Category: Arts and Culture

Cecile Licad pays tribute to Chopin

Published by Ellen on March 21, 2010

In observance of Frederic Chopin’s bicentenary, pianist Cecile Licad performs in an all-Chopin recital on Saturday, March 27, 8 p.m. Philamlife Theater, UN Avenue, Manila.

Program: Chopin’s 4 Scherzos and 24 Preludes. She is soloist of the Manila Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Molina on Monday, March 29, 8 p.m. also at Philamlife Theater playing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 i F minor.

She will go on an outreach concert with MSO in Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija on March 23 and another solo concert at the Atheneum School of Noveleta, Cavite on March 30, 6 p.m.. Call 7484152 or 09065104270.

Earlier, Licad gave a preview of her tribute to Chopin at, of all places, Ayala mall.

Music impresario Pablo Tariman reported on that joyous event:

“The music of Chopin had an unlikely exposure in – of all places – the Ayala Malls Thursday (March 18) and it ended in a rousing standing ovation for Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor performed with unbelievable subtlety and fervor by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Arturo Molina.

Confused national identity

Published by Ellen on March 16, 2010

In a way, I’m glad that deviation from the original composition in the singing of the Philippine national anthem is causing controversy.

That means that people still care very much about our national anthem, which is one of our patriotic symbols.

The latest in the “Lupang Hinirang” controversy is the version of much- admired Arnel Pineda (of the international band “The Journey”) sang last Sunday at the Pacquiao-Clottey fight at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas.

I only caught up with Arnel’s performance in Monday’s evening news reports (I don’t watch boxing fights) but here’s the comment of the musically-inclined journalist Inday Espina-Varona in her Facebook wall: “The first two notes of Arnel’s Lupang Hinirang had us betting he wouldn’t hit the high notes. He was fine with the first high notes, sang the anthem straight and pure, and then he had to do the runs… ayan, sablay.”

This French pianist has wide musical palate

Published by Ellen on March 13, 2010

By Pablo A. Tariman

Many things are musically intriguing about French pianist Dana Ciocarlie who will make her Philippine debut in Cebu City’s Fernan Hall on March 16(Tuesday) and at the Philamlife Theater on March 19 (Friday).

A top prizewinner of the Robert Schumann International Piano Competition, Ciocarlie is identified with the last piano sonata of Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann and yet had shown some intelligence and sensitivity as soloist in an unpopular but highly challenging Age of Anxiety by Leonard Bernstein.

The American Music Guide describes her thus: “”Dana Ciocarlie is a whirlwind. She has you burn technique, her instinctive musical imagination makes every piece an exciting experience.”

A French publication extols her in such enchanting terms: “”Dana has Ciocarlie of fire, biting everything in a game very clear and precise. Close to the instrument, she touches immediately by a game inspired, warm and masterly.”

In Manila, she figures in an all-Chopin recital as one of the highlights of the Chopin Manille 2010 Bicentennaire. She observed Chopin’s birthday in France by playing on a historical Pleyel piano identified with the Polish composer. In Manila, she plays on a brand new Bosendorfer identified with the singing tone of Placido Domingo. In Manila, she figures in an all-Chopin recital as one of the highlights of the Chopin Manille 2010 Bicentennaire. She observed Chopin’s birthday in France by playing on a historical Pleyel piano identified with the Polish composer. In Manila, she plays on a brand new Bosendorfer identified with the singing tone of Placido Domingo.

A night of Chopin

Published by Ellen on March 5, 2010

The French Embassy to the Philippines, the Alliance Francaise and Ros Music Center are bringing concert pianist Dana Ciocarlie to Manila to celebrate 200th anniversary of Frederick Chopin.

Music lovers will have a chance to watch and listen to Ms Ciocarlie on March 19, 8 p.m at the Philamlife Auditoriom on U.N. Avenue.

Frederick Chopin (1810-1849)

Often regarded as the greatest piano composer to ever live, Chopin was one of the greatest pianists in Paris during the Romantic Era. Frederick Chopin was born in Poland and early in his young life exhibited his gift at the piano, playing for some of the aristocratic families of Warsaw the age of six. At the age of nineteen, Chopin moved away from Poland forever, first to Vienna and then to Paris.

