Dos Bravissimos, UST Singers and APZ Tone Tomšič!

Photo from wix.com

The University of Santo Tomas Singers (UST Singers) and the University of Ljubljana APZ Tone Tomšič made no mistake in choosing the title of “Dos Bravissimos” for their concert last July 25,2011 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines. As put in the words of UST Rector Rolando Dela Rosa, it was a celebration, a fusion of the east and west influences of choral music where the audience were deeply enthralled with varied song repertoire of both choirs.

 

I was supposed to post a review of the concert comparing the two choirs but now I end  up appreciating what each choir’s strengths for they really do have their own distinct style and sound that allows you to distinguish one from the other even if your eyes are closed.

My seatmate Kuya Kim, a piano major from the UST Conservatory of Music told me that in a choral concert, a sleeping audience is not taken as a sign of boredom, but rather a compliment since the beauty of the music they make allows the surroundings to be highly conducive for audience to sleep. This may justify my sleepiness and decreased level of consciousness as I sank deeper into my seat in the middle of the concert. To add is the fact that I happen to be a visual person and the thought of watching a still choir onstage in long periods is like slowly injecting a sedative intravenously.

Good thing the numbers with religious classical pieces had been interspersed with the visually stimulating movements of broadway and folk choral numbers. Gabaq-an, performed by the UST Singers, never failed to amuse me everytime I hear it, whether in Youtube or live. For me it’s varied and accelerating tempo engages me in active anticipation of what kind of sound will I hear next. Or maybe it’s the story of the piece by Ruben Federizon about a tribe dispelling evil spirits that gets me interested. For either reason, I still love the song.

Memories of Himig Tomasino 2011 resurfaced when the UST Singers sang Jubilate Deo by Prof.Fidel Calalang, Jr. Aside from the fact that they sang it wayyyy better than us, they also added some percussion beats to it that made it a refreshing treat for us who actually know the piece.

 Philippine’s premier opera singer Maria Rachelle Gerodias also had a single number singing “Ang Maya” with the UST Singers as the chorus. The number was so good that the vibratos started growing on my brain even after the performance that I even needed to perform a brain lavage to remove such powerful performance. A broadway piece Ragtime was also performed which also was one of my favorite numbers that night because of the fun and visually appealing choreography.

Personally, I like the UST Singers’ numbers better since they really are good performers who didn’t even a bit look awkward while doing the choreography. Plus their dynamics range is relatively wider compared to the other choir. I’m not really that familiar with the technical terms in music but there is that “oompphh” factor seen in Filipino artists in general. Probably, the Filipino trait of being mapanlait works wonders for us since once we perform, we see to it thatwe avoid those less appealing things that we see from others. 

Overall, the concert was really superb! Bravo!