An evening to remember

Through three and a half decades, the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines has seen many truly remarkable performances, by the most accomplished artists in the country and among the best in the world, applauded by presidents and kings and celebrities of all persuasions.

The other Friday evening that august hall was once again the scene of an extraordinary event; actually two events.

The first-ever joint concert of twelve concert pianists, backed up by not one but two philharmonic orchestras, "Virtuosos" was indeed a stellar evening. The sight of twelve grand pianos, with orchestras behind and in front of them was breathtaking, and when the chords of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue crescendoed in the rousing finale, it felt like the walls and roof would burst, hardly able to contain the music and the applause. Earlier in the program, pianists played in twos and fours, and an incredible left-hand solo. The guests were unanimous in praise for this wonderful musical experience. The question everyone posed to CCP president Nes Jardin, who thought up this whole thing, was–what’s next? The CCP holds a major fund-raising gala like this once every two years, so Nes will have a little time to think of something to top this!

Following that performance high, the stage took on an altogether different character–the pianos disappeared, the risers for the orchestra moved away–as chandeliers bedecked with red roses and four linen covered tables impeccably set for dinner literally took center stage for an A-list reception hosted by BNP Paribas Private Banking (which had sponsored the concert). I will not tell you the names of the more than 30 HNW (high net worth) individuals who sipped champagne and savored Gaita Fores’ imaginative and delectable nouvelle Filipino cuisine, but let me say that from my vantage point, the gems sparkled even more brilliantly than the bubbly. And perhaps just one half of one percent of their collective net worth could fund the Arts for the People program of the CCP (the concert’s beneficiary) for the next decade.

Despite the presence of the charming and gracious BNP Paribas Hong Kong CEO Claude Haberer and country manager Peter LaBrie, plus Eric Aubin, Isagani Ferrer and Agatha Chan–I can mention the bankers’ names, you see, but not their clients’–there was no talk of money around the tables; it was all very civilized and genteel...if you can call stories of duwendes and kapres genteel!