THE WELL-RECEIVED Catanduanes concerts of classical guitarist Aemilio Cecilio Enginco and tenor Nomher Nival with pianist Gabriel Paguirigan no doubt solidified the island link to classical music.
The audience conquest started with Malotte’s “Our Father,” which easily hushed an audience who had not heard a live tenor sing in the last 22 years.
“We really had strange goosebumps listening to him for the first time. His ‘Our Father’ gave us a deep sense of the divine, and with ‘Gaano Kita Kamahal’ for his last number, there was no doubt we were in the presence of a young super tenor,” said Gay Nicanor, who came with her children and asked for a photograph with the visiting artist right after the concert.
Ending with “Una Furtiva Lagrima,” “La Donna e Mobile” and “O Sole Mio,” the tenor and the highly sensitive collaborative pianist drove the audience into a virtual state of pandemonium.
“He not only brought back the classic songs. He sang them with power and authority and I couldn’t help singing with him,” said music teacher Gregorio Sarmiento Sr.
His lawyer son Gregorio Sarmiento Jr. agreed: “There were many things to admire in his repertoire. His singing of ‘All the things You Are’ and ‘Be My Love’ and the classic kundiman ‘Pakiusap’ brought me to the seventh heaven. I was still singing them before I went to bed. That’s how memorable that concert was.”
Mr. and Ms Lester Landig of Marem Pension House told this writer: “Wow, he is just fantastic. Count us among his fans.”
Dr. Alvin Ravalo posted on Facebook: “It was a great night and we all enjoyed it.”
Another prominent doctor on the island who goes by the FB username of Dok Boboy posted this comment: “That was the first time I ever saw a classical concert on the island and, indeed, it was memorable.The tenor sure knows his arias and was enjoying the night, especially in the latter part of the concert. The audience was very appreciative. Looks like Virac is ready for a full-length opera.”
Fr. Juan Lizaso Jr. delivered the invocation before the concert. He came with his Batalay Church Choir, whose members instantly liked the tenor.
The visiting classical musicians have become virtual endorsers of tourist spots on the island, next to the island’s share of TV exposure. Their concerts attract Class A audiences and it is possible that, if concerts like this get regular support, the island will lure the same kind of tourists, not the kind that will frequent the beer joints in Barangay San Vicente.
Enginco, Nival and Paguirigan loved the island audiences. They also loved Balacay Point and Puraran Beach in Baras, Catanduanes.
Watching the new music fans and the standing ovation accorded the visiting artists, there is no doubt music brings out what is noble, pure and impeccable about the people of Catanduanes.
The March 19 recital of Enginco and the April 23 performance of Nival and Paguirigan in Catanduanes was made possible by sponsorship from Marem Pension House, Catanduanes Provincial Government, Dr. Matthias Ackermann, Catanduanes Tribune, Silangan Trading, Tropang Turismo, Vangie Labalan.
