Remembering St. Cecilia / AlwaysYang, a CD launch

St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, was honored as usual by the St. Scholastica College Music Department with a concert which also marked the close of the Battig centenary.

Featured at St. Cecilia’s Hall were top graduates. Also excellently trained Predis children playing the violin in Allegro by G. Fiocco. Followed Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 1 in D Major for four violins and strings with Divina Juanita F. Salonga, Sara Ma. Gonzales, Regina Medina, Denise S. Huang, cellist Renato Lucas and the SSC String Orchestra under Jeffrey Solares.

R. Gallardo’s Saranggola ni Pepe and the Ilocano folk song Pamulinawen, both in fascinating avant-garde arrangements by R. Cayabyab, were rendered by Mary Anne Espina, Rosemarie S. dela Paz, Zenas R. Lozada and Anamarie G. de Guzman.

M. Wilberg’s Fantasy on Themes from Bizet’s Carmen was played on four pianos by Marianne Fajardo, Jane Banta, Carmen D. Padilla and Della G. Besa (who wrote the tertulia script).

The violinists performed again in Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 4 in E Minor, with the SSC Chamber Orchestra under Solares. Brisk and spirited, they and cellist Lucas displayed the closest ensemble work.

Liszt’s Rhapsody No. 2 and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue vastly enlivened the evening, the former interpreted by Marianne Fajardo, Carmen D. Padilla, Cristina C. Bichara and Mary Ann R. Armowit, the latter by Della G. Besa, Mary Anne Espina, Anamaria G. de Guzman and J. Greg Zuniega, assisted by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under Solares. The MSO was wanting in volume because half of its members were playing for “Fiddler on the Roof”!

That there was no soloist prevented special treatment of any performer. The pianists demonstrated near-perfect rapport, clarity and resonance, the singing tone being a legacy of the revered Sr. Battig. Lucas and Zuniega stood out for their singular vitality and power. The encore was the fast and furious Sabre Dance by Gayne.

Srs. Mary Mananzan, prioress; Angelica Leviste, president; Bellarmine, dean of SSC Laguna; vivacious music dean Placid Abejo; Priscilla de la Fuente Sison, Music Alumnae Association president, and Chairman Jose S. Sandejas, Ph.D. headed the audience.

The invitation to the luncheon at Shangri-La Makati read: “AlwaysYang. After all his accomplishments in business, George (Yang) is ready to sing a  new tune.” This meant launching his CD of “timeless songs”. The invitation read further: “As he is now pursuing his passion for music, he would like other musicians to do the same. Which is why we’ll also launch the Klassikal Music Foundation — George Yang’s initiative to help deserving artists further their talents in classical music.”

Tim Yap wittily interviewed “Uncle George” who confessed that his singing began at a “Karaoke University”. George impressed guests with a Neopolitan song and the Drinking Duet from La Traviata, the latter rendered with Rachelle Gerodias, his voice teacher.

Although George discovered his God-given talent only recently, his progress has been so incredibly rapid that he now performs with some of the country’s leading tenors. His CD is an eloquent testimony to his remarkable vocal gifts and artistic sensibility.

As Foundation chairman, he has for members Raul Sunico, Shirley Banayang, Lily Monteverde and this columnist. Present were National Artist for Literature Alejandro R. Roces, author of the Off-Broadway hit “Something to Crow About”, its director Cecile G. Alvarez, Sonny Alvarez, CCP president Nes Jardin, director Frank Rivera and music lover Evelyn Garcia, among others.

Marianne Villanueva, granddaughter of pianist Nena Villanueva, won first prize in Juked’s fiction contest, with Frederick Barthelme as judge. Her piece will appear in Juked 5, and in the book “Philippine Speculative Fiction” edited by Dean Alfar.