A soiree, a guitar recital / A ceramics sculpture show

A second consecutive soiree, at the elegant residence of FilFest president Vicky F. Zubiri, featured highly seasoned opera singers Andrew Fernando, baritone, Randy Gilongo, tenor and Amelia Fortuna, soprano, in operatic arias and duets, ending with a trio.

Fernando garnered prizes in several prestigious US vocal competitions and portrayed major roles abroad, including the title role in Rigoletto. Gilongo has concertized in Japan, Austria, France and Germany and taken on operatic roles, likewise. Fortuna, holder of a French diploma, regularly performs in oratorio and lieder recitals in France and Switzerland.

Najib Ismail, pianist, has accompanied virtually all our leading singers and many international ones, and given solo concerts in Europe and Asia.

Soprano Tanya Corcuera began the program with a robust, spirited Spanish song. Fernando and Fortuna rendered Laci darem la mano from Mozart’s Don Giovanni; Fernando and Gilongo sang the opening duet in Bizet’s “Pearl Fishers”, Fernando as Nadir, the pearl fisher, Gilongo as a chief, the two reliving their love for the high priestess Leila. Incidentally, I saw this opera in Paris, and our singers did not suffer in comparison with their French counterparts.

Fortuna rendered Micaela’s aria Je dis que rien ne m’epouvante (I am not fainthearted) from Carmen with deep emotion, her voice soaring forcefully, her acting eloquent. Gilongo as Jose sang La fleur que tu m’avais (The flower you gave me) also from Carmen; Fernando awed with arias by Puccini and Lehar, his emoting and overwhelmingly powerful voice lending total credence to his first prizes in international tilts. Gilongo’s high notes in La donna é mobile (Women are fickle), the Duke’s aria in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and in Lehar’s Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (Yours is my heart’s delight) were firm and secure, wrought with feeling.

The great diva Lotte Lehmann once confessed she would rather sing an entire opera than arias for a recital. As demanded by an opera, the singer builds to emotional climaxes. In an aria, before the singer can build to an emotional peak, the song is over; further, the excerpts are disconnected. At any rate, the trio Zitti, Zitti from Rossini’s “Barber of Seville” drew hearty applause for its sparkling gaiety. Baritone, tenor and soprano then obliged with Ikaw ang Mahal Ko, closing the most gratifying soiree. Lina Racho jestingly enjoined each one present to take home a BMW car. This was to say BMW sponsored the soiree.

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US-based guitarist Ric Ickard gave a recital at the newly opened museum of St. Paul U. Manila College of Music headed by Sr. Anunciata Sta. Ana. Ickard is its first male Bachelor of Music graduate, and the recital was to test the museum as a concert venue. The acoustics proved excellent.

Prior to the recital, the good Sister informed the audience that Leonor Orosa Goquingco, named National Artist in Dance in 1976, used to direct and present musicals in what is now the museum, and one of these musicals was “Carmen” with Cristina Castañer (Mrs. Juan Ponce Enrile) in the title role.

The museum’s precious items and diorama tell the history of the Order of St. Paul de Chartres and of its establishment in this country 200 years ago.

Ickard’s widely-ranging program included Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Filipino composers. Ickard conveyed authority, brilliant and impeccable technique, tonal richness and sensitive artistry. All the works were transcribed by him for his seven-string guitar.

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Elielle Viaje, I wrote in my review, was only the second Filipino admitted to the Vienna U, Aries Caces having been the first in recent years. Jonathan Coo writes that very much earlier, decades ago, Lourdes de Leon Gregorio, Lou Ortiz, Carmencita Sipin, Rodel Flores, Cris Montenegro, Ana Ortiz and Armando Salarza had also studied there.

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On March 5 at 4 p.m. Japanese artist Shoko Mafune will open her ceramics sculpture exhibit at Galeria Duermilla. The show closes April 17. Artists and art lovers are invited.