Eight months I waited for the Manila Symphony Orchestra's fourth concert for its centennial season and it was as magnificent, memorable, and masterful as I had expected it would be.
"Opera at Kundiman: The Legacy of Maestra Conching Rosal", rescheduled to September 1, 2026 due to inclement weather, still drew a full house at the FEU Auditorium, making its mark in history with the performance of excerpts from Georges Bizet's "Carmen" but in Tagalog and 70 years since it opened at the same venue. Tagalog translation is by Manuel Carballo Santiago and Vicente Liwag (English translation by R. Zulueta da Costa).
Under the banner "In Pursuit of Excellence", it likewise paid tribute to the late Filipino soprano Conching Rosal on the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary. It featured Filipino vocal works by National Artist Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago, Leopoldo Silos, Manuel Velez, and Constancio de Guzman, the repertoire that traces the evolution of the Filipino art song alongside the nation's own history.
Making it even more historic were the featured artists soprano Rachelle Gerodias-Park as Micaela, mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa as Carmen, tenor Arthur Espiritu as Don Jose, and baritone Byeong-In Park as Escamillo. Under the baton of conductor Marlon Chen, they delivered excellence song after song whether individually, as a duet, or as a group. Joining them were the FEU Chorale and FEU Dance Company.
As someone who enjoys watching live music in general, the opera and kundiman was a soulful treat. Pieces from Carmen of course I'm familiar with but this was my first time hearing the songs in Tagalog.
Well technically, I had a chance to listen to Michelle Mariposa sing "Ang Pag-ibig ay Isang Ibon (L'amour est un oiseau rebelle)" last January during the MSO's press preview. But that night at the FEU Auditorium, she showed why The New York Times and The Washington Post have been raving about her.
At that same preview, Rachelle Gerodias-Park sang "Mutya ng Pasig", and I will forever associate that piece to her. She really owns it every time she sings that song and the rambunctious applause from the concert audience that first of September said all that needed to be said.
So "Opera at Kundiman" was my first time watching live Arthur Espiritu and Byeong In Park and, as I am in no position to critique any one of the singers that night, I could only marvel at the vocal control and prowess they both possessed. Although, I do have to say that they both stood out in their solos during the "Kundiman" portion with Espiritu singing "Lagi Kitang Naaalala" by Leopoldo Silos and Park sounding as natural and as comfortable can be with his rendtition of "Pakiusap" by Francisco Santiago.
I particularly enjoyed the "Sa Kabukiran" duet by Mariposa and Gerodias-Park whose voices complemented each other and the way they playfully acted out some parts was too special. I wish I had a recording of this performance as it can simply uplift one's spirit watching and hearing it.
For the finale,the four sang "Bayan Ko/Pilipinas Kong Mahal" by Constancio de Guzman and Francisco Santiago, songs that have always had the power to rouse any Filipino's patritotism when felt deeply. For the encore, they sang Ernani Cuenco’s "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal", encouraging everyone present to sing along and send everyone home happy after a well-deserved standing ovation.
Of course, the MSO sounded fantastic, even more so inside the FEU Auditorium whose acoustics is perhaps one of the best I've been to so far in Metro Manila.
Before the concert, guests were invited to a series of activities celebrating both FEU's heritage and the MSO's century-long legacy – free guided tour of FEU's UNESCO-recognized Art Deco campus; documentary screening of Bravo!: The History and Legacy of the FEU Auditorium; and the screening of Sinfonia (H)eroica: The MSO 100 Documentary.
The program opened with remarks from Martin Lopez, Executive Director of the FEU Center for the Arts, followed by messages from Maan Hontiveros, President of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc. (MSOFI), and Jeffrey Solares, MSOFI Executive Director. MSOFI trustee Cora Alvina was likewise present to celebrate the milestone occasion.
The concert drew a distinguished audience that included members of the Rosal clan – Maila Rosal-Andal, Gloria Rosal-Magtibay, Corazon Rosal-Perez, Mariel Fatima Rosal-Perez, Lolita Rosal, Rosalinda Rosal, and Estrileta B. Redito – honoring the legacy of their kin, Maestra Conching Rosal.
Also in attendance were representatives from the diplomatic community: from the Chinese Embassy, Counselor Huang Yaping, Second Secretary Li Xiaolong, Second Secretary Zhang Xiaomei, and Third Secretary Zhu Bei; from the Japanese Embassy, JICC Director Matsuda Shigehiro with Matsuda Yuko and Matsuda Sana; from the French Embassy, Cultural Attaché Martin Macalintal and Dewi Macalintal; and from the Embassy of the Netherlands, H.E. Roderick Wols and Nene Wols.
Opera at Kundiman was presented by MSOFI and Standard Insurance, with EastWest Bank, ACMobility, and BYD serving as co-presenters. The evening was further complemented by the presence of sponsor activations from EastWest Bank, ACMobility, and a car display and test-drive experience from BYD, offering guests an opportunity to engage with MSO’s valued partners.
My sincerest congratulations once again to everyone who made this concert possible. Next is MSO's Concert V featuring cellist Camille Thomas in October at the Proscenium Theater. By Dexter R. Matilla
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