LOVE AND MUSIC, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
RACHELLE Gerodias, the Philippines’ most sought-after soprano, and Byeong-In Park, Korea’s premier baritone create beautiful music together. And more.
Throughout their youth, they share striking similarities to the point that you might consider them exact girl-andboy versions of each other. Their respective family patriarchs had eight siblings each and they are the eldest of two. Raised in close-knit families, they were both involved in their church choirs and high school glee clubs. Then, they ventured to foreign shores – albeit to different countries – to pursue Master of Music degrees. And they have since been busy in their careers, basking in the limelight of the international operatic stage.
It thus came as no surprise they would eventually cross paths. “We met in Singapore for the opera Cosi Fan
Tutte,” Rachelle shares, recalling their first encounter. “He was the lead baritone, Gulielmo; I, the soprano counterpart Fiordiligi,” she continues with a warm smile.
They played lovers, but at that time it was all simply on stage.
“It was not love at first sight,” she discloses. They were definitely not each other’s types and both have had their own experiences of long-distance relationships that ended up in heartbreak. They were focused on the task at hand: the opera. At best, they would breakfast together and only during the latter part of the rehearsals did they start to appreciate each other.
“I remember very well how our relationship progressed from friendship to courtship,” Rachelle recalls with a faint smile on her face. It all began when they transferred to the Singapore Esplanade Theater to rehearse on stage for the last few weeks. Byeong-In asked her for a drink at the close-by roof deck of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. She readily agreed to the simple invitation, thinking that the entire crew would join them. However, the Korean soloist asked her for a favor – not to tell anyone else.
“Oh, is this a date?” Rachelle teases.
“Yes, it’s a ‘ fi rst date’,” he replies.
“I did not take him seriously as we were only one week away from our closing date and I realized I will return to Manila. And at that time he was still based in Graz, Austria,” she confesses.
More than just the obvious centerpoints of their relationship such as music, the opera and performances, they share a myriad of sameness. The couple agrees on major issues that matter in a solid genuine partnership – their unending faith in God, plus similar goals and ideals – which made them click, considering they came from very different cultural backgrounds.
“My parents loved Byeong-In the first day they met him. He came very prepared! He learned a few Tagalog phrases and also bought flowers for my mom. Combined with his charming personality, how could they have not? But what really impressed my elders in addition to his being a Christian, he showed them respect,” Rachelle compliments.
“Meanwhile, when I announced to my family that I was getting married to a Filipina, they were surprised for no one in our own clan has ever married a foreigner. As expected, they were a bit apprehensive, rather worried. But when they came to meet Rachelle also for the first time for the pamanhikan, her entire family made us feel like family. The extended welcome, warmth and love – how could we not love them back in return? They call her the Filipina Sumi Jo,” ByeongIn recalls, referring to the Grammy Award-winning Korean lyric coloratura soprano.
Rachelle revealed that they tied the knot three times! The first wedding was a private ceremony at the Anabu Unida Church in Cavite, where her brother is a pastor, attended only by immediate family and closest friends.
The second one – her dream wedding, she admits – was held at the Ellinwood Church in Malate, officiated by a family friend, Rev. Benoni Hernandez, where she donned a beautiful white terno designed by her good pal Rommel Serrano.
The third wedding was held in Korea, where she had to change into three different gowns – first was the white wedding gown for the “westernized” ceremony, immediately followed by the Korean traditional ritual where she had to change into a formal hanbok, the traditional South Korean dress. Finally, she opted for a more casual one for the celebratory party.
Rachelle confessed that there has been no “official” honeymoon. “We have been busy performing in between our weddings. But we should not complain.” However, the duo treats every single out-of-town-or-country show as their honeymoon-of-sorts. “And we have had several trips since our first wedding,” she mentions, with a big grin.
Used to separate independent single lives, the newlyweds had to adjust to the espoused life. For starters, the couple has different sleeping patterns and schedules – Byeong-In is a night person, while Rachelle thrives in broad daylight. “Byeong-In had to adapt more, to be honest,” Rachelle admits.
At present, the couple resides in Manila where his parents are frequent visitors. “But in a perfect world it is ideal to be based both in Korea and the Philippines,” the musicmaker yields.
“I soon learned that a first-born son is held in high esteem by the Koreans,” Rachelle professes.
“So Byeong-In’s parents were so happy when we told them we were going to have a baby boy!” she confides, the boy joining the ranks of both Byeong-In and his father who are likewise first-born sons.
The mother reveals baby Vittorino has been introduced to their world ever since conception. “I was in the middle of a production for the opera Noli Me Tangere when little did I know I was with child!” she exclaims, with a hint of shock on her face. “From the beginning of my pregnancy I’ve already exposed our unborn baby to music.”
The couple almost named their child after the Philippines’ National Hero, as an ode to the novel-turned-musical. “I explained to Byeong-In that it was absolutely not a good idea, since the toddler’s complete name would have been Jose Rizal Park!” she says, bursting out in laughter.
Rachelle mentions that the whole family plays a key role in raising the bouncing baby boy. “We have not hired a nanny – our kin babysits Rino while we’re away. Byeong-In’s parents do their share whenever they would visit.”
When prodded about each other’s best qualities, the young pair blushed. “Her deep faith in God, passion for life and music, deep understanding for the art, and her simplicity and openness were what made me fall for her completely,” Byeong-In confides.
“My husband’s honesty and openness,” Rachelle adds. “I love that we can talk about everything and agree on a lot of things. But
most of all, his ability to admit he’s wrong when corrected and issuing an apology sealed the deal for me – I think any wife would love that.”
To keep the affection alive, the couple shares their secrets to a never-ending romance. “We go out on dates – It doesn’t have to be fancy. Watch a movie and have a pizza or find a relaxing place where we have a quiet chat over coffee and dessert. We always say ‘I love you’ to each other as gentle reminders. We will never end a day without being on good terms,“Rachelle relays, turning red.
Rachelle praises her husband for one of the sweetest things he has ever done for her. “We were both guest soloists at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater for the Philippine Ballet Theater’s anniversary concert,” she remembers. “After my signature solo, as I was about to descend the stairs, ByeongIn surprised me on stage with a bouquet of 24 red roses and greeted me in front of the audience for my birthday!” she giggles, as if it was her first time to fall in love.
When asked to name a song to serenade their partner with, the awesome twosome revealed their inner feelings. Rachelle’s choice was the German song Widmung or Dedication, by the great German composer Robert Schumann, which was his wedding gift to his bride. “It opens with the line ‘ You my soul, you my heart’,” she croons. For Byeong-In, it’s Habang
Ako ay May Buhay by Philippine National Artist Ernani Cuenco. “It’s the song I sang at our wedding during Rachelle’s processional walk to the altar.”
“The loving support of my husband and families is God’s way of inspiring and guiding me that I should continue to perform even now that I am already a mother. Byeong-In encourages me and drives me to work harder on my voice. He is extremely disciplined. With much credit to his German training, he is also my vocal coach,” she stresses. “His perseverance has encouraged me to return on stage after childbirth – he reminds me of my reason for living, for this is who I really am.”