RP-Japan opera-concert / Dazzling pianist Makk / Sunico in ‘Quadrille’

OperaNow presented "An Evening of Puccini" which featured arias from his operas. The cast consisted of Japanese soprano Hisaro Sato as Cio Cio San and mezzo soprano Kazuko Nagai as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Filipino singers: soprano Camille Lopez-Molina as Tosca in Tosca, tenor Sol Malaki as Lt. Pinkerton in M. Butterfly, soprano Thea T. Perez as Mimi in La Boheme and Liu in Turandot, tenor Juan Alberto Gaerlan as Pong in Turandot and Goro in M. Butterfly, Mary Patrice Pacis as Musetta in La Boheme, baritone Noel Azcona as Alcindoro in La Boheme and Ping in Turandot, tenor Randy Gilongo as Cavaradossi in Tosca, and tenor David Ong as Calaf in Turandot.

Other Japanese singers were tenor Osuma Igarachi as Pang in Turandot – he also served as choral director of UST’s Coro Tomasino – and bass Hiroaki Otsuka as Colline in La Boheme, Timur in Turandot and Commissionario in M. Butterfly.

Coro Tomasino under Osuma Igarachi admirably rendered the Christmas Eve Chorus from La Boheme and the closing chorus in M. Butterfly.

The participants asserted their presence through varying degrees of vocal skill – some more remarkably than others – but most seemed wanting in dramatic or theater magic.

I thought more significant roles could have been assigned Azcona, he of the wonderfully magnetic voice. Camille and Hisara Sato towered above the rest, the former singing Vissi d’arte (as Tosca), her voice ringing, powerful, mellifluous and expressive; the latter as M. Butterfly, her voice fully limpid, resonant and soaring beautifully.

Sato is reputedly Japan’s best Butterfly, and her performance made her reputation thoroughly deserved. Being Japanese, she and Nagai infused their stage acting and demeanor with utmost authenticity. Their "Flower Duet," sung on a flower-strewn stage, was exquisite.

Film settings of Japanese locales – a garden and the interior of a house – deepened ambiance.

Opera lovers were on the edge of their seats waiting in vain for more operatic highlights both in Act 1 and Act 2, while fully expecting Un bel di vedremo which, to their utter disappointment, was not sung in M. Butterfly.

But the brilliant performances of Camille and Sato, the cohesive choral renditions, and the marvelous Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the vibrant direction of Yasuo Shinozaki, earned audience admiration. The entire cast of singers received lusty applause.

The concert was in celebration of RP-Japan Friendship Year and 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Guests were headed by Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Japan Center Director Ms. Hiroko Taniguchi and Italian Ambassador Rubens Fedele.

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The first time I heard pianist Aima Labra Makk perform, I immediately noted her bristling virtuosity. At the Metro Manila Community Orchestra’s 6th concert season engagement at the CCP main theater, Aima’s virtuosity bristled again. Doubtless one of our leading pianists today, she dazzled and amazed listeners with her interpretation of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E Flat (The "Emperor"), the MMCO assisting under the authoritative baton of Josefino "Chino" Toledo.

The "Emperor" Concerto offered Makk an excellent chance to demonstrate her entire armory of technique and range of expressivity which she did superbly. Her chords, so robustly struck, her runs so swiftly, evenly and smoothly executed, stood out in the first (allegro) and third (rondo allegro) movements. The inner movement (adagio) was gentle and supplicating, utterly lyrical and romantic. Freshness, strength, vitality, a richness of tonal colors, a wealth of nuances characterized her overall playing. The rousing applause was rewarded with Schumann’s Arabesque and a short Beethoven piece.

Chino Toledo was acutely alert to accents, to the rise and fall of phrases, to the building of climaxes. The orchestra consisting of young and not-so-young members of the community with a passion for music, was truly inspired, reflecting the spirit of each movement, and closely working with the soloist from start to climactic ending.

The program opened with Copland’s Outdoor Overture, a functional, simple, straightforward work, its slow and fast movements interjected with a trumpet solo. Appropriately expansive, it invited listeners to explore the wide, open spaces.

Antonino Buenaventura’s descriptive By The Hillside has endured through these many years for its lyrical beauty. To my mind, it exemplifies Filipino romanticism at its best.

The concert was a huge success. The MMCO, formed upon the initiative of virtuoso violinist Alfonso "Coke" Bolipata, carries on with dedication and determination under the firm guidance of Toledo. Concert sponsors were the Institute for Orchestral Development in the Philippines, the CCP, Miriam College, Ayala Westgrove Heights and the Philippine STAR.

We look forward to the continuing valuable service of MMCO to the community, and to the return of the dazzling pianist Aima Labra Makk.

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Internationally-acclaimed concert pianist Raul Sunico is in great demand by his colleagues as a co-performer because when he appears jointly with them, he raises their stature and prestige, and improves the quality of their performance.

Again, the three seasoned, accomplished pianists Mary Ann Armovit, Della Besa and Anamaria de Guzman have requested Raul to perform with them in a fund-raising concert titled ‘Quadrille’ for Ang Arko ng Pilipinas on Aug. 11 at F. Santiago Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Ang Arko cares for abandoned mentally handicapped youngsters in a center which provides a "home" atmosphere given by non-handicapped assistants who serve as substitute parents. Ang Arko also runs a "Day Care" for the younger mentally handicapped, and a "Workshop" for the older ones who are taught various skills.

The duo-piano concert program consists of compositions by Lecuona, Kriesler, Albeniz, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Porter, Gershwin, Cuenco and Velarde.

Those who wish to respond to Ang Arko’s appeal may call tels. 8784359 or 8407000, loc. 2630, or send an email to [email protected]. Or attend ‘Quadrille’!