A lively noon forum, an ‘Enchanted Evening’

At a lively noon forum in Mandarin’s Tivoli Room – where GM Helmut Saisberger, Com-munications Director Charisse Chuidian and Phil-Italian Asso-ciation representative Fred Mendoza arrived early to check on arrangements – Betty Ildefonso Chalkley, a PIA director and its official chronicler, pointed out that Antonio Pigafetta was the first Italian to visit our shores.

Historians and academicians already know this, of course, but Betty made his arrival sound truly exciting through her observations: "It all started in 1521, when all the way from Vicenza, a handsome, virile, well-educated nobleman in his mid-twenties landed on Cebu island. He was impressed and, unable to contain himself, ecstatically exclaimed: ‘Queste regazzo sono molto belle!’ These words were expressed by Antonio Pigafetta, a leading member of Magellan’s historic crew. Remember, these explorers were at sea for a long time — and the women were very attractive.

"This was the opening salvo to Phil-Italian friendship! Pigafetta traveled a great deal and kept notes throughout the three years he spent in the Philippines. The famous navigator and historian was the first Italian honored by the PIA with a 13-foot bronze statue. No less than Donna Maria Pia Panfani, wife of the Senate President of the Republic of Italy, was invited to unveil the statue in Cebu City in 1980."

Established in 1962, the PIA marks its 40th or ruby anniversary this year, and to celebrate it, the society will present ‘Una Notte d’Incanto’ at the CCP auditorium on Nov. 18. The concert will feature leading Filipino singers Camille Lopez and Nolyn Cabahug, and pianist Cecile Licad who will fly expressly to Manila to "climax" the auspicious program. Ruggero Barbieri will conduct overtures and arias by composers who are Italian like himself. Although the closing numbers – Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture and Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Paganini Theme for Piano and Orchestra are by a Frenchman and a Russian, respectively – their inspiration is Italian.

The rest of the numbers are Verdi’s Vespri Siciliani Overture, the arias Ritorna vincitor from Aida, Un bel di vedremo from Madame Butterfly and Nessun Dorma from Turandot. The first two arias will be rendered by Camille; the third, by Nolyn. Soprano and tenor will then sing Ah! Lo vedi . . . No, no Turidau from Cavalleria Rusticana.

At the forum, Conductor Barbieri laughingly but staunchly refused, that noon to divulge the encores, though there will surely be clamors from the audience. Nolyn, however, graciously obliged with Matinata, an art song, and Con Te Partiro, a contemporary piece Bochelli often sings. Nolyn, our best home-grown tenor, was in splendid form, thus making us even more anxious to hear him in the forthcoming event.

The musical ties between Italy and the Philippines go back of course to the diminutive Jovita Fuentes – she was only four feet nine inches tall! – and Isang Tapales, among other divas, and to Jose Mossesgeld Santiago Font, arguably the greatest bass-baritone the country has produced.

It should be of considerable interest to Camille that her aria Un Bel Di was sung over and over again by diva Fuentes who, in her time, portrayed Cio-Cio San in major theaters in Carrara, Savona and Verona among several other Italian cities. She was to have sung the role in La Scala had not circumstances gone awry.

Maestra Isang, likewise, essayed the role in Italy with resounding success – Cio-Cio San is so obviously suited to Orientals – and fortified Phil-Italian links even more by marrying an Italian singer who gallantly sacrificed his own career by coming home with her! Mossesgeld, if memory serves me, actually appeared in Milan’s La Scala.

The Italian members of PIA doubtless feel particularly proud of Luciano Pavarotti’s conquest of Manila some years back, the enterprising socialite-philanthropist Rose Marie "Baby" Arenas having persuaded him to perform here. Baby’s own mother, the incomparable dramatic soprano Remedios Bosch Jimenez, was given a scholarship by Arrigo Pola, Pavarotti’s first vocal coach, thus establishing an early Phil-Italian connection.

The PIA has counterparts of the Phil-Italian link established by Isang Tapales. The 87-year old Lina Lorenzo, PIA’s secretary general, is the widow of the eminent painter Diosdado Lorenzo. V-P for socials Silvana Diaz, art curator of a gallery – she served that noon as emcee – is happily married to a Filipino.

At the luncheon forum, those present kept drinking toasts to PIA President Nedy R. Tantoco (courtesy of Belch’s Wines and Spirits). Nedy is fast joining the ranks of Manila’s "legendary" art patrons. Rustan Marketing Corporation which she heads sponsored the highly successful European tour of the PPC, and again, Nedy will be the "angel" for Una Notte d’Incanto (One Enchanted Evening).

A note on the PPC, the concert’s indispensable participant. CCP chairman of the board Baltazar Endriga told us at that most enjoyable gathering that PPO’s horn player is better than his counterpart in the New York Philharmonic. Given the Filipino’s inherent talent, Mr. Endriga’s claim is entirely credible.