Unlike his previous Valentine’s Day concerts, Martin Nievera said he’s getting more than just one stage partner this year as one of the performers in the Champions of the Heart concert. Known in the country for more than four decades with the title Concert King, Martin said he is looking forward to performing with Sofronio Vasquez, Klarisse de Guzman, Jona Viray, and Jed Madela on Valentine’s day this year, as well as working with John Prats as his concert director for the very first time.
“I think it’s because you’re so used to seeing me with a partner especially during Valentine’s. Well I guess we have one of the most electrifying and genius directors with us. So it’s his problem now (laughs). But I think the idea that he has, and I think that it’s great, the show is called Champions of the Heart and it’s really about the heart. The best idea that John suggested is that you won’t hear us talk about our championships, where we have won in life, where we have won in our careers, we want to enumerate our accolades. It’s not about that.
"The star of the show on February 14 is always about love, relationships, and how you too can be a champion of the heart. So I think John is going to try and combine us all in a way that would look like we have a partner or partners within the show, to be able to tell the story of that song. And maybe within that show, you will find that you too are a champions, your heart also is a champion, your love story is a championship worth pursuing,” he shared during the Champions of the Heart presscon last January 15 held at the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill in Newport World Resorts in Pasay City.
As the most senior artist in the event, Martin said it is not in his nature to compete or feel any insecurity especially with those he can learn from and also mentor in the industry.
“To be with this cast, is true honor. These are the singers and artists and performers and director of the future. So for me, to come from the past, and sing with the singers of the future, only tells you one thing. That I’m still in the game. So on a personal note, this is a big victory for me that I was even included in this cast. They could have had anybody their the same age, same energy. But they seem to be okay with the concept of having some dinosaur there in the middle of the concert. Even dinosaurs can be icons right? Whatever it is, I am learning from them and I hope that they are learning from me. What an honor it is to be in the middle of such talent, such humility, and to be in the future, coming from the past, is a God-sent gift,” he explained.
The Champions of the Heart concert performer also highlighted why all of them being from the same network is an advantage.
“It’s a combination of the five, alam niyo naman puro kapamilya kami. We’re going to take what we’ve learned for the past how many years that we’ve been performing together snippets of songs. Finally we get to do a show, thanks to Starmedia Entertainment, that was brave enough to put the five of us together. Alam niyo naman na Valentine’s budgets are high, so it’s very hard to put a show together where there’s more than two people. Usually I’m in a show every Valentine’s. This is the first time that I’m part of a show where there’s more than two people. So I’m really excited for everything we’re going to do for you and the song collection that we’ve chosen for you,” he admitted.
With the constant influx of new artists in the industry, Martin also shared why he chose to stay true to his core of being known as one of the country’s most veteran balladeers.
“We have corporation shows who get me to do what I do. People from our era, they want us to sing the songs we did back then. Which I think, I hope, paved the way to what all of you are mentioning today. I like to think that I was one of those cobblestones of that way to have success to your dreams. So I have really no choice but to embrace where I came from and stick to my core and love it. Because if I don’t love it, I will have mental issues. I’d be worried about competition which I don’t. The Martin that you see today, I love who I am. I love where I am today,” he added.
Watch Martin Nievera perform at the Champions of the Heart concert along with Sofronio Vasquez, Jed Madela, Jona Viray, and Klarisse de Guzman. The one-night only concert is happening on February 14, 8 p.m. at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, Newport World Resorts. Directed by John Prats and musical direction by Marvin Querido.
Champions of the Heart concert is produced by Full House Theater Company in association with Starmedia Entertainment. Tickets are now available at all Ticketworld outlets and Newport World Resorts Box Office: ₱13,500 (SVIP), ₱11,000 (VIP), ₱8,500 (GOLD), ₱5,800 (SILVER), and ₱3,800 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact Customer Care at 7908-8888 or info@fhtcentertainment.com.