A little afternoon music
When was the last time you enjoyed a piano concert?
I remember how, in recent years, world-class pianist Cecile Licad enchanted music lovers during her CCP concerts presented by the late art and culture patroness Nedy Tantoco.
Licad’s career flourished under the caring aegis of First Lady Imelda Marcos, and she played the piano for family friend President Bongbong Marcos during his inaugural dinner, doing his favorite Rachmaninoff Concerto 2.
Imelda Romualdez Marcos and Irene Marcos Araneta.
But now, there are mini-concerts to be enjoyed in our urban cultural landscape.
At Rockwell’s Power Plant Mall, for instance, you can enjoy good music—from Rachmaninoff to rock—for free. My favorite performer is the veteran pianist Bong Infante, whom I often request to play not just Beatles numbers, but also modern tunes derived from Rachmaninoff’s Concerto 2, namely All By Myself and Full Moon and Empty Arms. Or do Chopin’s Till the End of Time and I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.
And then, last week, I thoroughly enjoyed a little afternoon music (hmm, are we recalling A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler?) at the Goldenberg Mansion.
It was actually a chamber concert featuring two gifted musicians who have performed on world stages: violinist Kristine Claire KayCee Uchi Galano and pianist Inna Montesclaros, presented by First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos for this month’s edition of the Goldenberg Concert Series.
“Your music moved us,” First Lady LAM told KayCee and Inna after the concert. “Let’s continue to celebrate our culture through the power of music.”
Starting with the happy, jumpy rendition of Bahay Kubo by Felipe de Leon as arranged by Jose Kabayao Caballero to wake up the audience from what would probably be siesta daze, the pair continued to delight the afternoon audience with two numbers by Camille Saint-Saens and another two by Antonin Dvorak and Henri Wieniawski, with a heartwarming encore, Bituing Walang Ningning.
There is something about violin music that stirs the soul, as fans in the audience will agree. Present were cultural stalwarts Imelda Marcos and Irene Marcos Araneta; Chief Justice Art Panganiban (chanting cheers in Kapampangan); Ambassador Joey Antonio (matching his suit with cool rubber shoes); Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Mel Robles (did you know that he was a music major, which is why he was among the first to applaud LAM’s Concert Series project?) and his lovely wife Sherwil Robles; National Historical Commission board member Lisa Guerrero Nakpil (always present, all sharp eyes and ears like a true historian, at these concerts); National Library director Cesar Gilbert Adriano (telling us interesting back stories about the very storied library); and PAL president Stanley Ng (finding time from airline work for cultural events that make spirits fly).
Exchanging non-musical notes were Malacañang Social Sec. Bianca Zobel, Special Envoy to the UAE Karen Santos; businessman Philip Cruz who told us: “I used to be a karpintero, now I am a gold digger and a coal boy” (Read: he is now into mining); business creative Noel Oñate; lawyer Mike Toledo; Advanced Abilities CEO Angelo Antonio Buendia; Dipolog Mayor Darel Dexter Uy and his charming wife Vanessa Uy; veteran journalist Tony Lopez, forever beautiful Ruby Diaz-Roa; and Nanay leader, chef Florabel Co-Yatco.
What I liked about this afternoon concert was the intimacy of the venue, making us heartily feel the essence of chamber music. And I also loved that half of the audience was composed of students who get to appreciate musical treats like these regularly.
First Lady Liza Marcos, bonding with the students after the concert, sees to that. Present last week were students from Culiat High School, Marambong Elementary School, Pasong Tamo Elementary School, Sauyo Elementary School, Sergio Osmeña Elementary School, and Tandang Sora High School.
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos and veteran journalist Tony Lopez share a laugh.
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos and veteran journalist Tony Lopez share a laugh.
Businessman Noel Oñate and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office general manager Mel Robles, a music graduate and musician himself, loves the Goldenberg Concert Series.
First Lady Liza Marcos sharing history notes with National Historical Commission board member Lisa Guerrero Nakpil
Are La Paz, Tarlac councilor Robert Mananquil and First Lady Liza Marcos talking about local governments?
Businessman Philip Cruz and Malacanang SoSec Bianca Zobel discuss ties that bind.
First Lady LAM hits happy notes with musicians Inna and KayCee.
Nanay leader and chef Florabel Co- Yatco and National Library director Cesar Gilbert Adriano
Forever beautiful Ruby Diaz Roa and Ambassador-real estate tycoon Joey Antonio looks cool in suit and rubber shoes.
CLOSE
The Goldenberg Concert Series, held monthly, is a learning experience not only for students, but for music lovers like you and me who also get to time-travel, at least for an afternoon, in the colonial grandeur that is Goldenberg.
It was built in the 1800s. And that is another story.
