Acclaimed Filipino concert pianist, Dr Raul Sunico, performs during the concert.
DOHA: World-class Filipino artistes enthralled the audience at Katara Opera House on Friday as they performed classical compositions by legendary Filipino musicians along with masterpieces by composers of the Romantic Era.
The concert entitled “An Evening of Classical Music” presented by the Philippine Embassy in cooperation with Katara Cultural Village witnessed renowned Filipino concert pianist Dr. Raul Sunico impress musicophiles as he played Sergei Rachmaninoff, Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt.
With Jesper Mercado on piano, Filipino soprano Stefanie Quintin soared in her rendition of songs from popular musicals including West Side Story and Very Warm for May. The audience, especially the Filipinos, enjoyed her stirring interpretation of “Kay Tamis ng Buhay” based on a famous Jose Rizal poem from the novel Noli Me Tangere as well as “Ang Maya”- a love song composed by Jose Estella for a zarzuela in the early 1900s. The prolific soloist capped her well-applauded performance with the 1874 Leo Delibes composition Les filles de Cadix.
The last part of the programme saw multi-award winning performer Dr. Sunico entertain the crowd playing his own version of Bato Sa Buhangin and his unique take on a medley of popular Filipino folk songs Bahay Kubo and Leron Leron Sinta. The concert concluded with Dr. Sunico’s performance of Rhapsody in Blue by prominent 20th century American composer George Gershwin.
Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, Alan L. Timbayan, welcomes the audience at “An Evening of Classical Music” concert at Katara Opera House on Friday.
Addressing the audience at the start of the concert, Ambassador of the Philippines to Qatar, Alan L Timbayan, stressed how Filipinos value music as he traced the development of music education in the Philippines.
“During the post-colonial period, music was included in the primary school curriculum in the Philippines and since then was deeply embedded in Philippine culture and tradition. Music conservatories and colleges were established in the Philippines as early as 1906. The first graduates of these institutions became the first generation of Filipino composers whose works represent the classical art music tradition which continues to flourish to this day,” said Timbayan.
The envoy expressed keenness to further enhance bilateral ties between the two countries in the field of culture through more events and activities in the future.
“We are happy to collaborate with Qatar to sustain vibrant cultural exchanges between the Philippines and Qatar through a wide range of cultural activities,” he said. Saif Al Dosari, human resources manager at Katara Cultural Village, was among the guests at the show which was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, the Filipino community and other officials.
