THE PARTICIPATION of a Russian violinist and a Korean classical singer who happens to be the spouse of UST’s pride, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, provided an international flavor to the annual UST Christmas Concert, whose gala last December 3 again provided a highly classical—and tasteful—kick-off to this month’s holiday season.
With the UST Symphony Orchestra under Prof. Hermenegildo Ranera, Yaroslava Poletaeva, a Russian violinist who was trained at the Conservatory of Music at Lynn University in Florida, gave an astounding violin performance of “Zigeunerwersein” by Pablo Sarasate and “Carol of the Bells” by Mykola Leontovych.
“I’m very honored that I had the chance to play for the University because of its high regard (for) cultural preservation,” Poletaeva said.
Meanwhile, Korean lyric baritone Byeong-In Park sang Johann Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” He later did a duet with his wife, Gerodias, and sang the “Gesu Bambino-O Holy Night” medley.
Before the duet, Gerodias, the country’s leading soprano and a faculty member at the UST Conservatory of Music, had sang “Hallelujah” from Wolfgang Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate.
Other Conservatory talents featured were tenors Frederick Maturan and Radnel Ofalsa who, together the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble and Coro Tomasino, performed Bach’s “Jesu Joy-Sing unto God.” Soprano Katrine Sunga sang Aldon Nova’s “A New Day Has Come.”
Scene-stealer was six-year-old marimbist Rafael Ley who played a “Sound of Music” medley together with his elder sister, Mikaela Ley.
As expected, two-time Choir of the World UST Singers under Prof. Fidel Calalang Jr., captivated the audience with their renditions of “Gloria Patri,” “The Ground” and “Happy Days.”
The concert closed with a Christmas ABBA Medley and a community singing of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Joy to the World.”
“This concert is for the conservation of the cultural heritage of the University,” UST Christmas Concert committee Chairman and Faculty of Civil Law Regent Fr. Isidro Abaño, O.P. said. “The level of musical ability is now on a higher ground which is excellent and extraordinary.” Daryl Angelo P. Baybado with reports from A.A.A. Bulan and M.C.A. Fernandez
