Another night of romantic music

CEBU, Philippines - After some 400 performances - and still counting - Dr. Ingrid Sala Santamaria and Maestro Reynaldo G. Reyes are still at it, and going strong at that.

It all began in 2001. The accomplished pianists joined hands and embarked on their bi-annual Romantic Piano Concerto Journey Tours. Each time, the US-based maestro has come back to the Philippines to perform with the Cebuana virtuoso.

Santamaria and  Reyes shared musical talents which has taken them to the big cities and small towns all over the country, as well as several metropolitan areas in the US and Asia. Though both have had stellar performances in the grandest of music halls around the world, they have made it their life's mission to bring the gift of music to people in far-flung places.

They continue to hire trucks, load the pianos and gladly play in auditoriums, barangay social halls and even open basketball courts in order that a greater number of the general public may experience the classical program right in their own areas.  No venue is ever too small for them.  Utilizing only two pianos – traveling sans the usual orchestra – Santamaria takes on the soloist part while Reyes does the orchestra portion. The response to their much-awaited, intimate concerts of light music has been very heart-warming. Anywhere they visit, their audiences of all ages fill the appointed place and stay on to listen in rapt attention up to the very last note.

Recently, at the GSIS Museum in Manila, aptly surrounded by treasures of Philippine art by masters such as Fernando Amorsolo, the indefatigable duo serenaded their highly appreciative audience led by Ilocos Norte Representative Imelda Romualdez Marcos with a repertoire that included Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2.

Flawlessly organized by tireless patron of heritage, arts and culture Minerva Tanseco, former President of the Friends for the Cultural Concerns of the Philippines and the Inner Wheel Club of Manila, among those who attended the affair were Bal Endriga, Bambi Harper, Chona Sala Montinola, Chichi Laperal, Letty Hahn, Nene Leonor, Celine Bautista, Alice Briones, Boysie Villavicencio, Carrie Bautista, Letty Calma, Lulu Castañeda, Beng Fores, Mars Lambino and Tereret Liboro. (FREEMAN)