Allan Palacios Chan

A year ago I was commissioned by @inseriesopera to create a video performance involving Filipino art song (“Kundiman”) in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month. I knew I wanted to do something extraordinary with my absolute favorite Kundiman, ‘Mutya ng Pasig’ by Nicanor Abelardo, and I needed only the best on the team. The result was a remote collaboration with @billydancesmith , @lesleygarrisonmovement , and @sayaw_mica —all artists from @markmorrisdance of NYC—and another local artist and video editor, @emilymasonmusic . I’ve known Billy since the undergrad days and have always been a fan of his work. I knew he’d do the music justice with his brilliant choreography. I was so thrilled when he picked Lesley to depict our muse, and I was so moved to know how deeply the whole project affected her, having just found out she was pregnant with her first baby. The words introducing the song are a paraphrased translation of the Tagalog. To me, it’s all about remembering one’s personal power and love, and sharing it with the world. #sing #operasingersofinstagram #singerlife #singer #filipino #highnotes #gmu #asianoperasingers #asianoperaalliance #pinoy #pinay #american #americano #americana #aapi #tenor #singersofinstagram #singerlife #damakolahiko #dance #dancer #dancevideo #dancers #dancelife #kundiman #artistsoninstagram #artsong #tagalog

On this episode of Allan’s #latergram material, here we have a bit of the greatest quartet ever written, from Act III of Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’. I was humbled when @inseriesopera asked me to sing this beautiful Spanish translation of the opera, for what turned out to be a hugely successful and sold-out fund raising performance, at the nostalgic outdoor setting of Glenn Echo Park (can you hear those crickets? 🥹). I might not ever get to sing Rudolfo anywhere else, so of course I said yes. 😘 “Nos dejaremos en la estación floral…” #operasingersofinstagram #classicalmusic #sing #singerlife #singer #filipino #pinoy #aapi #tenor #singersofinstagram #singerlife #bookedandblessed #boheme #rudolfo #spanish #opera

This was the last take after a long recording session last week, right after the landscaping team decided to show up and start mowing outside (😒)…@emilymasonmusic forgot we were recording….we were really tired and I thought this was just too funny not to share. Me: ”can you not speak?” Em: “you should totally make that into a bumper sticker.” #😂 #singerlife #operasingersofinstagram #newmusic #womencomposers #artsong #recording

Sadly, we had to cancel tonight’s performance of ‘Countess Maritza’—what would have been my debut with @washingtonoperasociety —due to a couple Covid cases within the cast. I know it was not an easy decision to make, but I commend the company for their decision. I so enjoyed working with everyone and I hope to be able to do so again soon. I’m glad I was able to snag this little clip from our last orchestra rehearsal, of me sight reading the role of Tassillo with the amazing Suzanne Karpov and our wonderful maestro @julubu …such glorious music. Thank you Kálmán. I hope to be able to sing your music again someday. 🙏🏼 #operasingersofinstagram #operetta #opera #classicalmusic #sing #operasingersofinstagram #singerlife #bookedandblessed #singer #pinoy #aapi #tenor #singersofinstagram #singerlife