Singaporean Soiree

Never had Singaporean Ambassador Jacky Foo and his petite wife Dr. Su Yumian been in a more expansive mood than at the soiree they were hosting. After all, they and their guests would be listening to the leads of Il Trovatore before the actual performance.

That evening, with Yang Jie (Azucena) indisposed, Cristina Lamberti (Leonora), Mario di Marco (Count di Luna) and Mario Bertolino (Ferrando) filled the spacious and elegant living room with their powerful voices. Paz Yuchengco and Pitoy Moreno, seated beside me, were aglow with wonder and delight. Arias sung were not from Il Trovatore–this was to keep the suspense and interest alive for the coming opera–but just the same, guests were absolutely thrilled. Our own Rachelle Gerodias (who sang Sa Kabukiran) and Lemuel Dela Cruz (who sang "Because") were in top form, and they were joined by Rodolfo Cornejo, Jr. for the amusing, mimed Kalesa. Sonya J. Valencia was the highly versatile piano accompanist. How the listeners thundered their approval of the preview!

Surprise of surprises, Leow Siak Fah, the opera director himself and chairman of the Singapore Lyric Opera which was jointly mounting Verdi’s work with our own Opera Guild chaired by grande dame Meldy O. Cojuangco, tossed off a couple of arias, his voice firm and robust. He enticed Fides C. Asensio, mentor of many of our now-established sopranos, to sing too. She rendered Jovita Fuentes’s Ay Kalisud, her technique still remarkable.

"You’ve all more than earned your dinner!" Ambassador Foo told the performers, enjoining them and the guests to proceed to the al fresco buffet. Taking my cue, I said "Goodbye". "Aren’t you staying?" the affable host asked. "After that wonderful vocal treat, who’d care for dinner?" I told Mr. Foo with levity.

Earlier, the envoy and his wife marked their country’s national day at the Mandarin Oriental ballroom with a program of songs and dances topped by an international cuisine. Although the Foos have been here for a relatively short while, they have obviously gained legions of friends and admirers: how they filled the ballroom to overflowing!