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The two OPM artists bring their ‘Showstoppers’ concert to France after multiple stops in Europe last year
PARIS, France – After successful shows in Frankfurt and Madrid last year, Filipino artists Darren Espanto and Morissette once again captivated audiences at their “Showstoppers” Paris concert at the Folies Bergère in Paris, France, on Sunday, March 23.
The “Showstoppers” concert series is part of the celebration of The Filipino Channel’s 30th anniversary. Previous shows were held in Frankfurt, Germany, on May 11 last year, and Madrid, Spain, last November 17.
It was Morissette’s first time in Paris while it’s Darren’s second, both artists shared during the concert.
“It is so iconic [to perform] here in Folies Bergère,” Morissette said, adding that the Paris show had the loudest crowd. People from Greece, Belgium, England, and Nice, France were among those who watched the concert.
Meanwhile, Darren expressed how much he missed performing live during the COVID-19 pandemic and shared his gratitude for the “Showstoppers” concert series.
SHOWSTOPPERS. OPM artists Darren Espanto and Morissette belt it out during the Paris stop of their “Showstoppers” tour on March 23, 2025. Alfon Cabanilla/RapplerDarren and Morissette opened the main show with high-energy covers of Water by Tyla, Crazy in Love by Beyoncé, and Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars.
During the concert, the duo also performed viral hits Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars and APT. by Bruno Mars and Rosé.
Of course, what would a Filipino concert be without Original Pinoy Music or OPM? Darren and Morissette showcased renditions of Regine Velasquez’s Araw-Gabi and Rivermaya’s Kisapmata and Liwanag sa Dilim.
In his individual performance, Darren sang his 2023 single Bibitaw Na and his covers of Timmy Thomas’ Dying Inside to Hold You and Andra Day’s Rise Up, a song that he said he drew inspiration from during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Morissette proudly shared her Cebuano roots with the Visayan classic Ihilak Lang Na and her signature hit Akin Ka Na Lang. She also performed Whitney Houston’s I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
PERFORMERS. OPM artists Darren Espanto and Morissette delights the audience during the Paris stop of their “Showstoppers” tour on March 23, 2025. Alfon Cabanilla/RapplerMorissette also promoted her movie Song of the Fireflies, which premiered on February 1 at the Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. The movie features the Loboc Children’s Choir from Bohol.
As the show neared its end, the audience chanted “Isa pa! (One more!),” prompting Darren and Morissette to return for an encore. They wrapped up the night with an electrifying performance of Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, singing and dancing with the audience. – Alfon Cabanilla/Rappler.com
Alfon Cabanilla is a third-year AB Communication student from Ateneo de Manila University and a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler. He is currently an exchange student at the Université Catholique de Lille in Lille, France, where he enjoys exploring new places in between his studies.
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