Spanish singer enchants / Book launch / art exhibit

Manilans widened their appreciation of Spanish songs when soprano Pilar Moral, accompanied by guitarist Nicola Jappelli, interpreted widely diverse songs ranging from 19th to 20th century music by Castro de Guistau (1770-?), Fernando Sor (1778-1839), Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999), Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) and Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936).

Lorca is generally known here as a dramatist (recall “The House of Bernarda Alba”), and Moral introduced him as a composer through six of his Canciones Espanolas Antiguas (Old Spanish Songs). Listeners were familiar with De Falla’s El paño moruno, Asturiana and Jota.

The brown-haired, beauteous, obviously young Morales fascinated the audience at the RCBC theater with typical Hispanic flair, charm, grace and spontaneity, singing with subtlety and a delicacy of feeling.

Her voice mellifluous if not powerful, she emoted and expressed the form and content of each selection eloquently and spiritedly.

Guitarist Jappelli gave impeccable assistance with his polished, gentle strumming while establishing the closest rapport with Moral. His solo, Tiento Antigua by Rodrigo, demonstrated solid technique.

Jose “Pepe” Rodriguez, director of Instituto Cervantes which presented the duo, welcomed the audience, reminding it of the forthcoming “Bravo, Espana!” program on Nov. 7.

Ambassador Luis and Soledad Arias, Don Jaime and Bea Zobel de Ayala headed the guests.

Here are announcements of two significant events.

Solidaridad Publishing House launched the latest book by writer-historian-painter Alfredo Roces entitled “Rage!! Juan Luna/Antonio Luna/Trinidad Pardo de Tavera”. Maximo Licauco, GM of Powerbooks, opened the launch. National Artist for Literature Frankie Sionil Jose gave the opening remarks.

A biographical trilogy, “Rage!!” focuses on the three people present in Paris in 1892 when Juan Luna killed his wife and mother-in-law. Roces traces the lives of these 19th century ilustrados. As the fulcrum of the narrative, media coverage and testimonies at this famous trial are presented. The lives of this trio spin out in different directions after the incident, adding a human dimension to this fascinating trilogy wherein the author has applied the novelist’s craft while keeping strictly to the historical facts and evidence. Roces, four-time national book award winner of the Manila Critics Circle, edited Filipino Heritage, the landmark 10-volume cultural history of the Philippines, and has written various books on Philippine art and culture. Based in Sydney, Roces was editor of Geo, Australasia’s Geographical Magazine until his retirement in 1991.

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NCCA Chairperson DepEd Undersecretary Vilma Labrador and Executive Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez opened the exhibit of renowned Estonian artist August Kunnapu at the NCCA Gallery, in cooperation with the Consulate of Estonia through Consul General A.H. Dr. Juan N. Peña and Consul A.H. Fernando Martin O. Peña.

For the first time, Kunnapu is presenting his works to the Filipino public. He appeared in the Estonian art scene at the end of the 1990s and immediately caught the attention of critics and curators. He was tagged “prodigy of the new Estonian painting,” whose uniqueness and contemporary outlook produce a new sense of reality, at once grotesque and visionary.

Kunnapu likes his painting to be pure and simple. Estonian writer Hanno Soans observed that everything Kunnapu touches turns into a self portrait, adding the artist has “an unbelievably sincere faith in the healing quality of good painting.”

Son of prominent architect Vilen Kunnapu, August studied in London and has closely followed the yBa activities, describing them as “original, smart, brilliant and spontaneous,” all of which apply to his own work. The best comparison seems to be Martin Maloney, who also fosters naivist figurative painting. But Kunnapu’s paintings are characterized by sincerity and certain utopianism. His deconstructions are friendly.

Kunnapu has gathered about 12 of his works in acrylic on canvas, painted from 2007-08. They depict friends, relatives and other people. Almost half depict cats.

“A good piece of art makes the artist and the world better,” said Kunnapu in an interview with Harry Pye.