SSC centenary concert / Dog Day benefit musical / Staged reading at FEU

By way of summing up or symbolizing the century of missionary Benedictine presence here, the recent centennial concert at St. Cecilia’s Hall involved as many music teachers, alumnae, alumni and students as possible.

Thus, the J.S. Bach composition based on his Prelude from Partita No. 3 in E Major was arranged for 100 string players ages five and up by violist Jeffrey Solares. The opening Sinfonia on Philippine Airs was arranged (in a simplified style) by Alejandro Consolacion for ten nuns, many of whom came expressly for the concert: Piano 1: Sr. Mary Placid Abejo and Sr. Benilda Maramba; Piano 2: Sr. M. Imelda Halili and Sr. Pia Lansang; Piano 3: Sr. Baptista Busmente and Sr. Mary Vincent Feliciano; Piano 4: Sr. Agnella Capili and Sr. Angelica Leviste; Piano 5: Sr. Hilda Buhay and Sr. Salvacion Umali.

The most recognizable folk tune in the charming arrangement was Sit-sirit-sit.

The closing choral works, Te Deum by J. Rutter and "Now Thank We All Our God" arranged by Rutter had as singers the Benedictine Sisters, the College Faculty Chorale, alumnae, a chorus class, the High School Glee Club and the Asian Institute for Music and Liturgy (guest choir), with the Manila Symphony Orchestra assisting under conductor Arturo T. Molina.

In the second song, the woodwinds and the brasses strongly heralded mankind’s thanks for God’s "bounteous gifts."

R. Strauss’ lengthy Quartet in C Minor featured in close interplay Virginia Laico Villanueva, pianist; Gina Mendina, violinist; Jeffrey Solares, violist, and Antonio Josef Inaca, cellist. Each asserted his/her role in a most persuasive, assured manner.

Soprano Camille Lopez-Molina, faculty member and tenor Pablo Molina provided the operatic portion with a duet from Verdi’s "Masked Ball." Camille’s performance was of the purest gem.

Saint-Saens’ highly descriptive and entertaining "Carnival of the Animals" had pianists Dom Benildus Ma. Maramba and J. Greg Zuniega delicately and sensitively etching animals in a zoo, among them the elephant with its lumbering pace (depicted by a piano and a double bass); the kangaroo leaping with lightning swiftness; the gentle, graceful, gliding swan. Balletomanes will recall that "The Swan" was the same "Dying Swan" danced to by Russia’s great ballerinas Pavlova, Karsavina and Plesitskaya. The pianos and orchestra brought to vivid life the world of "furs, feathers and fins" made amusing by Ogden Nash’s witty verses, these read spiritedly by narrator Dom Bernardo Ma. Perez.

"Bach to St. Scho" best placed in perspective the pioneering work of Sr. Baptista Battig who introduced formal Western music education in our country. Violin alumni and advanced violin students were soloists Gina Medina, Jeffrey Solares, DJ Francisco, Michelle Roque, Sara Maria Gonzales, Denise Santos-Huang, Rochelle Alcances, Socorro Cruz, Reineza Santos, Joseph Brian Cimafranca and Ilko Revan Ventura.

Augmenting their numbers were PREDIS children – the endearing "Twinklers" and a few older ones, both playing the antiphonal parts. PREDIS, consisting of exceedingly young talents, was organized by Sr. Mary Placid and eminent violinist Basilio Manalo.

Sr. Abejo conceptualized the centennial concert. She is now the fulcrum of the SSC Music Department, before then, she arranged outreach programs virtually covering the archipelago, and taught at the UP College of Music.

The centennial concert was interspersed with documentary films showing the various Benedictine schools and convents established since 1906, thus pointing to the vast educational contribution of the Benedictines, not the least, Sr. Baptista Battig.

The printed program bore messages of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales; Sr. Irene Dabalus, general overseer; Sr. Mary John Mananzan, prioress; Sr. Angelica Leviste, president; Sr. Mary Bellarmine Bernas, chairperson, Priory Centennial Committee, and Sr. Placid, dean of music.

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This afternoon, Mesdames Kumiko Kuroda and Renee Speltz, and Sen. Richard Gordon will present "Dog Day Afternoon" for the benefit of the Philippine K9 Search and Rescue Foundation (which trains search dog teams for search and rescue missions) and the PNRC. Venue: the Makati residence of Mrs. Kuroda, wife of the ADB head.

An interestingly motley group will be in "An elegant soiree of light classical music" consisting of the following: Songs by the Philippine Opera Co. to be rendered by sopranos Karla P. Gutierrez and Jennifer Uy-Wong, and tenor Juan Alberto Gaerlan/ Sa Ugoy ng Duyan by Lucio San Pedro to be played by violinist Jay Cayuca / Abelardo’s Visayan Caprice to be interpreted by Kumiko Kuroda, recorder; Yuuka Omoto, cello, and Jane Banta, piano.

"The Swan" by Saint-Saens and "Canon" by Pachelbel will be rendered by cellist Rafael Laperal / Sous Bois by Chabriere and Chopin’s Valse in D Flat Major and Ballade No. 4 in F Minor will be played by pianist Noriko Kojima/Saint-Saens’ "Carnival of the Animals," transcribed for two pianos by Ralph Berkowitz, with poems by Ogden Nash and Peter Schikele, will feature pianists from the concert studio of Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz. Narrators will be Raul Guingona and Cruz. Cito Beltran will serve as emcee.

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On Sept. 28 at the FEU auditorium, the FEU President’s Committee on Culture, jointly with the Cultural Planners Association, will present the Barangay Theater Guild in a staged reading of Ladislas Fodor’s "The Vigil" as adapted and directed by National Artist for Theater Daisy Hontiveros-Avellana, long in hibernation.

Performances, open and free to the public, will be at 10:45 a.m. and at 3:15.

Seasoned, accomplished stalwarts of stage, television, radio and film will read Mitos C. Araneta, Rustica Carpio, Arnel Carrion, Jeremy Domingo, Danny Escasa, Mindo Fajardo, Miguel Faustmann, Paul Holme, Tony Mabesa, Ernie Zarate, Butch Zabarte, and the Avellanas: Jose Mari, Lamberto Jr. and Ivi A. Cosio who will be Mary Magdalene, previously portrayed by her mother, Daisy.

In "The Vigil," the dramatic Easter story is retold in a modern courtroom setting. The Gardener is charged with removing Christ’s body from the tomb after the crucifixion. The characters are called to the witness stand to tell in everyday language what they saw and how they reacted. A stirring suspense is created as each in his/her fashion contributes evidence for the defense or the prosecution.

Fodor’s drama, a favorite masterpiece of Barangay, has been repeatedly presented by it. One of the oldest local community theater groups, the Barangay Theater Guild was founded in 1939 by the late National Artist for Film Lamberto V. Avellana and his wife.

"The Vigil" is being presented by the FEU-PCC under Dr. Rustica Carpio to deepen and enrich the school’s appreciation for the performing arts.

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Music lovers are enjoined not to miss the opera "Eugene Onegin" on Sept. 29 and 30 at the CCP. The producers are striving for utmost authenticity. Period costumes – long flowing empire gowns – and sets are designed by Gino Gonzales.