THE 29th edition of the Sampung Mga Daliri Atbp. concert last Feb. 28 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) paid tribute to Conservatory of Music dean Erlinda Fule, who died last Dec. 13 of multiple organ failure. She was 79 years old.
The annual concert again saw 10 grand pianos on the stage of the CCP where UST alumni pianists and musicians interacting.
Fule served the Conservatory for almost 50 years, teaching piano and history. She served as dean from 1992 to 2002.
Oldtimers called her "the mother of the Conservatory."
She was responsible for reorganizing the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Symphonic band and UST Summer Music Camp.
She helped establish the Music Education degree program and UST Brass Quintet.
It was also during her deanship that the Conservatory achieved Center for Excellence status.
She was also appointed by the Philippine government to the CCP Board of Trustees, during which time the UST Symphony Orchestra achieved resident status in the CCP in 1998.
Classic composers
The program featured music from classic composers such as Gonoud, Tschaikovsky, De Falla, Rachmaninoff, Verdi, Wagner and Schoenberg.
The 10 grand pianos harmoniously blended with the UST Guitar Ensemble in “Les Toreados Danzas Ritual del Fuego.”
The “Patriotic Medley” was played by 20 student pianists. Meanwhile, 10 student pianists performed the “Waltz of the Flowers.”
Michael Jacinto was joined by the UST Wind Orchestra in performing the Waltz from Faust. A suite from Les Miserables was performed by Paul Cifra and the Popera Chorus.
There were also performances by the UST Jazz Band, USTeMundo, Rondalla ensemble and USTCM Voice Faculty.
In one of the crowd-pleasing performances, the classic Waltz from Rachmaninoff Suite was renovated as a musical arrangement to include the Philippine pop novelty song, “Cha!Cha! Dabarkads,” and the viral hit of Korean pop star Psy, “Gangnam Style,” an electronic music piece.
The Conservatory sealed the event with performances of “Sanctus” (from Manzoni Requiem), “One Day More” (Les Miserables), and “Wach Auf Chorale” (Die Meistersinger von N mberg).
Tribute to Thomasians
Earlier, the annual Tribute to Thomasians concert was mounted also in the CCP last Feb. 10.
Conducted by Herminigildo Ranera, the UST Symphony Orchestra tackled works by Verdi, Forsyth, Romberg, Puccini and Beethoven
Featured artists were Joy Allan de la Cruz on viola; Jun Francis Jaranilla on bass; and tenors Lemuel dela Cruz, Randy Gilongo, and Ronan Ferrer.
The repertoire included “Overture to Nabucco” by Giusepe Verdi and “Concerto in G minor for Viola and Orchestra” by Cecil Forsyth.
Five male soloists rendered “Stout-Hearted Men” from Sigmund Romberg's New Moon and “Nessun Dorma” Turandot by Giacomo Puccini.
Beethoven's “Symphony no. 5 in C Minor, op. 67” was the finale. Christopher B. Enriquez and Marianne Lastra
