Which concerts to attend?/Letter from Guitar Friends

Known as “The Maestro’s Maestro”, Mark Gibson will conduct the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra on Friday, March 22, 8 pm at the CCP Main theater. Chinese violinist Gao Can will be the soloist.

To be rendered are Bizet’s Jeux d’Enfants, Saint-Saens’ Violin Concerto No. 3 and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe.

Artistic director of the Opera Theatre and Music Festival of Lucca, Gibson actively performs in three continents, and has enjoyed an extensive career in American and European opera houses and concert halls.

Having trained in the US with Gustav Meier, Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein, he now serves as music director of the College Conservatory of Music Philharmonia, a pre-eminent conservatory orchestra.

Gao Can, grand prize winner of China’s 2006 National Violin Competition, has received various international awards.

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The PETA Theater Center in QC will present today, March 20, 8 pm “From China to Chopin” featuring internationally-acclaimed pianist Ang Li who has performed in prestigious venues, and is ranked among the 30 top world pianists by the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition.

Known for her audience appeal, Li will render works by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Chopin.

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Jade Riccio, a scholar of the Klassika Musica Foundation chaired by George Yang, will give a junior recital tomorrow, March 21, 6 pm, at the UST Museum.

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Last January, the Philippine Opera Co. set a new trend by hosting two successful, “Black Box” events, the term Black Box referring to space for daring experiments by artists most desirous of honing their talent.

Director Karla Gutierrez and artist-in-residence mezzo-soprano Clarissa Ocampo decided to enhance the program by having the young  singers themselves stage scenes from operas and musical theater pieces that have become classic. The singers — Gabriella Panlilio, Marian Santiago, Twinkle Prietos, Lara Maigue, Elrica Laguardia, Lena McKenzie, Cris Go, Al Gatmaitan, Lawrence Jatayna, Janine Santos and Joseleo Logdat — were mentored by established theater directors invited by POC.

To be enacted by the young singers at the Opera Haus today, March 20, 6:30 p.m. are scenes from operas by Verdi, Bellini, Mozart, Gounod, Poulenc, Delibes and Leoncavallo.

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Occasionally, I append to my column a request for readers to send invitations, press releases, letters, etc. to my residence in Makati and not to the STAR. I also prefer regular, print-out photos to those enclosed in a disc.

Herewith is a letter (dated Jan. 13, 2013!) from Gregorio T. Yu, chairman of Guitar Friends.

Dear Doña Orosa:

From Florante Aguilar to the latest hit of Chito's Parokya, as denim jeans came in place of the traditional Baro’t Saya, and as road cars dominated the streets over the caritela, guitars have always been a part of Philippine Society. The Guitar has been more than just a musical instrument; it has historically been an extension of the Filipino and a cultural expression embedded in our lifestyle.

On behalf of Guitar Friends, the undersigned cordially invited you to a date with the classical guitar. The Guitar Friends’ latest offering is a one-night Classical Guitar Concert at the BDO Corporate Center’s Francisco Santiago Hall on the 26th of January 2013 (8 p.m.). Co-produced by the renowned Japanese luthier Yuichi Imai and the Guitar Friends Inc., the concert will be featuring no less than Japanese maestro Shin-Ichi Fukuda, one of the most distinguished classical guitarists of our time. It is indeed a privilege to bring such an esteemed performer to local soil and provide Filipinos with the rare opportunity to experience a remarkable artist perform live. Fukuda is a classical guitarist who plays from his heart. Having been introduced to classical guitar at the tender age of eight, he has since honed his craft by studying guitar at L’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris under maestro Alberto Ponce, and further at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Italy, with maestro Oscar Ghiglia. Fukuda’s initial brush with fame came when he won first prize at the 23rd Paris International Guitar Competition, back in 1981. Maestro Fukuda is not only known for his skills with strings, but is revered for his method of understanding the meaning of the pieces he plays. Undoubtedly the concert promises to be a cross-cultural learning experience between two nations that share a common passion for this traditional art.

We truly believe that such a musical experience should be open to Filipinos from all walks of life; and as such, admission to the concert will be absolutely free of charge. After all, the best things in life are indeed priceless. This event is part of the Guitar Friends’ vision to enrich Filipino music, and promote this waning facet of our culture. The Guitar Friends has been relentlessly promoting classical guitar in the country. Thus far, we have organized and produced several classical guitar  events; the biggest of which is the Philippine International Guitar Festival and Competition. An annual affair that was first staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2010, the Festival has brought highly-distinguished foreign performers and classical guitarists to the Philippines. To date, the Guitar Friends Inc. has successfully held three guitar festivals and, encouraged by the growing clamour and following, continues to promote classical guitar in the country.

It would truly be an honor to have you as one of our distinguished guests for this event.

Very truly yours,

Gregorio T. Yu

Chairman