Saraza, Buenaventura: 'Dream' concert at FEU/Russian dancers revisited

In a concert entitled “My Dreams for My Children”, violinists Diomedes B. Saraza Jr. and Regina Buenaventura — by their performance — reflected their dream of ultimately becoming international artists, thus inspiring listeners to dream likewise because dreams come true.

The audience was immediately electrified by Saraza’s rendition of the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s Concerto in D Major, allegro moderato. The Concerto, among the best, is “sensuous, with opulent melodies, tireless rhythmic variety and vigor, its coloring bold but sensitive”.

Diomedes’ interpretation was intense, burning with passion. He was more than equal to the technical demands, meeting them with élan and brio. With supreme confidence. The listeners complimented the violinist with deafening applause and clamor as they did at the close of Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso. Diomedes’ reading captured the essence of the score: Its Spanish-inspired rhythms were brisk, its melodies expressed with lyrical ardor. How the cadenza magnetized!

For encores, Diomedes played two selections. In due time, he could be rendering the Paganini encore piece like Paganini himself!

Regina Buenaventura sang the melodic lines of Tchaikovsky’s “Memory of a Beloved Place” warmly, sinuously; in the Scherzo Presto Giocoso, she conveyed depth of spirit. She treated the composition with keen musical intelligence as she did Brahms’ Concerto in D Major. This, according to musicologists, is not quite a masterpiece, but the first movement, which Regina interpreted, is absorbingly beautiful, and Regina made it so, although being an allegro non troppo, it required more vibrancy and power. In any case, Regina was highly impressive, and the warm applause drew an encore.

Both violinists were assisted by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Molina who, as the program notes accurately describe, is (was) precise, clear and authoritative. Under his baton, the MSO had “a unified sense of phrasing, textured clarity and rhythmic control”. It was splendidly cohesive, the widely-ranging dynamics fully controlled.

Further, Molina’s conducting, never exaggerated, combined sensitivity with dynamism. The opening number was Antonio Buenaventura’s “By the Hillside”, a lyrical, exquisitely descriptive tone poem depicting the quiet, tranquil Baguio landscape.

The variations on Mildred Hill’s “Happy Birthday” song known the world over, were absolutely engaging, amusing and clever. The variations hewed faithfully to the melody, but as arranged by Peter Heidrich, they mirrored the styles of various classic and modern composers. For instance, the variation on Strauss’ style, fittingly enough, was a fascinating waltz.

The Happy Birthday series was a tribute to FEU president Lydia Echaus who was celebrating her natal day. Diomedes and Regina jointly capped the concert with Sarasate’s propulsive Navarra, Diomedes’ robust and sonorous notes surfacing assertively.

Principal concert sponsor was Standard Insurance Co. Inc. FEU Board Chairman Lourdes R. Montinola graciously welcomed the guests. Martin Lopez was the program impresario.

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The tyranny of deadlines led to slight inaccuracies; space limitation, to omissions in my review of the Russian ballet stars.

The only stage décor was in Swan Lake, not Giselle. The three ballerinas in the most challenging pas de deux executed fouettes interspersed with double and triple pirouettes (turns).

The opening number, Tony Fabella’s “Dancing to Czerny” featured Lisa Macuja Elizalde in a pas de deux. Her magnificent, impeccable performance set the standard of excellence for the rest of the glorious dance concert.

Ivi A. Cosio’s recital

I deeply regret having missed Ivi Avellana Cosio’s voice recital for inevitable reasons. An excellent actress and a richly talented visual artist, Ivi took voice lessons some years ago after which she and her husband Alan Cosio, an eminent visual artist, gave a joint recital. Ivi’s voice was rather small, but her manner was refined and deeply expressive, her diction clear, the high notes sustained.

Having continued her voice lessons, Ivi has presumably improved to a considerable degree. Again, my apologies, dinner followed the recital at Esther Vibal’s mansion.