St. Paul U marks 70th year with concerts Aug.-Dec. / An engaging duo recital

The St. Paul U. Manila College of Music and the Performing Arts (formerly St. Paul College of Manila Conservatory of Music) will mark its 70th year with special concerts from August to December.

The best from the Greenhills Music Studio and the Philippine Suzuki Association will be featured along with US-based Rowena Arrieta, former prodigy of Carmencita Arambulo, in a concert on August 1. On August 4, Arrieta and Raul Sunico will perform in a “come back”, R and R duo-piano concert.

On Nov. 18, a faculty concert will feature pianists Mary Ann Espina, Najib Ismail and Jonathan Coo, singers Ronan Ferrer, Thea Perez, Elisanta Cortes and Nenen Espina.

On December 5, alumnae will perform with Stella Brimo Society members: pianists Imelda Asiaten, Julie Ann Hallazgo, Carmencita Castro, Priscilla Enriquez — all former students of Brimo — marimba player Dena Fernandez, holder of a master’s degree from St. Paul U., pianist Melissa Taqueban, also holder of a master’s degree and first prize winner in a Romantic Music Competition.

The St. Paul U. College of Music, now headed by Sr. Anunciata Sta. Ana, looks back to a glorious past — to its 50s Glee Club and its 60s Broadway musicals which, directed by Fr. James B. Reuter, SJ, garnered for the Fleur-de-lis Auditorium the sobriquet “Broadway on Herran Street”.

Surmounting tremendous problems through the years, it has presented many acclaimed performances of both alumnae and graduates, and continues to do so.

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With Martin Lopez as impresario and cultural entrepreneur, Friends of Cultural Concerns of the Philippines held a mini-recital of cellist Emily Duffill and pianist Kaju Lee at the Castañeda residence in Makati.

Duffill, a New Zealander who studied in the Manhattan School of Music, has performed with several renowned conductors and musicians, and worked under renowned artistic director Daniel Barenboim.

Lee, Korean, holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. She has played in various international festivals and collaborated with partners in Canada, Korea, Austria and the US.

Cellist and pianist remarkably interacted in Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, Beethoven’s Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Mendelssohn’s Lied Ohne Worte (Song without Words) and Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano.

Mendelssohn’s Song without Words, though a minor work, is ingeniously crafted, its melodies hauntingly lovely as are the melodies in Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, actually a song, with the composer’s inherent sadness and loneliness surfacing. Duffill’s long, sinuous, resonant tones reflected the exquisite lyricism of both pieces as she demonstrated impressive technical skill and sensitive artistry.

The cellist conveyed Beethoven’s passionate, agitated vitality in the outer movements and poignant tranquility in the slow one.

Duffill and Lee played as sisters-in-arms. Like the cellist, the pianist exhibited mastery of her craft as well as widely nuanced expressivity.

While deep in reverie in the songs of Mendelssohn and Rachmaninoff, Duffill brilliantly leapt into the brisk pyrotechnical devices of Debussy’s piece. Lee’s notes had utmost clarity her runs were like a rippling brook. Debussy’s Sonata demanded dexterity and nimbleness from both cellist and pianist, and the keenest rhythmic sense for the abrupt staccato chords and runs. Although on rare occasions Duffill seemed rather wanting in power, her technique was impeccable.

The audience, enthralled, gave the duo lusty applause.

As a measure of dedication, Impresario Lopez was on his feet throughout the recital while seated were Tereret T. Liboro, Beth Cristobal, Grace Brunner, Nonie and Bert Basilio, Nene Leonor, Chloe Periquet, Lulu Castañeda, Vicky Zubiri, Nenuca A. Blardony, Boysie Villavicencio, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, CCP V-P Raul Sunico, Esther Vibal, Nina Racho, Helen O. del Rosario, Karen Macasaet and Evelyn Garcia, among others.

Dr. Elenita Binay headed the guests.