DISNEY AND BROADWAY IN BANGKOK

       She's a Filipino singer and actress. She's also a worldrenowned vocalist, recognised for winning various international awards for a single role. And now she's one of Broadway's greatest stars who enchanted Thai audiences with her portrayal of Cinderella late last year.
       Yes, she's Lea Salonga. And next week she will be back to Bangkok for a rare concert performance with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra entitled "The Magic of Disney and Broadway Musicals" at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on Sat, Sept 12 at 8pm.
       As part of the annual "Great Artists of the World" series, the concert will feature the great songs from Walt Disney's The Lion King, Aladdin,Beauty And The Beast, The Little Mermaid and Mulan , as well as famous Broadway musicals West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, Oliver, Miss Saigon and Les Mise'rables .Lea was 17 years old and already a star in her native Philippines when she was discovered by London producer Cameron Mackintosh who had been hunting, from the UK to the US and even Singapore, Hong Kong and finally Manila, for the right girl to play the leading role of Kim in Miss Saigon 20 years ago.She made her professional debut at the age of just seven in The King and I , had taken the lead role in a host of other musicals including Annie , started her recording career aged only 10, and hosted her own TV show Love, Lea .When Miss Saigon finally opened in London in 1989,Lea became an overnight sensation. A new international star was born, hailed by the media and an adoring public who flocked to see the show.
       Her performance brought her the coveted Laurence
       Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
       And when the musical opened on Broadway two years later,it broke several records, including the largest-ever advance sales, totalling almost $25 million (850 million baht). Once again Lea played Kim. As in London, audiences adored her and brought the house down.Also, she walked away with the top award - a Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical.
       Since those days in Miss Saigon , Lea has gone on to become a hugely popular artist.She has performed in a number of other Broadway productions,including Les Mise' rables , and given solo concerts at such prestigious venues as New York's Carnegie Hall and Los Angeles'iconic Frank Gehry-designed Disney Concert Hall.
       But it is as the voice of Disney movies that she is best known to millions around the world. She is the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in the blockbuster hit Aladdin ,and of Fa Mulan in Mulan and Mulan 2 .Also joining her during the Bangkok concert as conductor for the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra is Gerard Salonga her younger brother.
       Gerard is conductor, musical arranger, orchestrator and musical director who has successfully established his own stature and identity in Manila's musical establishment.
       Tickets for "The Magic of Disney and Broadway Musicals"concert cost 500,1,000,1,500,2,000,2,500 and 3,000 baht and can be purchased from Thaiticketmajor booths (tel 02-262-3456 or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com). For more information, please contact BSO Foundation on 02-255-6617/8 or visit www.bangkoksymphony.org.