Concerts: Past, forthcoming; Cristine, Caitlin to perform / Alexis Edralin remembered

There were so many concerts during the holidays — a number of them falling on the same date — it was physically impossible for a reviewer to have attended each.

Herewith are concerts sorely missed. A concert at the CCP main theater featured the highly distinguished Japanese violinist Kazuhiro Tagahi as soloist, with the equally distinguished pianist Josue Greg Zuniega as assisting artist.

Tagahi has been a soloist of major orchestras in Japan and Germany, and was concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago conducted by Daniel Barenboim, and of the Philharmonic Reutlingen in Germany, among others.

Zuniega studied at the Tchaikowsky Moscow State Conservatory and obtained his undergraduate and post-graduate degrees at the Royal College of Music of London where he was presented the Tagore Gold Medal for Excellence by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and awarded first prize honors in piano concerto, lieder and chamber music interpretation.

He has concertized in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, China, Guam, Belgium, Germany and France.

The Instituto Cervantes and the Spanish Embassy headed by Ambassador Jorge Domecq, in collaboration with the Ayala Museum, presented last Dec. 10 “Spanish Music Across Two Oceans”, with the Spanish-Phil chamber music performed by pianist Ma. Luz Rivera and violinist Raquel Rivera.

Last Dec. 18, Atty. Avelino Cruz presented “Christmastime in Cypress 2013” at his DV residence featuring sopranos  Rachelle Gerodias and Lara Marie Maigue, tenor George Yang, pop icon Cocoy Laurel, pop singers Iwi and Denise Laurel, Atty. Maan Ferrer, the San Beda Law Chorale and the Chorus of San Beda’s Vox Legis.

The concert commemorated the 110th anniversary of Octavio V. Cruz who, according to Atty. Avelino Cruz, “was the foremost tenor in the history of Philippine opera”.

Ariel Arambulo, the richly talented composer for Christ, had his composition rendered in the Music for Christ 2013 Festival last Dec. 22 at the Santuario de San Jose for the benefit of the Yolanda victims and the Casa Marello, House for Aged Priests.

Arambulo composed Music for Christ in 2006 which work I reviewed.

A pre-Christmas offering of “Mulan” with script and lyrics by Luigi Nacario and music by Eugene Belbis was presented at St. Cecilia’s Hall, St. Scholastica’s College last Dec. 13.

The story of Mulan, a popular Chinese heroine, is from an old Chinese folktale entitled “The Ballad of Mulan”, originally a poem. “Mulan” is the story of family, sacrifice and courage adapted into different versions through the years.

The cast consisted of Gian Gloria, Mary Anne Plamenio, Agnes Sarreal, Ces de la Cruz, Hyacinth Leonado, Angel Yu, Shanelle Comia, Zscharmaine Barretto, Derrick Gozos, Terrence Guillermo, Jose Herrera, Noel Comia, Kendrick Ibasco, Rupert Alvarez, Michael Fernandez, Dusty Suarez, VJ Parreno and Denzal Guiao.

Forthcoming Coyiuto concerts

Music lovers avidly look forward to the concert of Cristine Coyiuto (whom I have dubbed “the pianists’ pianist”) at which she will interpret Mozart’s Concerto K.488 and Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Her brilliant flutist daughter Caitlin is working on Liebermann’s Flute Concerto which she will likewise perform.

Alexis Edralin remembered

Were it not for the untimely demise of Alexis Edralin, she would now be counted among our eminent and celebrated singers. Grand-daughter of Max Edralin Jr., Central Bank’s PRO “guru”, Alexis was a product of Ryan Cayabyab’s Music Studio. In 1999, she and two male pianists gave a recital at the CCP Little Theater, with Ryan introducing them as “the new stars in the music firmament”. At 17, Alexis won the NAMCYA championship in her voice bracket. She performed with the PPO during the Millennium Countdown at the Luneta, with international coverage of the ABS-CBN. Subsequently, Alexis was sent by Ryan to the UP College of Music on a scholarship.

Alexis led NAMCYA winners for concerts in various towns to bring classic music to the grassroots. During the National Heritage Month, at the famous Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, Alexis sang in the same program with Cecile Licad. Alexis portrayed a role in the opera Spoliarium at the National Museum, among other distinctions.

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Happy New Year!!!