LOS ANGELES - Internationally acclaimed tenor Jonathan Badon makes his Ford debut on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at the historic John Anson Ford Amphitheatre as “Popera”—classic operatic style singing and music fused with a pop sound—comes to Hollywood. The singer, known as the Philippines’ “Prince of Popera” has traveled the world performing in major cultural festivals and with renowned orchestras and played lead roles in musicals (Les Miserables, Camelot, Westside Story) and operas (Candide, Tales of Hoffman, La Traviata). The concert, presented by Global Link Media in association with PAE Live!, promises to be an unforgettable evening of music with some of the best singers from the Filipino community.

In the Philippines, Badon is a multi-awarded performer having won Best Global Pinoy Performer (2010) and Best Male Classical Performer Aliw Award (equivalent to the Tony Award) for 2004. He is consistently the top choice to represent the Philippines in different musical competitions in Wales, France, The Netherlands, Hong Kong, China and the US. His versatility in performing—he displays an effortless transition from classical to pop music—makes him one of the most sought-after stage personalities in the Philippines. Badon is also an award-winning composer, arranger as well as a visual artist. His musical and artistic talent were featured in a 2002 CD entitled Sketches and Melodies which contained his renditions of classical songs as well as his own sketched of architectural and historical landmarks.

Sharing the stage with Badon at POpera are three of LA’s finest singers/performers, each of whom bring a unique style and sound to the evening’s concert. Seventeen-year-old Claire Rodriguez, an honor student at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, has been performing in her schools’ renditions of major Broadway musicals such as Chicago, Gypsy and Little Shop of Horrors. Blessed with a pristine voice, Rodriguez recently launched her first CD/music video entitle Alay Kay Inay.

Another sixteen-year-old brings a powerful vocal range to the concert. Lianna Gutierrez, who began singing at 9 years old, has a wide repertoire that spans classical songs such as Ave Maria to pop standards like Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire. She has performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and won the prestigious Tawag Ng Tanghalan USA competition.

Among her most current achievements is the song Over My Shoulder that Lianna recorded with Grammy-award singer Patti Austin. They both sang the song on the most recent Martin Luther King Celebration at the Jordan Hall in Boston which was televised nationally by ABC. The musical arrangement was handled by music industry veteran Greg Phillinganes, who was Michael Jackson’s musical director.

Badon will also be sharing the Ford stage with singer, arranger, composer and soprano Annie Nepomuceno. By eight years of age, Annie had already started singing professional with the UP Cherubim and Seraphim children’s choir. By her teens, she was already writing and arranging music. As part of the world renown UP Madrigals, Annie toured the world and competed in dozens of European competitions as well as worked as a session vocalist, recording jingles for television and radio.

As Musical Director of the vocal trio Three of a Kind, her work has also been recognized in the US acapella scene when the group became the Bay Area Regional champions of the Harmony Sweepstakes Acapella competition in 2002. Annie has performed in stage musicals internationally—Grease, A Chorus Line, Rent and Phantom of the Opera. She garnered rave reviews for her principal role as Lady Thiang in a recent production of The King and I where she played opposite Debbie Gibson as Anna. Handling everything from small choirs to mega-musical casts, Annie has coached American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias, power-belters Dessa and Dulce, Philippine concert queen Pops Fernandez and many others. She is the resident pop vocal specialist of Ryan Cayabyab The Music Studio, the maestro’s music school.

Popera takes place at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, located at 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, Hollywood, CA. 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before show time for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink.

The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. Tickets, priced at $53, $43 and $33 are available at www.FordTheatres.org or at (323) 461-3673 (for non-visual media 323 GO 1-FORD). However, patrons who buy tickets on or before October 8 pay only $48, $38 and $28. Group discounts for 1 – 15 are 10% off ($43, $34 and $25) or for parties of 16+, are 20% off ($38, $30 and $22). For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, please visit www.FordTheatres.org.