Another 'ruby' concert /Koto-shamisen sounds

The concert “Counterpoint, Musical Suites for Leaders of the 21^st Century” marked once again CCP’s ruby anniversary. It featured business executives Antonio Cojuangco playing the guitar, George Yang singing arias, Emily Abrera serving as narrator and Charo Santos Concio reciting a poem of Pablo Neruda, along with classical performers in a show Chris Millado conceptualized, scripted and Integrated into one continuous whole.

Eric Cruz designed the eye-catching, modern set; stage lighting was by Catsch Catoy; stage direction was Alex Cortez. Conductor Laureate Oscar C. Yatco led the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in a robust powerful rendition of Wagner’s Lohengrin Prelude to Act III.

Grace, fluidity, precision and ballon (lightness) characterized the dancing of Philippine Ballet Theater’s Faye Abigail Tan, Tracey Castillo, Bianca Trocino, Pearl Diamante, Lobreza Pimentel, Bianca Perez, Lea de Guzman, Jared J. Tan, Peter San Juan, Mark Pineda and Stephen Canete in the imaginative choreography of Ronilo Jaynario to Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, this played by Gary Silangcruz, flute; Reynato Resurrecion oboe; Fredline Parin, trumpet; Joseph Esmilla, violin; Mary Anne Espina, harpsichord, with the PPO under Yatco.

The Madrigal Singers led by Mark Anthony Carpio enraptured the audience in Rossini’s William Tell Overture. The clever arrangement for voice by Julian Eschliman drew thunderous applause as the singers’ vocal pyrotechnics simulated horses’ hooves.

Again, the concert went into high gear with leading soprano Rachelle Gerodias singing Estrano, Sempre libera from La Traviata with her incomparable control of dynamics, soaring fortissimos and subtle expression, and the duet Libiamo with tenor George Yang who earlier sang La donna e mobile from Rigoletto, his spirit vibrant, his voice firm even in the complex passages, his manner secure and confident.

Close coordination was shown by duo pianists Della G. Besa and Anamaria de Guzman in a Telenovela Medley arranged by Jed Balsamo. Pop icon Gary Valenciano offered a totally different appeal singing two of his own far-out compositions with himself on the piano.

The excellent, cohesive string instrumentalists Joseph Esmilla, violin 1, Gina Medina, violin 2, Dino Decena, viola, and Renato Lucas, cello, conveyed beautiful phrasing in Ravel’s Quartet in F Major and Borodin’s Nocturne, the latter serving as accompaniment to Charo’s poetry-reading.

The St. Scholastica’s College Guitar Orchestra and the Guitar Friends Ensemble, of which Cojuangco is a member, played Lotus Eaters by Andrew York, Bituing Walang Ningning by Willy Cruz, and Lecuona’s Andalucia, the latter two arranged by Jose Valdez. Conducted by Jeffrey Solares, the ensemble also included executives Jaddy Vitug, Vince Abella and Greg Yu.

All took part in the rousing finale, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody arranged by Naldy Rodriguez. Under Yatco’s fiery baton, it garnered prolonged, lusty applause.

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It was a unique, distinctive musical experience listeners had at the koto-shamisen recital given at Asia Mall by the tall, slim, attractive Chieko Fukuda. The koto is a stringed instrument laid flat on its back; the three-stringed shamisen is plucked like any other guitar. The sounds both instruments produced were exotic and esoteric to our Western-oriented ears. Ms. Fukuda strummed on the koto, and for the second number, she was assisted, in remarkable unison, by the Filipino Isay Pineda who studied the koto at the UP College of Music, Hiroko Yabut, a Japanese married to a Filipino, and a Japanese flute player.

Ms. Fukoda played several pieces on the shamisen, singing in many of them, her voice thin and sweet. The finale was for both the koto and the bassoon played by John Lane, East-West sounds intrigued and fascinated. Ms. Fukuda’s enlightening prefatory remarks highly enhanced her performance. Heading the audience were Japanese Ambassador Makoto and Mrs. Katsura and Japan Foundation director Ben Suzuki who has been avidly projecting Japanese culture these many years for closer RP-Nippon understanding.