A tribute to Puccini / Ayala Museum’s ceilings

Italy’s National Day celebration hosted by Ambassador Rubens Anna Fedele and Cosetta Cassin Fedele at the Metropolitan Museum ended with “A Tribute to Puccini.”

Italian opera dates back to about 1580, with Florentine scholars and musical amateurs experimenting on the possibility of adapting music to drama. Through the years came Monteverdi, Scanlatti, Rossini and Verdi.

At the end of the 19th century, Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci introduced dramas of real life, a new school called cini, his arias consequently predominated. Rachelle Gerodias, who will appear as Liu in Puccini’s Turandot for September Singapore Lyric Opera production, after having portrayed the role in Vienna, interpreted Quand Me’n Vo from La Boheme, O Mio Babbino from Gianni Schicchi and Abelardo’s Mutya ng Pasig.

Rachelle conveyed such emotional ardor, such singular sparkle, vibrant timbre and effortless technique that were Puccini alive, he would claim to have composed the arias for the Filipino soprano.

The finale had her singing in duets — O Soave Fanciulla from La Boheme and the drinking song Libiamo from Verdi’s La Traviata — with tenor Al Gatmaitan who exhibited considerable flair, spirit and elan, his voice soaring in the high notes. As Al completes his studies with Rachelle, he will likely increase his volume and power. His own solos, Recondita Armonia and E Lucevan La Stelle, both from La Tosca were delightful and engaging.

The participation of the student UST Symphony Orchestra under Heminigildo Rañera, and of two highly promising violinists reflected Ambassador Fedele’s earnest wish to encourage young Filipino artists, thus showing another dimension of Italian-RP friendship — the cultural. Violinist Jhames Labrador opened the program with Vivaldi’s L’Estate (Summer) presto movement from “The Four Seasons,” violinist Jan Gutierrez played L’Inverno (Winter) allegro movement. Both youngsters demonstrated flourish and confidence.

Pianist Jourdann Petalver compelled attention with his refined, lyrical, poetic rendition of Chopin’s Nocturne in E Sharp Minor. He awed the audience with F. Buencamino’s Mt. Mayon, depicting the gentle, charming village festivities at the foot of the volcano, his thunderous chords and massive densities then articulating with utmost clarity, the volcano’s terrifying eruption, this followed by a return to the festivities.

Rañera wielded the baton in selections from La Boheme, their beautiful melodies surfacing in a flowing, languid manner.

In sum, the concert epitomized Italian contribution to Philippine musical life and the Filipino’s eloquent expression of it.

Among those in the appreciative audience were Secretary Alberto Romulo, Apostolic Nuncio Edward Joseph Adams, ex-President Fidel V. Ramos, Ambassadors Peter and Jill Beckingham, Herbert Jager and Martina Corrado, Mario and Sylvia Schuff, George and Cristina Yang, Rita Tan, Alejandro Padilla, Jaime Laya, Gemma Cruz Araneta, Fred Borromeo, Nena Casimiro, Pitoy Moreno, Gerry Contreras, Aniceto and Anna Sobrepeña, Consuls Mike and Alice Guerrero, Vince and Tina Carlos, Helmut Gaisberger, Nena R. Villanueva, Alfonso Yuchengco, Yayeng Dragon, Letty Syquia, Anikha Kahn, Bel Cunanan, Jules Dizon, Arturo and Tessie Luz.

After “A Tribute to Puccini”, legendary pianist Nena R. Villanueva told me how awesome and breathtakingly exquisite are the ceiling paintings on display up to July 6, at the Ayala Museum. Actually, the paintings come from Bohol’s magnificent church ceilings, exhibited as part of the Filipino Heritage Festival. See them!