Youths startle in concerts/Thank you, indeed, Reggie!

The personable cultural entrepreneur Martin Lopez presented his annual benefit concert “Come to the Stable” at the Ritz Towers lobby.

It featured the Angono Chamber Orchestra, Conductor Agripino V. Diestro’s brainchild which consists of players ages 11 to 21.

Diestro, who is also a highly talented composer-arranger, was a scholar of the Rheims Conservatory which awarded him a gold medal for excellence in 1991. He studied further at the Paris Conservatory, and in the 1992 International Competition for Young Conductors in Besancon, France, he emerged as one of the top ten among 179 participants.

Diestro wielded his baton in short or abridged familiar works by Beethoven, Grieg, Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, Dvorak, San Pedro and Buencamino. The youngsters, especially violin soloist Ivan Ramos in Vivaldi’s Concerto in A Minor (1st movement) and cello soloist Guiseppe Diestro in Bach’s Arioso, showed a surprisingly flowing style, zestful spirit and aplomb. They drew lusty applause as did flutist Sony Yangco who expertly played the daunting variations of Katakataka and “What a Wonderful World” (both arranged by Diestro).

The FCCP Chorale — its members were individually introduced by President Minerva Tanseco — sang Christmas carols, foreign and native, with obvious and infectious enjoyment.

Michael Jackson’s inspiring “Heal the World” left each listener with a feeling of love toward his fellowmen.

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Fr. Tony Rosales, now stationed in Calbayog, Samar, presented Calbayog’s Christ the King College Orchestra at San Antonio’s Parish Center.

The orchestra, named after its founder Jose Gomez, consists of 50 H.S. and a few college students under Fr. Marlowe Rosales who, at 37, is himself young for a conductor. The black-garbed players interpreted Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, its electrifying fanfare for brasses crystallizing the ill-fated Flemish struggle against Spanish oppression. Beethoven must have risen from his grave at the thunderous volume created by the ensemble, each section personifying the vigor, enthusiasm, zest and stamina of youth. The excellent acoustics further intensified the deafening sounds.

Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Little Night Music), along with his string quartets, is a superb work. The allegro’s vigorous, cohesive string thrusts startled the listeners. Other numbers were light classics, pop and folk, Conductor Rosales drawing maximum orchestral effects. The woodwinds and brasses are usually the weakest in many of our ensembles but the youngsters were strikingly assured, their tones robust and unwavering.

As they continue to hone their skills under Fr. Rosales, they will develop more refinement and polish, finer pianissimos and subtler nuances. Their often shattering fortissimos bordered on tedium. But as of now, the players convey tremendous promise and are most impressive.

In some pieces, a chorus of four boys and four girls not only matched orchestral power but also often rose above it. The girls, dancing on one occasion, cleverly manipulated colored ribbons.

Fr. Joel Sulse, San Antonio parish priest, handed plaques of appreciation to Fr. Tony Rosales and Danny Dolor who actively promoted the concert. Bro. Ariel Manza served as sound technician.

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The music world is deeply saddened by the passing of Regalado “Reggie” Jose, an outstanding concert pianist and an excellent, much sought-after assisting artist.

In the 80s, he accompanied Wilma Vernocchi, a leading soprano of La Scala Opera in Milan. In my review, I wrote that she sang some notes tangentially. Wilma’s sponsor, a local diva, went into a how-dare-you-stance. Her rage knew no bounds — until Reggie told her: “Miss Orosa is right.”

Modesty aside, Reggie’s defence proves that a music reviewer can actually have a keener ear than a singer. Apropos Conchita Gaston would candidly tell her friends: “I tend to go off-key.”

Erratum: “Purple Shades” brims (not brings) with human interest episodes.”