Three concerts Sept. 26 / Gerodias conquers Beijing

A clearing house will prevent a conflict of schedules for music lovers. On Sept. 26, there will be a Filfest presentation in Alabang’s Insurance Life Theater; a concert at Ayala Museum sponsored by the Asean Law Association, a concert at Miriam College.

Filfest will feature the Clarion Chamber Ensemble founded by flutist David Johnson and pianist Hyun Joo Lee in 2001. The Ensemble is the country’s only group pursuing and sustaining chamber music. I have highly praised its previous concerts.

It will interpret Martinu’s Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano and La Revue de Cuisine. Also performing: the Nuevo Flamenco Manila dancers under Emma Estrada, and the Yerbaguena, “the only truly Flamenco band.” Flamenco dances and music always set audiences on fire, and on Sept. 26 they will expectedly do so.

Filfest, founded by redoubtable pianist Jiovanney Emmanuel Cruz, and headed by Vicky Zubiri as president, aims to make Alabang the South’s cultural center.

At the ALA concert, legendary pianist Nena R. Villanueva and Carminda L. Regala will play as a duo Wagner’s Prelude to the Overture from Die Meistersinger, Astor Piazzola’s Adios Nonino and Libertango, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Polovetsian Dances from “Prince Igor” and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.

Rachelle Gerodias will render arias; the UP Singing Ambassadors under Ed Manguiat will interpret Broadway and classic songs.

“Fantasie” at Miriam College auditorium will have the Metro Manila Community Orchestra under Josefino “Chino” Toledo in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy for piano, chorus and orchestra, with eminent Cristine Coyiuto, MM degree holder from NY’s Juilliard and mentored by some of the world’s most renowned pianists, as soloist; the 40-member Sta. Isabel Choral will be led by Dr. Raul Navarro.

James Coyiuto gives these notes on the Choral Fantasy: It was first performed by Beethoven over 200 years ago (Dec. 17, 1808) in Vienna along with his Symphonies 5 and 6, and Piano Concerto 4. The Fantasy was his first attempt to combine instrumental with choral music, a precursor of his monumental Symphony No. 9.

San Pedro’s Sa Mahal Kong Bayan will be sung by the Sta. Isabel Choral.

To stress the theme of freedom, Miriam College head Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan will recite Lincoln’s inspiring message from Copland’s Lincoln Potrait; Sibelius’ Finlandia.

Leading soprano Rachelle Gerodias represented the country at the Asia-Europe Culture and Arts Festival in Beijing, China. Venue was the new National Center for Culture and Arts called “The Egg” because of its architecture. Housing the Opera, Music and Theater Halls, the building sits 2,017.

Accompanied by the China National Symphony Orchestra were the Chinese instrumental soloist; Rachelle, the only other Asian and only singer, and the German (trumpet), Danish (recorder) and Polish (piano) soloists. Rachelle climaxed the program with O mio babbino care and Sa Kabukiran to the delight of the Embassy staff. Ambassador Sonia Brady was unable to congratulate Rachelle personally owing to security measures but Cultural Attaché Myca Fisher informed her that Brady and the rest were eager to meet her.

Brady and Rachelle took the same plane to Manila, and Brady expressed the embassy’s immense pride over Rachelle’s triumph, and her plans to take the soprano and other Filipino artists to various cities of China. Rachelle will be back for next year’s World Expo in Shanghai.