Top Asians in La Traviata / Arens, Unit Asia to perform / Betsy heads charity project

Opera-lovers will be delighted watching Verdi’s opera ‘La Traviata’ on March 2 and 4 at the CCP theater as the Daejeon Opera Company of Korea performs. A stellar cast will portray the principal roles: the multi-awarded Korean soprano Yun Kyoung Li and our own eminent singers - the much sought-after soprano Rachelle Gerodias, La Scala tenor Arthur Espiritu and internationally-awarded baritone Andrew Fernando as Violeta, Alfredo and Germont, respectively. The world-acclaimed UST Singers under Fidel Calalang Jr. will give choral support. Korean Jae Joon Lee will wield the baton over the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1981, the German Embassy, then headed by Ambassador Wolfgang Eger, converted Paco Cemetery, where Rizal was originally interred, into Paco Park. Since then, Paco Park devotes every February to free concerts featuring Filipino artists interpreting German or Filipino composers. How Rizal, an ardent music-lover, would have enjoyed listening to them!

With the recent signing of a joint cultural declaration between Germany and the Philippines, the Germany Embassy will intensify its major cultural project, namely, the Phl-German Month.

The joint declaration was signed by Federal Minister Guido Westerwelle and DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario last Dec. 7 in Berlin. It reiterates the two countries’ commitment to foster cultural cooperation by an open exchange of literary and cultural publications, performing arts, cinema and television, education, etc.

Phl-German month began last Feb. 3 with singer Eudy Palaruan accompanied by guitarist Ferdinand Medina, and the Basunistas Pilipinas, an up-and-coming quartet propagating bassoon-playing.

On Feb. 10, pianist Alejandro Consolacion II will perform accompanied by well-known flutist Tony Maigue.

On Feb. 17, soprano Minette Padilla and pianist Aries Caces will interpret pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, interspersed with compositions by Filipino composers F. Buencamino and E. Cuenco. On Feb. 24, pianist Leonor Kilayko will perform. Concerts start at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

On Feb. 23, renowned chamber musician Rolf Dieter Arens will give a concert at the Philamlife auditorium. Arens’ extensive concert career includes performing as soloist for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (1986-91), playing with such famous conductors as Kurt Masur, Herbert Blomstedts and Neville Mariner, and touring various European, American and Asian countries. He has also served as juror for international competitions.

For more information, contact Goethe Institut tel. 4401021.

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‘Unit Asia’ will give a jazz concert with special guest Cooky Chua on Feb. 13, 8 p.m. at the SM City North EDSA Sky Dome, QC.

“Unit Asia” is a jazz group from Asia composed of five outstanding musicians from Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia, with Isao Miyoshi (guitar), Hiroyuki Noritake (drums), Shigeki Ippon (bass), Koh Mr. Saxman (saxophone and Tay Cher Siang (piano).

The group, with great energy, will perform the “Asian Jazz of the Future”. Isao “Sankichi” Miyoshi gives this message: “Unit Asia was originally a ‘limited time only ensemble’ that was formed for a month-long tour but because the sound evolved (deepened) with each successive performance, and the bond among the members developed, despite cultural and linguistic differences, we decided to continue making music together after the tour.”

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The lunch hosted by celebrated Spanish artist Betsy Westendorp at her elegant apartment drew top painters, sculptors and media for the project “Art for a Vision”. As they did in 2010, Artists are donating their works — some of these were on display at Betsy’s place — with proceeds from sales to go to visually impaired indigents under the care of the Ophthalmological Foundation headed by Dr. Felipe Tolentino as president and founder. The donated works will be on exhibit and sale at the Crucible Gallery from Feb. 10 to 21. Betsy heads the following artists involved in the charity project: Gus Albor, Virgilio Aviado, Cesar Caballero, Valeria Cavestany, Igan D’Bayan, Ramon Diaz, Arturo Luz, Ramon Orlina, Impy Pilapil, Cid Reyes, Juvenal Sanso, and Jaime Zobel.