Earth Day concerts / Not-to-be-missed events

The celebration of Earth Day will be marked by meaningful nationwide activities organized by government, church, business and NGO sectors.

The first event is the Ave Maria Gala Mystica, a multi-media musical concert on Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. at Quirino Grandstand. The concert, a musical prayer for the healing of the Planet, will feature ‘Ave Maria’ numbers by local and foreign composers throughout the centuries, sung and accompanied by close to a hundred of our finest singers and instrumentalists. Each ‘Ave’ corresponds to a mystery of the Holy Rosary.

Topbilled by Soprano Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, the singers are Aileen Cura, Karla Gutierrez, Lorna Llames, Lena McKenzie, Camille Lopez Molina, Jennifer Uy, Deeda Barretto and Alexis Edralin. Mezzo-Sopranos are Agnes Barredo, Ana Feleo, Jeanelle Roldan, Ella Baarde, Nenen Espina, and Joanna Go. Led by Frankie Aseniero, the tenors are Pablo Molina, Juan Miguel Gaerlan, Randy Gilongo and Dondie Ong. Baritones are Montet Acoymo, Noel Azcona, Marvin Gayramon, Eric Santos and Miguel Lambino, SJ. The basses are Alex Dacanay, Fredo Gutierrez, Jun Jaranilla, Nomer Son and Jo Honey Romulo.

The classical singers will perform the opening number, Gounod’s Ave Maria, usually sung by Benedictine Monks. They will be accompanied by Raul Sunico and Mary Ann Espina on two grand pianos. Their grand finale, accompanied by the lighting of candles by the audience, will be Verdi’s Ave Maria, accompanied by the Makiling Ensemble.

Famous ‘Ave Maria’ works by Caccini, Tosti, Saint-Saens, Malvare, Schubert, Montecillo, Verdi, Mascagni will be interpreted, along with local compositions by Buencamino, Abelardo, Santiago, Francisco, Dadap, De Leon, Bolipata, and Cayabyab. More than 20 versions of the Ave Maria in 20 languages will be sung, some in Philippines dialects: Ilocano, Pangasinense, Kapampangan, Hiligaynon, Cebuano and Bikolano.

The singers will be accompanied by eminent instrumentalists — Lourdes Gregorio on the harp, Renato Lucas on the cello, Coke Bolipata on the violin and Lester Demetillo on the classical guitar. Harold Galang will conduct.

Written, designed and directed by Henry C. Tejero, the musical event is produced by Odette Alcantara of Mother Earth Philippines in collaboration with the Music Theater Foundation of the Philippines with the cooperation of the NCCA, the Rizal Park Administration and the City Government of Manila.

The concert is free and open to the public.

A State of Philippine Environment Address will be delivered by DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes at the Quezon Circle during Opening Ceremonies of Earth Day on Sunday, April 22, 8 a.m. Main feature is a Photo Exhibit on good environmental governance in local communities. US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and USAID Mission Director Jon Lindborg will grace the photo exhibit.

The last event is the Environmental Concert Kayumanging Kagubatan: Mga Awit Ng Tanod Lupa on the 22nd at 7 p.m. at Quezon Circle, featuring original environmental compositions by Joey Ayala to be performed by him, with bands playing relevant music. The musical ‘Teach-in’ will have DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes as ‘green’ guru with Ayala as co-emcee.

Notable exhibitions

A special exhibit by the German Embassy "Hi! Europe Calling", which highlights the biggest development brought by European integration, will be opened by German Ambassador Axel Weishaupt today, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. Goethe Institut. The exhibit will continue to be shown there until April 26, then at the Alliance Francaise de Manille from April 30 to May 6, and thereafter, at the Instituto Cervantes and the British Council.

The new director of Goethe Institut, Richard Kinzel, announces that on April 12, at 8 p.m., the film documentary on Beethoven’s "Ninth Symphony" will be shown at the Goethe Institut. The documentary by Pierre Henry Salfati explores the appeal of this distinctive work which focuses on "Ode to Joy", the symphony’s final movement now the anthem of the European Union.

Yesterday, French Spring opened "Essences" at the Ayala Museum. Described as a unique olfactory and visual experience, it was produced by 12 international artists in collaboration with Fragrance House Quest International, forthwith creating a bottle or sculpture to illustrate the perfume of prestigious manufacturing houses.

The exhibit runs through May 6.

Tomas Concepcion’s "Homage to Michelangelo" opened at the Galleria Duemila with Italian Ambassador Rubens Anna Fedele as guest of honor.

Sculptures of Rome-based Concepcion include those of Pope John Paul II and Ninoy Aquino, the former having been displayed in Guam and Mexico; the latter, in the People’s Park, EDSA. Known for his bronzes and paintings, Concepcion has successfully exhibited in Rome, Paris, London, SF, LA and his native Manila.

His current home-coming exhibit, which runs through April 30, presents large-scale paintings, prints and bronzes.