS SAIGON came along.
Leah was only 17 during this Ms Saigon audition. And when she was casted as Kim one of their problems was the kissing scene bec of her age, so they got proper approval from her parents. She turned 18 during the run of Ms Saigon. Leah is now 52years old. She really is one of those singers whose voice barely changed throughout the years and she is one of our rare international artists that had formal trainings in music during her early years.
Please do react KZ Tandingan sings " close to you". She is so amazing. Thanks
She should be declared A National Artist!
I recall her talking about this audition in other interviews. She did say that they were given some pieces for them to review/prepare ahead for the audition (in addition to their own chosen pieces to perform)
I believe, Lea actually auditioned with "The Greatest Love of All" so this is the second day meet with the producers in which they are honing on her for the main role.
Can we just spend some moments in awe of the fact that she sang with and was recognized and picked by Claude-Michel Schonberg himself? (For those who don't know, he was one of the people who came up with the idea to make a musical version of Les Miz and composed the score for it.) Legend.
She’s been my number one idol since I started singing. Which was really early in my childhood coz of all the karaoke in the Philippines hahaha! Love her so much
She was probably 17 years old when she auditioned for Miss Saigon. She’s 52 now and will soon appear in Here Lies Love on Broadway with an all-Filipino cast.
Super excited that Lea will be part of the Broadway show HERE LIES LOVE (she is also one of the producers), but she will only be in the show for 5 weeks and she won't be in the show for the first few weeks of the show. (I believe she goes in right before the show opens). Still, I'm excited because it means Lea will promotion for that new musical. ALSO - There was a tribute concert to the late Stephen Sondheim in London that will now have a 16-week limited engagement: STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S OLD FRIENDS. Bernadette Peters was in the concert and this will be her West End debut. And Lea will be part of the limited engagement - her first time in a West End show in almost 30 years! I can't wait for Lea be doing promotion for this show (it begins in September) and to see clips of Lea singing Sondheim!!!
waaaahhh GKD reacting to my ultimate fave singer ..im a disney kid, lea salonga fan..wooohhhh!!! love you guys
😂 Starting out, she just sang. It's like an angel. My goodness!
My reactions are just like, "Wow!!! Boom!!"
This audition video was in 1989 at the rehearsal hall, precisely an underground studio at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila Philippines. I kinda grew up dancing for Ballet Philippines hours and hours of rehearsals for many years.
Very cool! P.S. Lea auditioned in 1988 (at age 17). She went to London to premiere in MISS SAIGON in 1989 (at age 18).
2:53 Lea played Eponine in Les Miserables
glad you did this RV ❤️🇵🇭
She is our Disney Princess.. 😊🙏
*Lea Salonga is an absolute global icon! From Princess Jasmine to Fa Mulan, Fantine to Eponine, she has brought so many iconic women characters to life. A true **#Legend*
When Lea hits the low note and then beautifully transitions I just fall apart. She is an incredible singer, one of the best I have ever heard.
Whenever I listen to Lea’s songs, especially these classics, I always end up with a huge smile on my face and my eyes would get teary. Her voice is so beautiful
Lea has been in the Musical Theatre in the Philippines since she was a kid so she knows music and notes very well. Same with her brother which is more on playing musical instruments.
Ms Lea Salonga has high praises for SB19 and to it's other member Stell
This Manila audition was in the 90s. The voice of Mulan and Jasmine. The innocence of the voice. Watch this as a kid and still in awe.
Lea Salonga won awards and international recognition so early in her life. I’ve often wondered how or who her influences were in going the path she has chosen-very selective projects, which always turned out excellent; keeping the Philippines as her base; and managing to have a normal family life. She seems to have it all plus an exceptional talent & professionalism that has only improved thru the years.
I grew up listening to her. She is a real gem. She is also known to have perfect pitch 😊
🗡🚿 Thank you. Yes Lea's voice hasn't changed at all. She still sounds like when she originally sang her songs.
