Geolette Marie Esguerra

Metro Talks: Ryan Cayabyab Brings Together a Stellar Cast for MaestroClass: What’s It All About?

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<p>If you think the first and second <strong>MaestroClasses</strong> were hard to top, imagine this third iteration of <strong>MaestroClass</strong>. The event brings together <strong>National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s acclaimed MaestroClass Concert Series</strong>, along with <strong>Jett Pangan, Sofronio Vasquez, Bituin Escalante,</strong> and<strong> Gigi de Lana</strong>, and the vocal group <strong>Baihana,</strong> all on May 15 to 17, 2026 in celebrating the timeless genius of Burt Bacharach with <strong><em>What’s It All About? </em></strong></p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758096804Metro.Style MrC MaestroClass.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>Following sold-out runs, the <strong>MaestroClass </strong>series continues its signature “masterclass-style” format where Mr. C goes beyond conducting and performing. Through stories, musical demonstrations, and live arrangements, he guides audiences through the artistry and structure behind songs that shaped generations.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F995453712820062%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p><strong>Presented by Rockwell,</strong> this third chapter celebrates the legendary songbook of <strong>Burt Bacharach</strong>, the American hitmaker whose sophisticated pop melodies and distinctive compositions produced dozens of global classics and influenced generations of composers worldwide.</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758187002Proscenium Theater - Burch Bacharach.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Assembling the A-list Cast: Jett and Sofronio</strong></div><p>Mr. C talks about bringing together the cast. We asked him about each of the performers and what they bring to the mix.</p><p>“I&#x27;m happy because first of all, I was given the chance to choose, and I always wanted to work with <strong>Jett Pangan</strong> because I worked with him on several occasions, and I did some arrangements, and every time he&#x27;s really such a good interpreter of the works that I do,” he says. He mentions how usually, when he works on arrangements, they’re usually very different, and he’s thankful that Jett was open to it.</p><div> </div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758264004Jett Pangan - 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>“So I like Jett because he&#x27;s got such a full voice,<em> yung talagang </em>so definite yung attacks <em>niya dun sa mga kanta niya.</em> And I&#x27;m so happy that he likes as much as I do; he likes the songs of Burt Bacharach. <em>Kaya</em> this is such an exciting excursion into music that I grew up with,” he says.</div><div>On Sofronio Vasquez, Mr. C mentioned that he worked with him back in 2025.<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758339324Sofronio - 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>“I had a show, and we worked together. <em>Tapos,</em> I guess we became social media friends.</div><p><em>Kasi ang bata niyan, hindi ko yung barkada,”</em> he says. Sofronio, of course, is the winner of The Voice USA. More than this, Mr. C was very much impressed with his voice.</p><p><em>“Ang linis siya kumanta. Tsaka,</em> I guess like Jet, <em>may puso, pero alam mo yung sobrang</em> very male, very, I must say, very masculine <em>ang</em> attack sa songs,” he says. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>The female cast: Bituin, Gigi, and Baihana</strong></div><p>Also in the cast are <strong>Bituin Escalante</strong> and <strong>Gigi de Lana</strong>, as well as the vocal group <strong>Baihana</strong>.</p><p>“My choice for this particular MaestroClass is, <em>sabi ko, bigyan niyo ako ng magagaling. Ako ang gusto ko pumili ng makuhusay na </em>singers. <em>Kasi</em> we&#x27;re interpreting an idol of mine, Burt Bacharach. <em>Para sa akin kasi, yung mga kanta ni </em>Bacharach, <em>sobrang</em> imprinted sa music <em>ko, na alam na alam ko, ang </em>feeling <em>ko, kung dapat pa paano siya i</em>-represent. <em>Pero kung sobrang gagaling na singers mo, </em>they will be able to give their own interpretation, their own twists, <em>na parang masasabi ko, matutuwa si pareng </em>Burt,” he adds. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758683505Bituin Metro.Style.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>As for the three performers, he is all praises. “<em>Para sa akin, sila yung pinakamagagaling sa</em> generation <em>nila</em>. I&#x27;ve worked a lot with Bituin, and she sings anything, and she will claim it as her own. <em>Ito yung sinasabi ko na mga </em>singers <em>na</em> they will make the songs their own,” he mentions.</p><p>“<em>Si</em> Gigi, first time <em>ko lang </em>working with her, but I&#x27;ve seen her from so many videos, <em>sabi ko,</em> <em>magaling tong batang to. </em>And I wish I could work with her, and it&#x27;s a chance to work with somebody like her,” he recalls. For Gigi though, she mentioned indirectly working with Mr. C, although, as she was tasked to sing his composition: the 2019 SEA Games song “We Win as One.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758635624IMG_2581.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p><em>“Magkaiba sila ni </em>Bituin in a way, but they&#x27;re both soulful,” he says. “Actually, apat sila,” including Jett Pangan and Sofronio Vasquez, ”they&#x27;re all soulful singers. E yun ang kailangan to interpret Bacharach songs. You need soulful singers who will transcend just the melody and the song,” he says. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778758697185Metro.Style Baihana.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><p>As for Baihana, he mentions their professionalism. “ I&#x27;ve worked with Baihana, and they&#x27;re all professional in the way they attack their performances, in the way they learn their songs, in the way they sing and perform. <em>Iba</em>, you&#x27;ll be transported. Ganda, I mean, exciting,” he says.</p><p><em>“Wala akong masyado masabi, kasi ang gusto ko lang, ang feeling ko lang is, </em>it&#x27;s going to be a concert. It&#x27;s going to be the concert <em>para sakin na, </em>that will define what performance is. <em>Kasi mga bata sila, </em>they have all the energy.”</p><p><em>“Alam na alam mo na </em>they&#x27;re bringing with them years of experience. <em>Kahit si </em>Gigi or <em>si</em> Sofronio <em>na bata pa, pero nakikita mo, nababakas mo talaga yung buhay nila, yung</em> experience <em>nila, ilalagay nila dun sa kanilang pag-aawit.</em> I don&#x27;t think they have performed together <em>also,&quot; </em>he says. <em></em>&quot;Maybe Sofronio and Gigi together, maybe Jett and Bituin together, but the four of them together with Baihana, maybe Bituin and Baihana, they have performed many times,&quot; he adds.<br/><br/>&quot;So it&#x27;s going to be electrifying.”</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F995453712820062%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><em>Tickets for What’s It All About? — Celebrating the Music of Burt Bacharach are available via TicketWorld (online and outlets) and at the Power Plant Mall Cinema. Following two sold-out chapters—from the music of Ryan Cayabyab himself to timeless OPM classics—the MaestroClass Concert Series now turns its spotlight to the legendary songs of Burt Bacharach.</em></div>

<p>National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab brings together a stellar cast of vocalists for the tribute to Burt Bacharach's music in MaestroClass Concert Series: What’s It All About?</p>

National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab brings together a stellar cast of vocalists for the tribute to Burt Bacharach's music in MaestroClass Concert Series: What’s It All About?

Metro Talks: Ryan Cayabyab Brings Together a Stellar Cast for MaestroClass: What’s It All About?

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Metro Talks: Ryan Cayabyab Brings Together a Stellar Cast for MaestroClass: What’s It All About?

Metro.Style

Published May 08, 2026 07:00 PM PHT

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Updated May 14, 2026 07:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Ryan Cayabyab

Burt Bacharach

MaestroClass Concert Series

What’s It All About?

Proscenium Theater

Rockwell

Jett Pangan

Bituin Escalante

Gigi De Lana

Sofronio Vasquez

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