UST showcases its best/Laya's Hidden Treasures

The thunderous sounds produced by the immense assemblage of ten pianists, the combined Coro Tomasino, Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble and the Conservatory Chorus Class, and the UST Symphony Orchestra under Renato Lucas still reverberate in the ear.

The assemblage performed the UST Hymn, Orff’s Fortuna Imperatrix mundi from “Carmina Burana” and excerpts from Borodin’s Polevetsian Dances (Prince Igor) with bass Jun Francis Jaranilla as additional participant, and the towering climax, the Finale from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (the EU’s anthem) with sopranos Rachelle Gerodias and Nenen Espina, tenor Randy Gilongo and baritone Andrew Fernando.

Gathering these groups and soloists onstage was a daunting task, as was the assiduous training of the individual members offstage. Further the performance of ten pianists throughout the program was in itself a singular auditory experience which gave the concert its title: “Sampung Mga Daliri Atbp”. On its 25th year, the event at the CCP main theater featured highly selected members of the piano faculty, alumni and students, the voice faculty, the UST Symphony Orchestra under Herminigildo Ranera, conductor, and Jeffrey Solares, assistant conductor; the Wind Orchestra under Ranera, with Ariel Sta. Ana as assistant conductor; the Coro Tomasino under Ronan Ferrer and the UST Liturgikon under Eugene de los Santos, the Rondalla Ensemble under Ricardo Calubayan, the Guitar Ensemble under Ruben Reyes, the Jazz Band under Mario Martin Tolentino, the Wind and Percussion Ensemble under Daniel Bartolome, the Opera Chorus under Peter Paul Cifra, the Ethnic and Percussion Ensemble under Arnel Feliciano, the USTe Mundo under Teresa Montes.

Variety and diversity characterized the music which ranged from traditional and contemporary classics to avant-garde, jazz, Filipino and ethnic.

Paterno’s beautifully lyrical “Sampaguita”, as played by the Rondalla Ensemble, garnered lusty applause as did “Classitimo Suite” performed by the Opera Chorus and Contrabass under Cifra who arranged the number.

The “Cuenco Medley”, arranged by Raul Sunico and orchestrated by Fr. Manuel Maramba, featured sopranos Gloria Dizon Coronel and Irma P.E. Potenciano, faculty members who both sang solo, as well as Clarissa Ocampo, Patrice Pacis, Thea Perez and Naomi Sison, tenors Eugene de los Santos and Ronan Ferrer. The passage of time showed a bit in the vibratos of Coronel; otherwise, she and Potenciano proved their former vocal prowess.

Jazz has always its solid core of fans, and the jazz arrangement by J. Tan and M. Tolentino of Bizet-Rimsky-Korsakov’s Bohemian Dance of the Tumblers was greeted with hearty approbation.

The brief appearance of Sunico, who as usual played sans score, and of Fr. Maramba was an assurance of moral support from these venerable faculty members and eminent pianists. The concert fulfilled the highest audience expectation, with the UST Conservatory, headed by Dean Sunico, showcasing the best from its various disciplines and departments.

Italian Ambassador Rubens Fedele gave brief opening remarks. Heading the audience was the Apostolic Nuncio, HE Msgr. Edward Joseph Adams, an avid music lover.

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Hidden Treasures, Simple Pleasures, which is larger than a coffeetable book, contains the paintings, drawings, jewelry, santos, reliefs, sculptures, maps, books of Jaime C. Laya, Mariano C. Lao and Edilberto Bravo, art collectors and close friends. Photography is by Wig Tysmans; introduction, by Jose Dalisay Jr. I quote in part the back cover: “The book was put together by three friends imbued with a common passion: the collection of beautiful things, mostly but not exclusively works of art. The objects represented may not all fall under the rubrics of fine art, but even their exuberant eclecticism brings a note of freshness, a touch of the amateur in the original sense of the word as a lover, rather than a professional acquirer of things.” The book is a real treasure.