Rigoletto, other musical events/ Honors for Chino thwarted

“Rigoletto”, Verdi’s first masterpiece, will be staged at the CCP Main Theater Aug. 22, 7pm and Aug. 24, 3pm, as announced at the elegant Diamond Hotel by CCP President Raul Sunico.  Korean baritone Daesan No will sing the title role; soprano Yun Kyong Yu and tenor Joe Wook Lee, Koreans likewise, will portray other major roles.

The Filipino cast will consist of Ronan Ferrer, Nenen Espina, Thea Perez, Jun Francis Jaranella – who sang the quartet from “Rigoletto” at the presscon – and Noel Azcona.  Ferrer also rendered La Donna e Immobile.  Coro Tomasino will be the featured chorus.

Eminent Korean music director Joe Joon Lee will conduct the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra; Floy Quintos will be the stage director.

The internationally awarded Korean vocalists have distinguished themselves in Europe, USA and Asia.  Members of the Filipino cast are among the country’s leading singers.

Sunico explained why “Rigoletto”’ which will be presented in the most authentic manner, was his own choice: unlike Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, Carmen and La Boheme, Rigoletto will be a new experience for music lovers, having been rarely heard here.

On Aug. 23 at 7:30pm, US based Filipino pianists Rene Dalandan and Maritess Fernandez will perform at the CCP Little theater the premiere of three major works for two pianos: Brubeck’s Points on Jazz (a Ballet), Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story” and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.  The event is jointly presented by the CCP and the Gilopez Kabayao Foundation.

Proceeds for the Aida Sanz Gonzalez Memorial Fund will continue the piano teacher’s legacy of producing outstanding  pianists like Dalandan, Fernandez and Corazon P. Kabayao and present scholarships, workshops and a book based on Gonzalez’s pedagogy.

Former violin prodigy Joaquin Maria “Chino” Guitierrez, now 24, is the first Filipino accepted to the Keslhet Eilon International Mastercourse in Kibbutz Eilon, Israel.  This prestigious 25-year-old training program has been the launching pad for many a distinguished international career in violin, cello and viola over the years.

Chino heartily endorsed by his Munich State Academy professor, would have begun his three-week training under the eminent Russian Edward Grach, one-on-one tutorials, solo student recitals and joint concerts of some of the world’s greatest masters and students.

Chino would have had his “moment of glory” competing with the best and brightest students.  Unfortunately, Chino’s golden opportunity was thwarted by the Israeli-Palestinian war which led to the cancellation of its training program.  What a tremendous pity!

Information on the training program is from Belinda Olivares Cunanan, an avid Chino supporter.