World-class Pinoy artists at Balay Kalinaw

MANILA, Philippines - Internationally acclaimed Filipino artists will highlight the July concert attractions at UP Diliman’s Balay Kalinaw.

Tomorrow, July 8, beginning 6 p.m., prizewinning cellist Wilfredo Pasamba will appear in an evening of Barber, Debussy and Shostakovich cello sonatas with pianist Mary Anne Espina.

Pasamba has performed worldwide as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. His recent performances include guest solo appearances at the Heidelberg New Music Festival performing the music of George Crumb, and at the Olivier Messiaen Centennial in Missouri; collaboration in the Arnold Schoenberg Retrospective at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; a chamber music appearance with the Omaha Chamber Music Society and guest solo recitals in San Francisco, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

He has garnered top honors at the Jennings Butterfield Young Artist Competition, Juilliard Cello Concerto Competition, the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Reno Chamber Orchestra Competition and was a semi-finalist at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

The July 8 cello program includes Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D Minor, Barber’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in C Minor, Op. 6 and Shostakovich’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 40.

On July 22 at 6 p.m., baritone Andrew Fernando will also debut at the UP Balay Kalinaw with mezzo soprano Clarissa Ocampo, flutist Christopher Oracion and Espina.

Fernando is the first Filipino grand prize winner of the prestigious 2003 Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition in the US and an alumnus of the world-renowned San Francisco Opera Merola Program. Ocampo has toured all over the US and Canada, once performing Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and the other as part of the Broadway National Touring Company of The King & I.

Clarissa appeared in the role of Pitti-Sing in The Mikado with Opera North in New Hampshire. Other roles performed include Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Romeo in I Capuletti ed I Montecchi. She received a grant to attend the University of California Santa Barbara – Vocal Institute, where she performed in a number of song recitals and a master class conducted by Metropolitan Opera star Mignon Dunn.

Also joining the July 22 concert is the flutist Oracion, a two-time NAMCYA first prize winner.

The July 22 program consists of Verdi’s Traviata Concertwaltzer (for flute), Onegin’s aria from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Donizetti’s Bella siccome un’angelo (from Don Pasquale), Puccini’s Questo amor vergona mia (from Edgar), Ponti’ Czardas (for flute), Bizet’s Habanera (from Carmen) and selected Filipino favorites and Broadway selections.

UP Balay Kalinaw is located at Guerrero St. cor. Dagohoy St. inside the UP Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Tickets for tomorrow’s cello recital are priced at P1,000 (with buffet dinner at 6 p.m.); P500 (concert only at 7 p.m.) and P300 (for music teachers and students). For details, call 748-4152 or 0906-5104270.