Espiritu asserts himself as country’s leading tenor; Three other singers shine

Filfest’s wonderfully organized “Opera Gala” presented internationally-acclaimed tenor Arthur Espiritu, outstanding baritone Noel Azcona and sopranos Myramae Meneses and Ana Feleo at the Insular Life Tower last Saturday.

Instead of an orchestra or a pianist, two of the most sought-after collaborating artists, Najib Ismail and Mary Anne Espina, provided excellent, impeccable, masterly duo piano accompaniment difficult to equal. They opened the concert appropriately with the Overture to Mozart’s opera Cosi fan Tutte.

Espiritu asserted himself as the country’s leading tenor, as the most polished, experienced, impassioned, expressive and dynamic of the featured artists. A lyric tenor, he displayed absolute vocal control, full power in admirably long-sustained end notes, and exquisite legato phrasing.

He thus alternately affected and amazed the audience in the arresting aria Una furtiva lagrima from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, and Gounod’s A leve toi Soleil wherein he made an indelible impression as the young, ardent but distraught lover Romeo.

With distinct assurance and confidence, while conveying intense power, Azcona sang Si Puo! (A word) in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci, doing so as well in Largo al Factotum, demonstrating marvelous fluency as Rossini’s Barber of Seville in the considerably swift passages of the challenging aria.

In the famous duet Au fond du temple saint from Bizet’s Pearl Fishers, Espiritu as Nadir (a pearl fisher), and Azcona as Zurga (a chief), did not in the least suffer in comparison to their counterparts in the Paris Opera presentation I attended some years ago; the voices of the local singers soared while contrasting and complementing each other in timber and volume, their dialogue emerging in most dramatic fashion.

The daunting coloratura aria Caro Nome (Dear name) from Verdi’s Rigoletto was interpreted with flawless technique, grace and delicacy by the immensely talented Meneses who, although young, already shows signs of eventually joining the ranks of Rachelle Gerodias, Camille Lopez Molina and Margarita Gomez. As she rendered Doretta’s aria from Puccini’s Le Rondine, she again called attention to her crystalline voice, and her smooth, fluid, effortless style.

Feleo had the presence, personality and buxom figure of Carmen. She sang Bizet’s Habanera with persuasively sensuous and seductive air, with elan and fire befitting the Gypsy courtesan. Further, she was particularly eloquent in Mon Coeur s’ouvre a ta voi (My heart at thy sweet voice), a most moving Delilah who appeals to Samson for pity.

The two sopranos charmingly sang the Flower Duet from Delibes’ Lakme, and Soave sia il vente as the sisters Fiordilici and Dorabella with Azcona as Guglielmo who loves Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte.

Two finely nuanced duets, O mimi tu piu non torni from Puccini’s La Boheme and Vieni fra Questia from Bellini’s I Puritani, were appealingly rendered by Espiritu and Azcona.

Tenor and baritone were impetuous suitors of Feleo and Meneses, respectively, in the finale, the Quartet from Verdi’s Rigoletto, one of the most beautiful ensemble songs in operatic literature, with Espiritu dominating the group. The enthralled audience became even more so in the encore Libiamo, the Drinking Song from Verdi’s Traviata. Jubilation ended in a standing ovation. It was an Opera Gala indeed! Hearty congratulations to Filfest president Vicky F. Zubiri for the concert’s tremendous success.

The Bob Aves Jazz Group

PETA sends the following notice. Sophisticated jazz infused with the raw power of Filipino indigenous music is coming to the PETA Theater Center. With its soul-shaking Philippine World Jazz in “Out of Tradition”, the Bob Aves Jazz Group will perform on December 11, at 8 p.m. The internationally acclaimed musicians continue to push musical boundaries through a groundbreaking integration of the gong culture of southern Philippines and contemporary jazz.

Bob Aves, an award winning composer, graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston yet is a champion of the Filipino indigenous sound. He co-established Tao Music, an all-Filipino record label that specializes in traditions and contemporary culture-based titles of Philippine Music. Bob’s music has been featured world-wide through international festivals, the 2006 Festival Asia in Spain and the 2011 Penang World Music Festival in Prague, to name a few.

The Group has performed in the Zhujiajiao Water Village Music Festival in Shanghai, and the Jarasum Jazz Festival in Korea, among many others. Featured musicians are Dix Lucero (Saxophone), Nikko Rivera (Keyboard), Tusa Montes (Kulintang), Colby De La Calzada (Bass), and Harald Huyysen (Drums).

Don’t miss the unique sound of Philippine World Jazz!