Chopin was readily accepted by the Parisian elite, but his demeanor and melancholic temperament was often at odds with the expectation of this circle. During his entire lifetime, Chopin gave only 30 public performances. Of his nearly 170 compositions, almost all of them are exclusively for the piano. Chopin performed most of these compositions for small private audiences. The intimate setting of these performances is significant because it is emblematic of Chopin’s music. Chopin loved soaring melodies, particularly the singing-like playing of his right hand. These melodies were not overwhelmingly ornamental, however, but minimalist and traditional. Chopin was lauded for his ability to infuse traditional forms like the sonata and the prelude (a short self contained piano piece) with intimacy and emotional intensity.

Comedia at Skylab

Published by Ellen on February 26, 2010

ANTIQUE – Ang titulo nitong kolum ko ay hindi komedya na na nakakatawanan kungdi tungkol sa isang klaseng palabas na dinala ng mga kastila dito sa Pilipinas.

Dahil ang comedia ay galing Espanya, ang kwento ay tungkol sa laban ng Kristiyano at ng mga Muslim. Ang mga “cast of characters” ay mga hari at reyna, mga prinsipe at prinsesa at mga sundalo.

Maganda pakinggan ang sagutan at ang eskrimahan. Inaabot ng sobra 10 oras.

Iyan ang aking pinagkaka-abalahan nitong mga nakaraang araw. Kaya medyo missing in action ako sa national politics.

Tagubilin at Habilin

Published by Ellen on December 30, 2009

Sa pagtatapos ng taong 2009, gusto ko dito ibahagi itong tula na sinulat ni Pete Lacaba na binigkas ni Armida Siguion-Reyna.

Mabuhay ka, kaibigan!

Mabuhay ka!

Iyan ang una’t huli kong

Tagubilin at habilin:

Mabuhay ka!

Sa edad kong ito, marami akong maibibigay na payo.

Mayaman ako sa payo.

Maghugas ka ng kamay bago kumain.

Maghugas ka ng kamay pagkatapos kumain.

Pero huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay para lang makaiwas sa sisi.

Huwag kang maghuhugas ng kamay kung may inaapi

Na kaya mong tulungan.

Maligayang Pasko!

Published by Ellen on December 23, 2009

Maligayang Pasko!

Sa kabila ng lahat na kalamidad, natural at kagagawan ng tao, marami pa rin tayo dapat ipasasalamat sa Panginoon.

Unang-una buhay tayo. Isipin nyo na lang ang mga sawimpalad noong bagyong Ondoy o kung nakasama tayo sa 57 na kasama sa Maguindanao masaker.

Ngunit ang pamilya ng 57 ay mabuti pa rin ang lagay dahil nakita nila ang bangkay ng kanilang mga kamag-anak. Nailibing ng maayos. Mas mahirap ang lagay ng tatlo na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakikita ang katawas. Dalawa doon ay reporter din at ang isa yata ay ang operator ng backhoe na ginamit para sana itago ang krimen.

Willy Nep as “Noynoy”

Published by Ellen on November 19, 2009

Source: vimeo.com Strictly Politics ANC Willie Nepomuceno does his political commentaries by impersonation. For his latest show, he has added presidential race frontrunner Senator Noynoy…

Armida and son Carlitos’ birthday party

Published by Ellen on November 4, 2009

Armida Siguion-Reyna and son Carlitos celebrate their birthdays on the same day.

Last night they had a joint celebration at the White Space in Makati. Armida was the star, beautiful at 79, in her Aawitan Kita attire. Carlitos preferred to be in the background attending to the guests with wife, Bibeth Orteza.

Members of their families were there. I can only identify Armida’s husband, Atty. Leonardo Siguion Reyna; Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; grand daughter Monique Villonco, sister Irma Pontenciano.

Guests were a merry mix of people from different sectors of society where Armida and Carlitos have made their mark.

Jon Santos, performing as Armida de la Reyna was a joy to watch. Willy Nep added more fun as She’erap’.

Imelda Marcos was there early. Children Bongbong and wife Liza and Irene with husband Greggy Araneta came later.

Here are additional photos:

Exeunt

Published by Ellen on October 20, 2009

Please click image below to view enlarged photo.

You have to read the first two books of Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil’s trilogy to appreciate the last, “Exeunt”.

The first, which I think is the best of the three titles, is “Myself, Elsewhere” which tells of the genteel little Spanish and later American town of Ermita by Manila Bay where she was born and raised. It ended with the destruction of Manila in 1945.

The book won the National Book Award for autobiography in 2006.