Amusing Mozart concert / Manila Cathedral organ: A cultural treasure / RP-Mexico sessions

Highly amusing and entertaining renditions of arias, duets, trios and quartets from Mozart’s best operas made up "An Evening with Amadeus" at the Mandarin Oriental last Friday under the auspices of the Johann Strauss Society.

The New Sound of Music Ensemble, which performed under the management of Franz Langer, consisted of sopranos Christa Kruit-Hemetsberger and Katrin Lehismets-Vasar, and baritones Josef Nemeth and Fernando Araujo. Assisting artists were pianists Langer himself who also served as music director, and his son Franz Alexander.

The singers’ initial number was a delightful surprise: Mozart’s chamber composition Eine Kleine Nacthmusik (A Little Night Music) arranged for a quartet. Decades ago, I heard the Manila Little Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Federico Elizalde play it – beyond compare to this date – and the quartet sang the piece while spiritedly enunciating only two words throughout: om and pah.

The closing piece was still another surprise, "Rock the Amadeus" by Falco (Johann Hoelzel) 1986 – which turned Mozart, the classic genius, into a pop icon on his 250th birth anniversary.

In-between the two surprises, the singers, in elegant period costumes, the men wearing wigs, and performing on a small, improvised stage depicting a verandah, created an ambiance of the era while interpreting episodes from the Marriage of Figaro, Mozart’s best opera, The Magic Flute, his last opera; and Cosi Fan Tutti (So Do They All).

The singers-actors, seasoned and talented, were heartily applauded, particularly in the familiar Voi che sapete (What Is This Feeling?) rendered by Katrin from The Marriage of Figaro, and La ci Darem la Mano (Thy Little Hand, Love) from Don Giovanni, interpreted by Christa and Josef.

Audience participation hugely enlivened the presentation with Josef descending from the stage and "snatching" from the audience unsuspecting guests for brief interludes. Even my young colleague Butch Bonsol found herself twirling momentarily with Josef; business executive Bobet Vera was Christa’s agile dancing partner.

The Papageno-Papagena duet from The Magic Flute, as sung by Josef and Christa, was an infectious rendition of Mozart’s charming and beguiling music. In sum, the four vocal artists, enjoying themselves immensely, sang straight into the hearts of their listeners.

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The Captain’s Bar was filled to the rafters, a fact which gladdened the organizers: Mandarin Oriental’s GM Helmut Gaisberger, VP of the Johann Strauss Society, Letty Syquia, over-all chairperson, Consul Fortune Ledesma and Olga S. Martel, co-chairpersons, and their hard-working committee members, among them Charisse Chuidian, Alice Briones, Pillie Barrenechea, Fanny Blanco, Lucille Villanueva – who, in-charge of reception, took her work seriously by escorting me way in front – Minerva Tanseco, Martin Lopez, Joey Soriano, Agnes Huibonhua, Tessie Kabigting, Jorge Hizon, Viola Cruz, Jimmy Laya and CCP trustee Tessie Luz.

"An Evening with Amadeus" was also a tribute to National Artist Arturo Luz on his 80th birthday, and proceeds of the event will go to the CCP. Accordingly, present were CCP board chairman Emily Abrera, president Nes Jardin and former president Baltazar Endriga.

Emcee Johnny Litton announced the presence of diplomats Ignacio and Aurora Sagaz, Erendira Araceli Paz Campos, Asha Dvitiyananda, Jorge and Johanna Montero, Jan and Agnes de Kok, Consul to Austria, a.h., Washington Sycip and scores more.

Among those in the audience were Rose Marie "Baby" Arenas, newly-discovered tenor George Yang, Sol Lavadia and the celebrated painter Sanso who forthwith handed me an invitation to his exhibition of prints "Black Bouquet" at the Ayala Museum from Nov. 15 to March 11, 2007. Luz will have his own show "In Light of Luz" at the Ateneo Art Gallery from Nov. 21 to Jan. 21, 2007.

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An invitation from Msgr. Nestor C. Cerbo, rector of the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica, informed me that the restoration of its pipe organ had just been completed. Unfortunately, something urgent came up, and I was unable "to have a glimpse of the majestic power and beauty of the instrument, reputedly the biggest church-stationed pipe organ in Asia."

In his invitation, Msgr. Cerbo observed further that "the organ, truly a spectacle in its magnificence and massiveness, is now almost fifty years old, and is considered a cultural treasure of the country as a whole."

At the press conference presenting the organ were the president of the Diego Cera Organ Builders and esteemed organists Armando Salarza and Jose Flores Jr. who presumably played some baroque masterpieces on the organ – more reason for me to regret my absence at the auspicious occasion during which Msgr. Cerbo shared with those present "the good news about the First Manila Cathedral Basilica Pipe Organ Festival."

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The Embassy of Mexico, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the National Museum of the Philippines will hold a seminar on "Historic Relations between the Philippines and Mexico" on Nov. 16 and 17 at the National Museum.

At the opening session on Nov. 16, welcome remarks will be given by Corazon S. Alvina, National Museum director; messages will be delivered by Mexican Ambassador Erendira Arceli Paz Campos and NCCA chairman Ambet Ocampo.

Session I will be on "Social Encounters" to be chaired by Dr. Bernardita S. Churchill, president, National Historical Society.

Session II will be on "Culture and the Arts" to be chaired by Dr. Ferdinand Llanes, chairman, UP History Department. It will end with the exhibition "Flora Filipina from Acapulco to Manila".

On Nov. 17, Session III will be on "The Galleon Route" to be chaired by Dr. Celestina Boncan, president, Philippine Historical Association.

The discussions will be summed up by Director Ariel Peñaranda, DFA Division for Mexico and Central America, and by Jose C. Oramas Cadena, Minister, Mexican Embassy. Closing remarks will be given by Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, NCCA executive directo; the launching of a book by Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita will follow.