Bel-Air Village’s Pasinaya/MSO concerts thru the year/ Abelardo album’s NY launch

Bel-Air Village Barangay Captain  Constancia Q. Lichauco is graciously inviting me to Bel-Air’s various Pasinaya activities May 4 to 5. Climax of the festive season will be the Velada on Sunday, May 5, 7 pm, with almost 200 village residents performing in the multi-purpose covered court, Solar St. Park III, Bel-Air Village, Makati.

Lichauco discloses that the participants have been rehearsing the musical numbers for two months. With justifiable pride, she adds that the major production “will highlight the talents of our residents, and show the unity and cooperation of our community.” Roberto C. Benares heads the community as president of the Bel-Air Village Association.

On May 4, the festivities will open with the Marching of the Bands.  At 2 pm, there will be a cheerdancing competition and a Team Philippines cheerdancing exhibition. The Rockin’ 60s will perform at lunchtime, 11:30 am; the Tala Children’s Choir, at dinnertime, 6 pm.

The Women of Bel-Air Foundation consists of Carminda L. Regala, chairperson; Ofelia L. Lopez, president; Ma. Bella R. Oposa, vice-president.

Sparing no efforts in making the Pasinaya Festival a success are committee members Constancia Q. Lichauco, Susan C. Medina, Ma. Elena F. Lorayes, Anna Michaela L. Abello, Ofelia L. Lopez, Ma. Bella R. Oposa, Carminda L. Regala, Aileen T. Dionisio, Patricia W. Lichauco, Catherine Z. Turingan, Herminia S. Vitug, Antonio Luna M. Ocampo and Engenia L. Sangco.

Working with no less zeal are staffers Cely Canlas and Lea Villanueva.

We heartily commend all of them and fervently hope for a triumphant Pasinaya.

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The Manila Symphony Orchestra was organized and established in 1925 under the auspices of the Manila Symphony Society headed by Trinidad F. Legarda as president. Alexander Lippay was the MSO’s first conductor; Austrian Herbert Zipper succeeded him until shortly before WWII.

Oscar Yatco had a stint as MSO conductor before he left for Germany, introducing to music lovers several classic and contemporary masterpieces.

Most members of the present MSO come from PREDIS, the music school organized by Sr. Mary Placid and violinist Basilio Manalo for the training of young musicians. Other members come from various ensembles in Manila.

To continue with the MSO concerts.

“Spectacle” on August 10, 8 pm at F. Santiago Hall will feature violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. and MSO conductor Arturo Molina. To be performed are Dvorak’s Carnival Concert Overture, Bartok’s Violin Concerto No. 2, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1.

Violinist Saraza, a homegrown MSO talent, studied as a child under MSO II founder Manalo and conductor Molina to whom the former had passed on the MSO baton. In 2008, Saraza became concert master of the Mannes Philharmonic Orchestra. Saraza, winner of numerous prizes, received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award under US President Obama’s Education Awards program. Currently, the young violinist is working for a bachelor’s degree at the Julliard School under Prof. Stephen Clapp.

On Sept. 11, 8 pm at F. Santiago Hall, the MSO will feature rising singers of the Philippines, with Molina conducting the program “Verdi’s Opera Extravaganza”.

To mark MSO’s 88th year, the concert will feature MSO wind soloists in Haydn’s Symphony No. 88, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn and Bassoon, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1.

The above, MSO’s very first concert for next year, will be held in F. Santiago Hall at 8 pm on Jan. 14, 2014.

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Young, up-and-coming soprano Mayenne Lozano Saporsantos, tenor William Lim, baritone Joseph Legaspi and pianist Benjamin Dia are featured in an album of Nicanor Abelardo songs to be launched on May 3 at the Philippine Center in New York.

In the album, the young music artists, all graduates of prestigious US institutions, are rendering, among others, Mutya ng Pasig (Pearl of Pasig), Nassan Ka Irog? (Where are You, My Beloved) and Bituin Marikit (Beautiful Star).

Also recorded are seldom heard songs which convey the composer’s profound grasp of Filipino romanticism with touches of Spanish and American influence.