Brazilian Film Fete Sept 26/From B’way songs to Harana/Chopin Society of the Phl

To commemorate the 191st anniversary of the independence of Brazil, Brazilian Ambassador and Mme. Jorge Fernandes will host the “Brazilian Film Festival 2013” on Thursday, Sept. 26 at the Cine Adarna, UP Film Center, Diliman, QC. Cocktails at 5 p.m. and the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. will be followed by the screening of “Carandiru” at 6:30 p.m.

Dean of Music Sr. Maria Anunciata Sta. Ana, SPC, sends an invitation to “Memories of Broadway 2” for Sept. 26, 7 p.m.  at the Fleur-de-lis auditorium.

Her letter states Broadway musicales hold a cherished part in the history of St. Paul U. Manila when in the 60s the then St. Paul College of Manila was given the sobriquet “Broadway in Herran.”

Featured are faculty members Ronan Ferrer, artistic director, Elisanta Cortez, Nenen Espina, Eudenice Palaruan, Thea Perez, Oliver Rodriguez; music Alumni and students with accompanists Joel Daquioag Jr., Eloise Gonzalo; Joey Medina and Melissa Taqueban.

The program includes excerpts from a wide range of musicales: “Showboat” (1927) “South Pacific“ (1940) “West Side Story,” “The King and I” from the 50’s. “Dreamgirls,” “Cabaret,” “Funny Girl,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Stop the World I Want to Get Off,” “She Loves Me,” from the 60s; “Evita” from the 70’s; “Phantom of the Opera,” “Miss Saigon,” “Cats” from the 80s; “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Rent” from the 90s and “Wicked” from 2003.

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On Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., songs of the most distinguished early Filipino composers will be rendered at the UP Abelardo Hall in Diliman, QC by well-known singers. The event will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UP College of Music.

Violinist Joseph Esmilla will play the Gavatina, with pianist Rudolf Golez as assisting artist.

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Owing to insistent public demand, the Phl Opera Co. will again present Ang Bagong Harana in a new program featuring seasoned singers Karla Gutierrez, Aizel Prietos, Cris Go, Janine Santos, KL Dizon, Lawrence Jatayna, Michael Odoemene, Nazer Salgado, Al Gatmaitan, Jurgen Unterberg and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. Floy Quintos directs. Show dates are Oct. 12, 18, 19 at 8 p.m. with matinees on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m., and on Oct. 20, 3:30 p.m. at the RCBC auditorium.

Artistic director Karla Gutierrez says there is need to remind ourselves of our identity, particularly because of the endless imports in the theater and concert scenes.

Karla continues: What was the secret of our previous success? “Ang Bagong harana” was envisioned as a love song to our country. We wanted to show audiences that there is so much wealth modern Filipinos can mine from our traditional and contemporary music. In this age of globalization, it is all the more crucial for us to know who we are and what we have that we can call Pinoy. A lot of performers may say we are the best in the world. But we wanted to go a step further and prove it by using our own traditional and contemporary material, showcasing young singers committed to classical singing and to our traditional material.

From children’s songs to tribal chants, from planting songs to courtship ditties, from stirring kundimans to delightful showstoppers by Sylvia la Torre, “Ang Bagong Harana” will showcase the best Filipino composers from different music genres — Nicanor Abelardo, Ryan Cayabyab, Willy Cruz, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Jose Estrella, Constancio De Guzman and Felipe de Leon, among others.

“Ang Bagong Harana” is a must-see production for every Filipino because it represents the very best that the Filipino race can be. The show is an effective way of communicating our greatness as a nation. Through the revue, we Filipinos once again find our voice and our pride. This will also immerse foreigners in a truly authentic Filipino music environment with the hope of making them understand our country’s cultural and musical heritage.

For inquiries, call POC at tel. 8220609 or 0917-5272880 or TicketWorld at 8919999.

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Upon the initiative of Polish Ambassador to Malaysia Adam Jelonelle, The Chopin Society in the Philippines was launched at the St. Paul U., with the ambassador, College of Music Dean Sr. Anunciata and CCP president Raul Sunico presiding.

An all-Chopin program featured highly talented pianist Robelle Alaling, 21; Korean Ji Won Yang, 11 — will she be Korea’s Cecille Licad? — and the eminent Ingrid Santamaria and Raunl Sunico in Concerto in E Minor, the former playing the solo part; the latter, the orchestral.