Unique, original cello duo/Lopez Museum: Golden year/Rupert's 'fabulous' book

I am writing this while battling the flu virus but my impressions of the cello duo recital of Marta Roman and Iñaki Etxepare at Instituto Cervantes’ Salon de Actos remain vivid. It was a unique, original, fascinating and enriching melding of music and poetry.

Both cellists began playing the Fugues of Italian-Spanish cellist Luigi Boccherini in seamless, flawless rapport, the music’s contrapuntal style calling to mind Bach’s own.

The dialogue went on until Marta stood up to eloquently recite lines from the poems of the Spanish Miguel Hernandez, with Iñaki continuing to play and accompany her. Then Iñaki’s turn came to recite — he did so rather inaudibly at first — while Marta served as accompanist. Both demonstrated extraordinary skill.

What a most novel auditory and visual experience they offered!

The second part sparkled with the spirited, vibrant, zestful tangos, Mexican folk and American dances of Mexican composer Samuel Maynez. The same formula ensued with each cellist taking turns at playing and reciting the poems of the Mexican Nicolas Guillen. Iñaki performed with intense power and passion on his instrument which was obviously more solid and sonorous than Marta’s — etching the melodic lines electrifyingly while Marta rendered the accompaniment.

Response to the arresting and compelling recital was a most fervid applause, and the duo interpreted two more selections.

IC director Jose R. Rodriguez introduced the cellists earlier to the audience which filled the hall to his immense gratification.

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Herewith is an announcement from the Lopez Memorial Museum which I have just received:

The Lopez Memorial Museum will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this Feb. 18, with the launching of the coffee table book “Unfolding Half a Century: The Lopez Memorial Museum”. The coffee table book documents the legacy of the late Lopez Group founder Eugenio H. Lopez Sr.

What started as his personal collection has evolved into a trusted and well-loved Philippine Institution. Mr. Oscar M. Lopez, the current chairman of the Lopez Group of Companies wrote in the preface, “By launching the museum and opening it to the public, my father heeded to a purpose larger than the display of an outstanding collection . . . he created a place and the opportunity to have direct contact with the works of Rizal, Luna and Hidalgo, the maps of father Pedro Murillo Velarde, the books . . . My father took pride in his race and wanted young Filipinos to be as proud.”

Since its founding 50 years ago, the fine art section has grown from an initial collection of 19th century masterpieces consisting of 36 Juan Lunas and 182 Felix Resurreccion Hidalgos to include modern and contemporary pieces. The library currently counts over 19,000 Filipiniana titles by 12,000 authors, rare books, maps, manuscripts and literary works. With the institution’s digitization project and conservation laboratory, it provides quick and convenient access to materials while ensuring that these are preserved for future use.

The book, edited by Purissima Benitez-Johannot and published by the Eugenio Lopez Foundation, looks at the institution’s history of collecting as a background for the innovative ways that it has melded masterpieces with cutting-edge art and stands as a record of the institution’s taking on the challenge of preserving Filipiniana material.

Mr. Lopez said “We continue efforts to safeguard the museum’s irreplaceable examples of Philippine heritage and document materials that deeply and critically reflect the country’s collective past. The Lopez Memorial Museum will be guided by a sense of historical continuity and continue to bridge the discontinuities imposed by our way of life and the transitions in our cultures from the Spanish, to the American and to the realities of a globally dispersed but interconnected diaspora of Filipinos. In the end, a nation’s inability to appreciate its past will hinder all efforts to reach its destination.”

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With President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as guest of honor, celebrated international society photographer Rupert Jacinto will launch “Faabulous”, a coffeetable book, and hold a photo exhibit on Feb. 23 at the Peninsula Hotel. The invitation is being sent through “Fabulous Icons” Mme. Imelda R. Marcos, Lady Dewi Sukarno, Imelda Cojuangco, Loida Nicolas Lewis, Nedy Tantoco, Betsy Westendorp and Dee Zobel.