COVER STORY
OPERA SINGER OF A RARITY AND ACTOR FOR STAGE , MOVIES AND TELEVISION
COVER STORY
Talent out of the ordinary
OPERA SINGER OF A RARITY AND ACTOR FOR STAGE , MOVIES AND TELEVISION
By MICHELLE BALTAZAR
WHEN Marcus Rivera first performed for the Filipino-Australian community at an Philippine Independence Day ball in 2010 , the audience didn ’ t take much notice as he walked to the stage . After all , this was a Filipino gathering : everyone can sing . But when Marcus opened his mouth and started singing the first notes of ‘ O , Mio Bambino Caro ’, the room fell silent .
Marcus stood alone among singers with the full package . from pop to opera – tantalising lyrics , big notes , and all . What had the audience in awe was the performer ’ s voice , technically referred to as ‘ countertenor ’, a classical male voice that can hit the high notes of female voices . So high , in fact , that Asian counter-tenors are a rarity . It ’ s the soprano for women . Add to that Marcus ’ sense of theatre and an ability to connect with an audience . “ The first time I heard Marcus sing , my jaw dropped . I have never seen a room full of Filipinos go deathly quiet and then applaud so enthusiastically ,” one member of the audience said . Marcus has since been invited to numerous community events , at which he has been ask to sing ‘ O , Mio Babbino Caro ’. It ’ s become his anthem of sorts . He has stopped performing it for fear of “ over-exposure ”, however . Instead , Marcus continued to introduce the community to music not often heard in community events , such as ‘ Alto Giove ’, ‘ Summertime ’ and one of the least known interpretations of ‘ Ave Maria ’. In a way , there ’ s ‘ crazy streak ’ in Marcus .
He defies the Filipino archetype ~ hates pop music , and has no taste for lechon . But Marcus is a good swimmer , finished third at a NSW state level swimming competition . Professionally trained in opera , musical theatre , cabaret , film and television , he was recently cast as The Engineer in the Parramatta Riverside Theatre production of Miss Saigon . He has performed with Opera Australia ’ s musical production of The King and I ; with Opera Queensland ’ s production of Sweeny Todd , and The Production Company ’ s The King and I , and
Marcus Rivera , centre , in the role of ' The Engineer ' in the stage musical Miss Saigon .
Photo : MICHAEL
SNOW
04 AUGUST 2018 | AK NewsMagazine , Vol 8 No 11 SEPTEMBER 2018 www . kalatas . com . au