MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation in partnership with the Filipinas Heritage Library opens its 2012 Season with “Songmakers’ Almanac,” a series of concerts giving tribute to art songs on Feb. 2, 10, 11 and 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Filipinas Heritage Library (formerly Nielson Tower) Ayala Ave. cor Makati Ave., Makati City. This series will be a wonderful Valentine musical treat.
The “Songmakers’ Almanac” Concert 1 (Feb. 2) is Art Songs: A Retrospect. It will feature the artistry of tenor Randy Gilongo and pianist Peter Porticos who will provide insights on the beauty of Art Songs. This annotated concert will be a historical journey on the evolution of Art Songs from the early 18th century to the present.
Concert 2 (Feb. 10) is Les Chansons Chants d’amour. It will feature the multi-awarded soprano Camille Lopez Molina with pianist Najib Ismail in an evening of love songs which includes some of the most beautiful compositions written by Goethe, Heine, Schiller, Schumann, Wolf and Schubert.
Concert 3 (Feb. 11) is Reminiscences: Love Songs from the Screen. It features the artistry of Oggie Benipayo with soprano Thea Perez and pianist/composer Jed Balsamo for an evening of nostalgic love affairs with music from movies that touches people’s hearts such as An Affair to Remember, You Must Love Me from Evita, Nobody Wants To Be Lonely from The Phantom of the Opera as well as our very own Ikaw Lamang from the heartbreaking love story Dubai. This is also a fund-raising concert for the Recovery Circle Foundation.
Concert 4 (Feb. 17) is American Songbook: Love Songs from the American Musicals. It features the unique tandem of soprano Nenen Espina, tenor Ronan Ferrer and pianist Michael Lopez. A journey through songs that has inspired people to love, be loved and to love again such as Kern’s Someone to Watch over Me, The Way You Look Tonight,“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.
For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999, MCO Foundation at 750-0768 or 0920-954-0053 and Filipinas Heritage Library at 892-1801. Tickets at P500 and P300.
The MCO Foundation, established in 1985, a non-stock, non-profit cultural foundation dedicated to the promotion of classical and cultural arts.