Maestros Yatco, Castillo

(Second of two parts)

Conductor Laureate Oscar C. Yatco was the “mighty mite of music” as he directed the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in Wagner’s Tannhauser Overture, R. Strauss’s tone poem Don Juan and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. In the same concert, Anna Labra Makk played Chopin’s Concerto in F Minor putting herself in a class with our senior top pianists.

Eugene Castillo gave a most gratifying farewell performance after being at the helm of the PPO. His three-year tenure will be remembered for its riveting introduction of new works combined with standard classics.

Josefino “Chino” Toledo and the extremely young members of the Metro Manila Community Orchestra, Rodel Colmenar and the similarly youthful Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, the UST Symphony Orchestra under Herminigildo Rañera and the Manila Symphony Orchestra II under Arturo Molina, assisted by Jeffrey Soleares, took turns in impressing audiences in varying degrees of authoratitiveness, grasp of form and substance, focus and brio.

Outstanding choirs included the Madrigal Singers, the UP Concert Chorus and the combined choral groups in Francisfest 2008, the massive, stirring, cohesive sounds of the latter still ringing in my ears.

The UST Singers under conductor-pianist-arranger Fidel Calalang, Jr., awed, stunned and overwhelmed listeners in widely diverse songs each interpreted in a style imminently suited to it, thus conveying the group’s versatility. Baritone Noel Azcona, soloist, shone.

Rachelle Gerodias, our leading and most sought-after soprano and the formidable Camille Lopez were the year’s frequently featured female singers.

Philippine Opera Co.’s Harana — vividly identifiably, colorfully Filipino — starred sopranos Florence Aguilar, Deeda Barretto, Ana Feleo and Karla Gutierrez, tenors Juan Alberto Gaerlan and Sherwin Siozon and baritones Lawrence Jatayna and Jack Salud. Harana projected the Filipino image at its glorious best.

In UST’s “Concert of Ten Grand Pianos,” piano faculty and students — the latter under Antonio Africa — the UST Symphony Orchestra under H. Rañera, the guitar ensemble under Ruben Reyes, the ethnic ensemble under Teresa Montes, the brass and percussions under Arnel Feliciano, the jazz band and opera chorus under Peter Paul Citra took centerstage, along with tenors Lemuel de la Cruz, Ronan Ferrer, Eugene de los Santos and Randy Gilongo — in a marvelous display of the UST’s various music disciplines under Dean Raul Sunico. I missed the UP College of Music grand centennial celebration.

Dena Fernandez, marimbist, showed near mastery in a recital aimed at obtaining her master’s degree from St. Paul U. Manila’s College of Performing Arts under Dean Sr. Anunciata Sta. Ana.

In a program of Bach concertos, pianists Najib Ismail, Mary Ann Espina — both in great demand as assisting artists — Allan de la Cruz and Michael Lopez excelled.

In a riveting duo-piano concert of Filipino compositions and semi-classics ending in Gershwin’s jazzy   I Got Rhythm Variations, Greg Zuniega led the St. Scholastica College-trained pianists Priscilla de la Fuente-Sison, Marguerite Echaus and guest artist Martha Brickman under the auspices of the SSC Music Department headed by Sr. Mary Placid Abejo.

Jed Madela, 2005 Grand Prize winner in Hollywood’s World Championship of Performing Arts, mesmerized the audience with Broadway songs. His rendition of Nessun Dorma seemed an argument against formal voice training!

The duo-recital of pianists Della Besa and Annie de Guzman coincided with a previous commitment of mine. Mariel Ilusorio's concert at St. Cecilia’s Hall coincided with the caper at the Pen which caused music lovers to miss it. However, having heard Mariel previously, I shall not hesitate to place her alongside our leading junior pianists Rudolf Golez, Zuniega, et al. Pianist Elielle Viaje demonstrated considerable potential.

To mark Mrs. Jose Cuisia’s birthday, operatic tenor George Yang and popular singer Jose Mari Chan enchanted guests. Cocoy Laurel proved by his concert he is still the country’s total performer.

To readers: Please send announcements, press releases, letters, etc. to my Makati residence. I don’t report to The STAR offices.