Kindly include Lea Salonga and Brad Kane "A Whole new World" Good Morning America.
Try checking out her "Don't Cry for me Argentina", On My Own" and my fave of couse "Reflection". Thank you.
She was so good they brought her in for the Dream Cast of Les Mis, then came back for a different part years later. She also has perfect pitch
I think she was 15 or 16 years old at that time,she's now in her early 50s
There's a lot of talented Filipino singers in the Philippines...
She just visited the whitehouse and everyone was amazed by her singing.
We love Lea Salonga and so proud of her..she is an icon in Philippine entertainment industry..❤❤❤❤🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
More of ms Lea Salonga plsss...love u both guyzzz
Thank you so much for this,I requested this a long time for you to react, She's an amazing artist , She's the original Ms Saigon, Thanks and God bless.
Finally ❤ more Lea Salongga RV please. 🙏
When she opened her mouth to release the first note, its as if an angel just descended from the heaven ❤
The audition for ms saigon was in 1987 when she was 17yrs old… while aladin was in 1991…Lea was in her 50s now….Cameron Mcintosh who signed was the producer of Ms Saigon…the auditon team came to Manila after doing from other parts of the world realizing that they found the Kim in the Philippines
finally, LEA :)
OMG!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS….. after a long long time of suggesting and waiting❤❤❤❤
She won many international awards including Tony awards. She is the original artist in Disney’s Mulan “Reflection” and Disney’s Jasmine “A whole New World”. She started in Miss Saigon broadway in age of 18 and sang for decades in London in New York’s broadway shows as lead cast in Miss Saigon and Eponin in Les Miserables.
🔪 🚿 a timeless voice indeed. thank you, gkd team!
That was actually when she was 17 years old, around1989ish (so around about 34 years ago), she's now over 50+ years old now
You guys should react the longer version of this clips….
ohhhh you're reacting to our most precious, treasured LEGEND!!!! Ms Leah Salonga!!! xoxo the voice of MULAN and PRINCESS JASMIN!!! xoxo
I remembered the first song i heard from lea salonga is "we could be in love" her duet with brad kane too, then i know she's filipines, (i thought she's american) i love her voice since i was in high school till now.
Pls try to check her colab singing with regine Velasquez it's amazing it's a digital duet during pandemic where they sang it seperately live online she also did a Xmas colab with pentatonix
That low note. I felt like it was going to be a reach but then it was trivially easy for her
🔪🚿 Lea Salonga is one of the greatest Filipino artists. She brought so much pride to the Philippines and helped open doors for Filipino artists to be recognized worldwide.
Always proud of Lea Salonga.
Miss Saigon is set in Vietnam, yet not a single Vietnamese actor is in the cast--all the lead roles are filled by Filipinos. This speaks volumes about the sheer abundance of world-class talent in the Philippines. Our performers don’t just meet international standards--they redefine them. The fact that a global production like Miss Saigon turns to the Philippines for its top talent is a testament to the excellence, versatility, and artistry of Filipino performers.
🔪🚿Love love Lea Salonga. Thanks for your reaction. 😊
she was very active in musical theater at a very young age. she provided the singing voices of two official disney princesses - jasmin and mulan. 🤗💕🎶🎵🎤🎧🎉👏
You must also check her Miss Saigon performance and others like Le miserables etc., It's all worth it
Lea salonga has the most beautiful voice i have heard. Watched her on some of her theater performances and even if she screams, your ears will still love it! ❤
More Lea Salonga theater/Miss saigon reactions please!!!❤❤❤
Dude is musos who went to special music schools had to do choir regardless if you were a singer or not - it was for a reason to help with sight reading and pitch to make us more rounded with our instruments.
This those of stuff we would have to do every choir practice with new pieces 😂
Memories
But her voice is so pure
Perfect pitch and clear as a bell!
TO add: Recording engineers told me she is a one take wonder too.
Thanks for reacting to Ms. Lea Salonga. I believe she was 16 years old when she did this audition & now in her early 50s.
Thank you so much for watching!