MANILA, Philippines ? The special engagement of the Prague-based Trio Concertino at the Mandarin Oriental would help revive interest in and appreciation of chamber-music. Chamber-music was popular among the aristocrats who hired fine musicians for private home engagements. In this five-star hotel frequented by men from high finance, I imagined myself as one of them. Dinner started with potato soup with wild mushrooms, punctuated by hushed sips of Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay.
Main course consisted of Czechoslovakian braised beef, sour crème, dill and bread dumplings, during which the wine changed to Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere.
Animated talk
We relished animated talk about the recent high-society jewelry scam and the poor arts patron who might be unjustly dragged into it. A well-connected society Pink Panther?he gathered diplomats in a day?s notice to the victory party hosted by Chavit Singson for Manny Pacquiao ?talked about how expensive jewelry for sale ended up in pawnshops whereupon they were seen worn by matrons in various exclusive affairs.
Pink Panther himself worried about somebody?s (or his) tiara showing up in a costume party. The subject was enough for me to conjure images of Maria Callas singing ?Jewel Song? from ?Faust,? with all the contempt for jewelry showing on her face.
Winding up with a dessert called tapfen palatschinken as the group talked about herbs that did wonders to hair follicles, one yearned for the substantial music menu which consisted of Brahms? Trio in B Major, Op. 8 (later version); Josef Suk?s Elegy, Op. 23; and Smetana?s Trio in G Minor, Op. 15.
Trio Concertino, which was formed in 1999, is composed of pianist Ivo Kahanek, violinist Jan Fisher, and cellist Tomas Jamnik. At the Captain?s Bar where the diners repaired for the intimate concert, the microphones were banished (to one?s relief!) and natural sound took over.
From allegro con brio to the scherzo, allegro molto movements (unduly hampered by premature applause in between movements), it was easy to see that this was a first-rate chamber-music group.
There was palpable color and texture highlighted with beautiful balance and restraint. The slow adagio was even more breathtaking, as you finally savored the contrast between the first two movements. The pianist blended perfectly, the violinist showed what give-and-take is all about, but it was the cellist, Jamnik, who took our breath away with the quiet, if unobtrusive, manner in which he led and balanced the entire ensemble.
At the end of the final allegro, you could see their individual virtuosity, which didn?t call attention to themselves. They used their individual gifts to service the higher goals of chamber-music as communal sharing. That night, the performance of the Trio Concertino in Manila was a highly charged, highly fluid and emotional sensual experience.
Two fine chamber musicians in the audience?pianist Mary Anne Espina and violinist Gina Medina?opined the concert was ?extraordinary music-making.? I wholly agree, and for that, we have the following to thank: Mandarin Oriental, Embassy of the Czech Republic and Czech Airlines.
Coyiuto Visayas piano tour
Another chamber-music treat is in store for music lovers in the south, when pianist Cristine Coyiuto and daughter flutist Caitlin Alisa Coyiuto embark on a Visayan concert tour on June 24 (Bacolod City), June 26 (Cebu City) and June 28 (Dumaguete City).
In celebration of Haydn?s bicentennial death anniversary and Mendelssohn?s birth anniversary, Cristine?s program will include Haydn?s Capriccio in G Major and 10 lyrical pieces from Mendelssohn?s ?Songs Without Words.? On the second half of the program, her flutist daughter will perform Chaminade?s Flute Concertino and Bolling?s Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano Trio, with Joji Magadia (bass) and Horhe San José (drums), both members of Gerard Salonga?s Filharmonika.
Call 8131866 or 0916-4412222.
