It was while he was enjoying a family vacation in the US last month when John Prats recalled he first found out about his next concert event. The talented director said he is happy to be part of the Champions of the Heart concert happening on Valentine’s day, which also happens to be his 42nd birthday.
“It’s my first time to work with Starmedia (who is producing the concert). My manager called me nung nasa bakasyon ako. Sabi niya, ‘Direk sorry alam ko nag-ba-bakasyon ka pero may balita ako, sobrang good news siya nung Christmas so I’m really looking forward to this. Sa birthday ko pa!” he shared with the press during the Champions of the Heart presscon held last January 15 in Pasay City.
Except for Klarisse de Guzman, whose The Big Night concert he directed last September, this event will be John’s first time to direct Martin Nievera, Jed Madela, Jona Viray, and Sofronio Vasquez. John admitted he is not daunted by the thought of working with a lineup of the country’s top singing champions.
“Hindi ko siya naisip na challenging, mas naisip ko siya na more on exciting to do this project with everybody because si Klarisse yung nakatrabaho ko na three times but sila Jed, si sir Martin, si Jona, and si Sof talagang first time ko to work with them. I get it from them. Like we have inputs and we visualize it. Those kinds of details it excites me kasi they’re all in. So ang sarap to work with artists that are all in, hindi lang yung parang nakahiwalay na I’m just going to do my part. I’m just going to sing, bahala ka na,” he explained.
READ: John Prats has no plans to return to acting: ‘Happy ako kung nasaan ako!’
After adding another feather to his cap as a director last year when he finished a highly successful 40-show concert local and international tour with TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan, John shared his secret to collaborating with OPM artists.
“Actually sir Martin has been messaging me until 4 a.m. about this (concert) and ang sarap, because sabi ko nga ako yung tipo ng director na you can call me any time. I’ve worked with Erik Santos who would call me at 4 or 3 a.m. Kasi naniniwala ako na yung creativity hindi siya pinaplano. Hindi mo siya parang from this time to this time, magiging creative ako. Hindi eh, minsan when you drive or when you go to the toilet, doon pumapasok yung ideas. And pag naisip mo yun just call me para hindi mo makalimutan and i-ki-create natin. So that’s the creative process. Pati pag-handle namin sa buong narrative ng Champions of the Heart, even yung transitions, we’ll make it different and unpredictable,” he said.
READ: John Prats on working with Erik Santos: ‘Sobrang sarap katrabaho kasi sobrang perfectionist’
Watch Champions of the Heart concert with Jed Madela, Sofronio Vasquez, Martin Nievera, 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.