Date Added: 9/16/2009
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 http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec04/eddahli.htm
 http://www.malaya.com.ph/dec04/eddahli.htm

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		‘We all can live without music… but not as well.’

Giacomo Puccini

Holidays2008 has arrived at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Manila. All over, from the lobby Gingerbread House goodies to the Red Cross Tree* – it’s Christmasy. Aglow, really joy to the world.

This weekend, the Mandarin ballroom was transformed into Italy’s Piazza Pantheon. On cue, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra musicians in place, awaiting Ernest Hoetzl to lift his baton and get the grand concert commenced. Dr. Hoetzl, Austria -based, performs regularly with 30 other great orchestras around the world, and an aid for him is his ability with seven languages,

This year is the 150th birth anniversary of Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924). To mark the occasion, the Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines in partnership with the Italian Embassy put on this elegant evening to celebrate the works of the illustrious Italian composer. Filling the ballroom to capacity; gentlemen in black ties and rose boutonnière, and ladies in formal long gowns.

After dinner, the Puccini reminiscence began as the rear stage filled with the entry of the druidic masked humming chorus of Act 2, Madama Butterfly. Next, arias from La Tosca — ‘And the stars were shining’, sung by tenor Franco Becconi, and ‘Mario, Mario’, a duet with Italian soprano Anna Carnovali and Becconi. Another solo from ‘La Vanciulla del West’ sung by the tenor.

Carnovali, based in Italy, has established herself in Europe with all the best — lead roles of Rigoletto, Gianni’s Schecchi, The Magic Flute, La Boheme, Don Giovanni, Turandot, Carmen, Le Nez; the symphonic repertoire including Mozart’s Requiem, Richard Strauss’s Vier Letzte Lieder, Brahams’s, Britten, Vaccoj, so many others, winning competitions in the process.

Becconi, Italian too, did such versatile performances with his extraordinary voice, has in his career interpreted a huge repertoire that ranges from opera to lied (Deutsche songs), and from Naples music to the cantata, having sung in many cities in Europe and Australia as well.

And the Philippines’ own multi-awarded and premier soprano, the beauteous Rachelle Gerodias. She did two solos: Madama Butterfly’s ‘Un bel di vedremo’, and ‘Signora ascolta’ from Turnadot; plus a La Boheme duet with Becconi, ‘O suave fanciulla’.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia Pacific. It has performed with many of the world’s renowned coordinators, both Philippine and foreign artists. Mostly featured in this concert were, of course, beloved arias from Puccini’s three of the world’s most performed, favorite operas, Boheme, Butterfly, and Tosca.

The event also paid tribute to Luciano Pavarotti to commemorate his first death anniversary with a video presentation of an excerpt of one of his greatest performances singing his signature ‘Nessun Dorma’ from Turandot.

The concert capped the 8th Edition of the Italian Language in the World celebration (Settimana della Lingua Italiana) spearheaded by the Italian ambassador to the Philippines,Rubens Anna Fedele. Also sponsors of the affair were Swiss International Airlines, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and Crewtech Shipmanagement Philippines Inc. And the venue–the splendid Mandarin Oriental Manila.

Credit for the beautiful evening goes to the Piazza Pucchini Committee: Fortune Ledesma, president, JSSP; Agnes Huibonhoa, Chit Gohu, Olga Martel, Betty Chua, Charisse Chuidian, and Marge Luis.

H. C. Schonberg writes: Later in life, Puccini wrote to a friend: "Almighty God touched me with his little finger and said, ‘Write for the theatre–mind, only for the theatre’. And I have obeyed the supreme command." With such compliance and talent, he composed three of the most popular operas ever written, Butterfly, Boheme, Tosca, plus Le Villi, Edgar, ManonLescaut La Fanciulla del West, La Rondine, Il Trittico (Il Tabarro, Suor angelica and Gianni Schicchi, his only comedy). Puccini died worth an estimated four million dollars [a lot of money at that time], had all the opportunity he desired to play poker and to decimate the duck population around his lodge at Torre del Lago, and indulge his passion for fast boats, fast motor cars, and fast women. Puccini once described himself as "a mighty hunter of wild fowl, opera librettos, and attractive women."

*** *P500 buys a decor to hang on Mandarin’s Red Cross Tree toward the fund drive of Marivic Rufino for the Philippine National Red Cross.

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