Two concerts compared/Baldemor's two-part show

A friend of mine, an avid music lover, compares the concert at Bel-Air’s Legazpi Park with the one held a week later at the LRI Design Center. I could not attend the former event, the invitation having arrived late. Anyway, herewith is the letter from my friend who requests anonymity.

Dear Ms. Orosa,

In your column of today, you rightly attribute ‘angelic’ qualities to the performers at the LRI concert held last Saturday. Sadly, it seems you missed the open-air concert held at the Legazpi Park the previous Saturday, which also featured the inimitable Rachelle Gerodias, as the primary artists, along with some exceedingly talented Filipino performers, whose presentation, according to those who attended both events, was even more ‘angelic’ than the really extraordinary LRI function. (I doubt their claim! RLO)

The Bel-Air event deserves mention for many reasons. It was one of a series of cultural events presented by the Barangay Bel-Air, headed by its dynamic captain, Victor T. Gomez Jr., and passionately supported by the Bel-Air Village Association, chaired by Nene Lichauco and its ladies club, Women of Bel-Air whose president is Susan Calo Medina, the roving host of Travel Time, the famed television program.

This dynamic group is enlivening music and culture for the villagers — as well as non-villagers — who troop to one of several Bel-Air venues whenever concerts take place. They are rewarded with worthy programs featuring such performing personalities as Helen Quach, who conducted the Philippine Symphony Orchestra in Bel-Air a few months back; violin virtuoso Coke Bolipata, who performed in the same program and the talented performers in the last Salcedo Park concert; the stunning Rachelle Gerodias, noted baritone Andrew Fernando, popular singers Bo Cerrudo and Bituin Escalante, the cool and trendy Ryan Cayabyab Singers — all supported by the Philippine Symphony Orchestra conducted by Agrifino Diestro.

Another important aspect of this concert is that it was, like other Bel-Air events, extended for free and held in the open-air, providing an al fresco ambiance that added to the tenderness of the occasion and leading the audience to a more enthusiastic appreciation of the beautiful music that flowed from a lovely stage set up especially for the affair. Guests were seated around tables from where they could order food or drinks under gorgeously lit trees and a starry sky that brought to mind the song “Some Enchanted Evening,” which by the way was, most aptly rendered by baritone Andrew Fernando in perfect melodiousness to resonate with the congenial atmosphere and bring back memories of Enzio Pinza, who as Emile de Becque, sang the song for the first time as a member of the original cast of “South Pacific,” one of the longest running Broadway musicals.

Rachelle Gerodias, a diva soprano who never fails to win the hearts of her audience, displayed poignant emotionality in “Tutte Le Feste Al Temio” from Verdi’s Rigoletto — which she performed in a duet with Fernando. But she really outdid herself with a superlative rendition of Francisco Santiago’s romantic kundiman “Pakiusap” where she copiously radiated the feelings of love the song injects in anyone who listens to it. Gerodias is a promise fulfilled ever more beautifully into a golden primacy with her every performance.

The two popular singers, Bo Cerrudo and Bituin Escalante, were not to be easily outdone by the classic artistes, however and in fact seemed to be inspired by the latter’s accomplishments and came out with superlative renditions that will long be remembered by that evening’s audience. Cerrudo delivered with confident aplomb and deep sentiment a medley of Filipino classics that captured the audience, particularly his interpretation of George Canseco’s undying classic, “Ngayon at Kailanman,” for which he received one of the longest applauses of the many tendered that evening.

The vivacious Bituin Escalante, in turn, flawlessly projected her professional competence. Her highly spirited and dynamic rendition of “Aba Ba Ba Boogie” from Ryan Cayabyab’s musical “Katy” was matched by the vigor of her voice. This, together with her lively dance moments, brought nostalgic reminiscences of one of the country’s most revered stage performers, Katy de la Cruz, whose life the eponymous musical relates in an inspired way.

The Ryan Cayabyab Singers used to advantage their youth and vocal gifts as they performed marvelously a medley of Original Filipino Music (OPM) encompassing some of the most lyrical works of our native song writers, a force that has woven much magic into the local music scene. Cayabyab, himself, is an extraordinary composer, pianist, lyricist, arranger and choir and orchestra conductor whose brilliance was made patent by his own group of singers as they truly conveyed this master’s genius by their jubilant and skillful performance.

Unquestionably the evening would not have been as outstanding without Master Diestro’s skilled captaincy of the Philippine Symphony Orchestra. Charting it to exemplary feats, his baton led the orchestra to exquisitely exhibit in “full-dress” splendor its chutzpah as it interpreted Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet” for the evening’s overture; Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino”, and Emmanuel Chablier’s lilting “Spanish Rhapsody. Every note was produced in such an elegant, penetrating manner — all instrument captives of the masterful baton.

The Bel-Air and the LRI recitals, only one week apart from each other, are fascinating models of what seems to be a renewal of our love for classical music and a rebounding appreciation for our own Filipino music ranging from our traditional kundimans and memorable OPM. The Bel-Air open-air, free concerts, in particular, reflect this uplifting interest in culture being displayed by many of our people. It is to be wished that many repetitions will be forthcoming.

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“Travel Diary”, the 150th one-man exhibit of eminent artist Manuel D. Baldemor, which opened March 31 at the Ortigas Foundation Library’s Artist Nook, will run through April 22.

“The Homage to St. Therese” which featured Baldemor’s study for a mosaic of the French saint, opened at the Podium on Ortigas Avenue last April 2. It was a fund-raising for the completion of the mosaic which will be installed in the St. Therese Basilica in Lisieux, on Oct. 18, 2009.

Malang’s rare paintings and drawings will be on display through April 8 at Galerie Joaquin. The exhibit opened March 18.

Paintings by Lea Lim will be shown at the Alliance Total Gallery of the Alliance Francaise de Manille on April 14. The show will run through May 8.