Expressions through Art

Music aficionados and the cognoscenti flocked to the CCP Main Theater to listen to international French conductor Dominique Fanal and pianists Cristine Coyiuto and Raul Sunico. Jointly sponsoring the program was the French Embassy, consisting as it did of French music. Fanal conducted works by Berlioz, Gounod, Mihaud and Ravel, assisting the pianists for Poulenc’s Concerto in D Minor.

Coyiuto, who has given recitals and appeared as orchestra soloist in the US, Europe and Asia, drew music lovers from the Fil-Chinese community. Sunico’s large following came from colleges and universities, he being dean of the UST Conservatory, as also one of our formidable concert pianists. His recent feat was playing all four concertos of Rachmaninoff in one evening.

The Fanal, Coyiuto-Sunico engagement was doubtless a musical highlight of the season.

Film festivals enlivened the cultural scene. British Ambassador Paul and Carolyn Dimond sent invitations to the premiere of "Riles" ("Life on the Tracks") at the UP Film Center. Ditsi Carolino’s "Riles" was voted Best Documentary Film at the Cinemanila International Film Festival 2003 and Top Ten Audience Favorites in the International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam 2002, and shown at the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, NY 2003.

Of "Riles", Ronnie Scheib of New York’s Variety magazine wrote: "From the first astonishing shots of men, women and children casually moving their belongings from the railroad tracks seconds in front of an onrushing train, Ditsi Carolino makes the viewer feel completely at home in what should be the most alien of environments. Thoroughly engrossing docu about extreme poverty that gives feel-good movies a whole new meaning."

Israeli First Secretary Roi Dvir sent out invitations for the Fifth Israeli Film Festival at Greenbelt 1, Makati, and at Ayala Center, Cebu. All films were internationally awarded. For instance, "The Investigation Must Go On" was voted Best Foreign Film by the Houston International Film Festival of 2001. "The Summer of Aviya" received Berlin’s Golden Bear Award in 1989, and was Best Film in Valladolid, Spain and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Its director Cohen Eli was chosen best director in San Remo, Italy. Erez Laufer got the best director award at the Cannes Film Festival of 2003 for his movie "Mike Brant".

The InterCon exhibited a dozen Christmas trees decorated by artists Manuel D. Baldemor, Impy Pilapil, Rachy Cuna, Jun-jun Ablaza, Mario Fernandez, Anjoy Hipolito and Jesse Orozco, Lito Perez, Barge Ramos for Al River, Mita Rufino, Edgar San Diego, Gerry Ereñeta Sunga and the Sari-Sari Group.

For each month of the year 2004, the InterCon calendar also printed a photo of an artwork by a local painter or sculptor. Represented in the calendar are Manuel D. Baldemor, Malang, Claude Tayag, Araceli Limcaco Dans, Ting Ping Lay, Aris Bagtas, Tegun Osternik, Danny Pangan, Erlinda Panlilio, Ferdinand Doctolero and Gerry Sunga.

Celebrated glass sculptor Ramon Orlina has photos of his magnificent works printed on a 2004 calendar likewise.

Benedicte Meyson and Millie Vera launched "Joining Hands for Children and the Arts" which featured art works of, by and for children. The event, which took place at the Makati Cinema Square, was a project of Children’s NGOs.

Theater enthusiasts still remember the production of the musical "Miss Saigon" by the Catholic Women’s Club headed by its recently re-elected president Alice Briones. Although the players at the Shangri-La Rizal ballroom were amateurs, they performed with flair and verve, earning lusty applause and "Bravos!"