Tenor Sal / Four winners / March 16 events / A joust

Tenor Sal Malaki, the only Filipino in the LA Opera and the LA Master Chorale, gave a concert at the CCP main theater for the benefit of the religious-oriented Manila Adventist Medical Center. Apparently, Malaki is himself religious-oriented: his opening songs and encore were in praise of God.

Variety is the spice of a program; mindful of this, the tenor rendered inspirational and Broadway selections, arias, light classics and native songs.

Despite his surname, Malaki does not possess an overly big voice. Sounding like a lyric tenor, he acquired full volume only in the higher registers. What amazed listeners, however, were his incredibly sustained long notes. The English songs were especially delightful for the singer’s sensitive and artistic expression – this informed the entire program – and for the utmost clarity of his diction.

The arias by Verdi, Puccini, Gounod and Lehar constituted the high point. The versatile tenor also played on the flute and whistled. Further, he charmed the audience with his running commentary.

Pianist Jonathan Arevalo Coo, the marvelous assisting artist, anticipated the ebb and flow of every song while eloquently reflecting its sentiment and meaning.

Singer and pianist were rewarded with a standing ovation.

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Winners of the 2006 Concerto Competition performed recently at the F. Santiago Hall under the auspices of Miriam College, the G. Cayco Foundation and the Institute for Orchestral Development.

All under 20, the winners displayed varying degrees of excellence. Korean Andre Cheo-Yong Kwon stunned and amazed the audience in Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor with his brio and panache. Admirable agility and fine expression shone in the three movements: he was languid in the adante sustenuto, intense and electrifying in the allegro scherzando and even more so in the presto. His cadenzas dazzled; his playing of the highest standards pointed to his brilliant future.

Guitarist Homer Bravo Cabansag was especially outstanding in the exquisitely lyrical adagio of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. He conveyed bravura in the outer allegro movements which demanded robust tones. John Raymond Sarreal emitted full, mellow sounds in Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G Major, his nimble fingers and breath control producing a wide range of soothing or enthralling tones.

Clement Acevedo rendered Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor with poise, assurance and arresting verve. His chords were powerful; his runs, swift and smooth, his phrasing, crisp.

MMCO Conductor "Chino" Toledo gave sustained, authoritative support. Each section was coherent and efficient; string sounds flowed in unison; the winds were unwaveringly precise.

Incredibly, admission to the tremendously impressive concert was free!

March 16 events

German Ambassador Dr. Axel Weishaupt will present soprano Thea Perez, tenor Ronan Ferrer and pianist Najib Ismail at his residence in a program of German and Visayan songs and duets.

The Philippine National Committee for UNIFEM, headed by president Georgitta P. Puyat, will mark International Women’s Day at the Manila Polo Club jointly with UNIFEM, NY. Focus will be on women’s progress. UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative Nileema Noble will be guest of honor and speaker.

Under the auspices of the British Council, the book Latitude: Writings from the Philippines and Scotland by Angelo Lacuesta and editor Tony Davidson will be launched at the Conspiracy Garden Cafe, QC.

To celebrate "Spring of Poets" and Francophonie Week, the Alliance Francaise and the embassies of France, Cambodia, Egypt, Romania and Switzerland will hold an evening of poetry (Songs of the City) at the AF. Guest poets are Virgilio Almario, Krip Yuson, Angelo Suarez, Virginia Moreno, Marjorie Evasco and Dinah Roman.

Bea Camacho, Harvard U. art graduate, will hold her first solo exhibit at the CCP Small Gallery.

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Last March 13, a glass sculpture by Ramon Orlina and a music composition by Jerry Dadap went to the winner of Landichohan 2006 honoring UP Professor Emeritus Domingo Landicho at the UP Faculty Center. Three other winners got cash prizes.

Landichohan, an impromptu poetry recitation based on an analysis of poems, was delivered in the tradition of the duplohan transformed into poetic jousts: the Tagalog balagtasan, the Ilocano bukanegan, the Pampango crisotan. Landichohan was conceived by poet Vim Nadera.

Landicho’s new collection of short stories Bathaluman at Ibang Kuwento (Ateneo U. Press) was launched. Ilocano writer Reynaldo Duque introduced the book; Jovy Peregrino and the author read excerpts from it.