Strauss music in ‘Vienna’ / Kabuki at RCBC Theater

The richly imaginative and avid music lover Eddie H. Yap  turned the Shangri-La ballroom into Vienna’s Musikverein with the stage looking exactly like that of the said concert hall. Further, the program he conceptualized as Music Admiration Society chairman-executive producer caused the audience to relive Vienna’s New Year concerts.

Excerpts of Eddie’s remarks follow: “Consistent with the status of ING Private Banking as a world-class institution with its culture of excellence and high standards, and its desire to give you an exceptional experience, we created a Vienna opera house ambience and crafted a program that encompasses many disciplines — instrumental and vocal music and dance —  to give you a multi-sensory experience in one concert. The music was specially chosen to include the most popular pieces by Johann Strauss and Franz Lehar that emerged in Vienna during the romantic period. And to bring their compositions to life, the best available artists will hopefully make you see and feel the character of Vienna concerts.”

Thereon, Eddie waxed poetic: “The music most fittingly celebrates this time of the year. The burst, cascades and gentle flow of the melodies vividly evoke the richness and vibrancy of life and the promises that a new year brings. Strauss is a genius for painting with his music the beauty of nature with visions of flowers blooming, of lush forests, the cold morning mist above their Danube, and of course, romance, elegance and grace that were so characteristic of that long bygone era.

“Our country’s culture and the arts are greatly enriched with this musical presentation. In fact, from what I hear, we may already have started a local trend. And for this, we thank a true patron of the arts — ING Private Banking, whose support made this product possible.”

Ruggiero Barbieri demonstrated his usual skill and sensitivity, spirit and verve conducting the PPO in the familiar overture to Strauss operetta Die Fledermaus, Pizzicato Polka, Emperor Waltz and the Radetsky March, the finale which led to a standing ovation and the encore, Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever.

In Tales of the Vienna Woods, Vienna Blood, The Blue Danube and Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz, solo violinist Jay Cayuca vigorously led the strings, exquisitely blending with them. Nolyn Cabahug, arguably our leading home-trained tenor, compelled attention. Expressive and exuberant, he sustained top notes firmly and powerfully in Lehar’s Yours Is My Heart Alone, and specially in Denza’s Funiculi Finicula, this with Cayuca on the violin.

Soprano Elaine Lee interpreted Voices of Spring with clear articulation, unerring pitch, her style smooth and fluid. In Love Unspoken, she and Cabahug, in a moment of inspiration, danced to the music, resuming the song as they waltzed.

Maritoni Rufino Tordesillas’ Danspace Co. — the ballerinas in long, elegant gowns, the danseurs in tails — performed with grace and ballon (lightness). In Yours Is My Heart Alone, they danced as Cabahug sung, displaying in Tritsch-Tratsch Polka infectious perk.

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Other MAS members present were Evelyn R. Singson, v-p-treasurer, Aurora G. Garcia, corporate secretary; Carlos Rufino, Josefina Tan, George Yang and Jesus Zulueta Jr., directors; Kevin Belmonte, Dennis Decena and Ambassador Alberto del Rosario, advisers. Invitations to the resoundingly successful concert were sent by ING CEO Renato T. de Guzman and Maite P. Gallego, managing director.

A free demonstration and lecture of Kabuki will be given by Kyozo and Matanosuke Nakamura tomorrow at 8 p.m. at the RCBC theater. Kabuki is closely connected to Japanese traditional dance as it developed from erotic dances performed by courtesans for male audiences in Japan in the 1600s.