Sunday, March 9, 2008
An Enchanted Evening
Davao City
Sometimes I meet people, “who are not fun of classical music”. Some of them joined last night’s event - and changed their mind.
The Ladies of Charity (AIC) Davao proudly presented “An Evening of Classical Music” by ‘Four Davaoena Pianists on four Pianos’ at the CAP Grand Auditorium in Davao City. The Four Ladies really gave us an enchanted evening (by the way one of my favourite songs from the musical “South Pacific”, 1949, by Hammerstein/Rodgers).
Mila Cabaguio Jocson, A.B.M. graduate of Fernandez Piano School and aside from private piano teaching, also taught music in Ateneo de Davao University, Philippine Women’s University and Stella Maris. Together with Celine Garcia, Nelly Castro and Inday Fucoy Montero, they formed the original Davao Piano Quartet 20 years ago.
Following her footsteps, Mila’s children Daphne and Gretchen all play the piano. Daphne pursued it as a career. Daphne Cabaguio Jocson started her training with Ms. Encarnita Fernandez. It was these 13 years with her that Daphne was taught the right musical discipline. She received the Bachelor of Music degree at the Scholastica’s College in Manila and was molded to maturity by the late Ms. Alice Araneta Lim and under Ms. Vera Berskaya and Dr. Hugo Goldenzweig at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. Daphne also performed with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, which was one of her most memorable performances before she left for the U.S.
Evelyn Abellera-Magno, fortunately more or less my neighbour if not being in the U.S., called me and invited me to listen the daily rehearsals. Evelyn is indeed a woman of impeccable credentials and has proved her competence from the schoolroom to the corporate boardroom and back to her music, which “lifts my spirit and soothes my being from the stresses of the world”. (How very true, Lyn!). Her string of academic credentials includes degrees in Piano, Psycology, Educational Administration which gave her such honors as TOWNS AWARDEE (Ten Outstanding Women in the Nations Service), a grantee at the Harvard University School of Education at Cambridge, Massachussetts and Past Governor of Rotary international of District 3860.
Maria Luisa “Inday” Montero attended the Conservatory of Music at St. Paul’s College of Manila, where she studied piano initially with Sony Lacson and the great Carmencita Arambulo eventually earning a Bachelor of Music Degree under the unforgettable Stella Goldenberg Brimo. Aside from being an incredible pianist , she has trained and conducted several choral groups including the Davao City Choral Ensemble, and the prize-winning PC-INP RECOM “Convent Choir and the LCB performing Arts Music Class”.
Did you miss something, because you was not able to join us last night? Yes a lot:
Mozart’s Sonata KV 545, Milhaud’s Scaramouche, Friml-Stothart’s Donkey Serenade, Lecuona’s Ante El Escorial and (also one of my favourites) de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance. And after the break: Pinoy Classic Music, starting with an own composition of Music Director Belda-Azarcon “Prelude”. The first two measures of the Tagalog
The intermission was not only an intermission: the great opera diva of Davao City Soprano Mee Hai Cho, who graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Seoul University in South Korea and a Diploma in Voice from St. Cecilia Conservatory In Italy, performed “Stridono Lassu” from Leoncavollo’s opera “I Pagliacci” and a wonderful peace from Franz Lehar :”Il Paese del Sorriso” (Your whole heart is mine). …
I talked to Musical Director Mrs. Belda-Azarcon after the great performance: We want more! She smiled and told me: We try our best to be back on stage soon!
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# 1 john said:
Sound like you had a fantastic time my friend, perhaps to educate me you would lend me some of the music you have listed above?
# 2 Klaus said:
Hi John, yes, it was fantastic indeed. Sure I will lend you some of the music listed above… See you…
# 3 Migs said:
Hi Klaus: I’m not what you’d call abreast of classical music and musicians, but I do appreciate and enjoy events such as the one you recently attended. And how timely that I started playing Debussy as I read this! When you go to Manila, perhaps I can accompany you to watch the PPO, which is holding its 23rd (or 24th?) concert series this year.
I’m looking forward to meeting you. Cheers!
# 4 Klaus said:
Hi Migs, that’s great. You play Debussy - wow, also a great classical composer. you are amazing me, but before I got a lot of Pinoy listeners at the same age then yours with incredible knowledge about Classical Music. And by the way: even the Beatles are classics already… Looking forward to see you. Sure, the PPO is really great but they wouldn’t come to Davao…
# 5 Jim Hannah said:
Hi Klaus,
We attended the concert and were most impressed. In fact, we read about it in this column, and contacted Evelyn Magno on the number you gave, while we were still home in Scotland. Not only was she happy to reserve us the tickets, she insisted on personally meeting us in Davao to hand over the tickets, and had dinner with us after the concert. On reflection, it’s not often you phone for tickets for a concert, are then met by one of the performers themselves to give you the tickets who then becomes a good friend indeed.
Excellent evening, and thanks to Evelyn.
Jim, Vangie and Caroline (daughter).
# 6 Klaus said:
Hi Jim, Vangie and Caroline, thank you very much indeed for your kind words.Surely, it doesn’t happen often, that one of the performer will sell tickets, but as a member of The Ladies of Charity, they do. I am really glad that you enjoy this wonderful evening as hundreds of hundreds did also. I truly understand you how valuable it is for you to become friends with Evelyn. I felt the same with all, when I was invited to join the rehearsals before the concert. Actually I started admiring these ladies long time ago. Unfortunately Evelyn will head for the States soon, but it’s pretty sure that the incredible pianist women will be back on Davao stage as soon as possible. Since years that event is one of the most memorable performances for music lovers in Davao City….
# 7 evelyn abellera magno said:
hi klaus!…daghan salamat! I must thank you for all the praises we have been getting. Yes, I love music and love to perform. This is my passion and which i want to share with music lovers. Yes, I will also remember always (!) jim and vangie. The first time vangie called from scotland we immediately “bonded” because I have been to Glasgow, where they reside…and since I am going back to England on June 2009, I would love to see them again. I have an open invitation for them to have dinner at home but I think they are busy visiting relatives of vangie…I will be around Davao until the 26th…will be out of town from march 27-April 3…the invitation is still open, incase they read this.
Thank you again Klaus. Best regards to your mom and your lovely wife.
# 8 Klaus said:
Thank you so much Lyn. We hope to see you after the 3rd of April. I still like to get some of the DVD’s… Give my/our regards to Mila, Daphne, Inday and of course to Mrs. Belda-Azarcon. We love you all!