ESSEN, GERMANY-- First tenor Ernesto Binondo is making Filipinos in Germany proud. Binondo is a regular performer in one of Germany’s most renowned opera houses, Aalto Theatre. He is a permanent singer of the Opera Chorus for ten years now.  

At a time when the popular courses  to take up in the Philippines to land a good job and work abroad were nursing and engineering courses, Binondo followed his heart’s desire and pursued a degree in Music. In his heart, he made the right choice. He studied and worked hard to live his dream.

“It was in high school when I first got aware of Europe and its culture and I found it interesting and special. I then started to dream of living here and now I`m here,” said Binondo.

The production team of Aalto Theater was doing the final touches for the opening of the opera and has allowed ABS-CBN Europe news bureau to watch the rehearsal of Furst Igor, a Russian opera. The 42-year-old Binondo, the only Filipino in the group sang Russian operatic pieces as part of the chorus. He exuded charm and energy during the rehearsal.

Aalto Theatre’s choir director, Alexander Eberle only has praises for Binondo.

“He sings very well and he likes to act on the scene with great emphasis. I like him very much as an actor. If you see him now on stage, you will notice his motivation and his energy on the scene. That’s the most important thing in the opera,” said Eberle. 

Solid credentials
After graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Music at Sta. Isabel College in Manila, Binondo was awarded a scholarship for his Masters degree in Performing Arts which he completed at Folkwang Musikhochschule in Essen, Germany. His studies in Germany led him to sing as a soloist in concerts and opera productions in German and Italian theaters. But for Binondo, to be one of the finalists for the 1996 Münchener Singschul held in Munich. where 300 singers from all over the world competed, was an experience he will always treasure.
 
Back in the Philippines, the 1990 NAMCYA national champion sang with every opportunity that came his way – at the CCP, Concert at the Park, Paco Park Presents to hone his singing skills.

Taking a leadership role
After doing freelance work for two years in Germany, he took the chance of auditioning for Aalto Theatre hoping to get a permanent job.

“I took the chance to audition here and it went well. They accepted me. Among five, they got one. It was in 1999. Since then I stayed here,” said Binondo. 

At Aalto he said he had sung relatively ‘small roles’ for Servant of the Marschallin in the Opera “The Knight of the Rose" by Richard Strauss, an Apprentice in the Opera "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg", and two small roles in the modern Opera "Die Nase" by Dmitri Schostakowitsch. But the ‘bigger’ role came when he was voted president of the Opera Chorus of Aalto Theater. As the head, he is on top of important matters in the theater like auditions, finance, rehearsals, costumes and many others which are necessary to come up with successful opera season.

“I never expected that they would trust me to do the job.  We are mixture of people from all over the world-- Americans, Australian, Russians, Koreans, Germans, Polish.  It’s really an international group,” he added.

Working with multitudes of people coming from different cultures and backgrounds, Binondo is comfortable in his own skin.

“I like to hear my colleagues saying you are our sunshine and I love hearing that. I don’t know why but probably because I always smile, Filipinos always smile,” he said.

Secured job
Binondo is the first to admit that in many parts of the world, working as an artist or musician is a ‘seasonal’ work. But that is not the case in Germany.

“It’s also a blessing that a country like Germany has a strong labour union protecting artists. We have a very, very sure job. We still enjoying some privileges like 13th month pay and vacation money. In some theatres I have been hearing of some lay-off because of the recession. We’re the best opera house and we hope for the best in the next 10 years at least, until I retire,” explained Binondo.

Binondo is fulfilled and hopes that he can also share the experience and expertise he has gained as a tenor in German operas to aspiring Filipino singers.

“I’m so thankful to God that I`ve come this far with my career. It is a real blessing to be here where I can provide for my family while singing the music I want to sing. I’m settled now and all I have to do is be the best of what I’m doing now, that includes of course my being a father and a husband,” said Binondo.