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UP Madrigal Singers make triumphant debut in Argentina


The world-famous Philippine Madrigal Singers made a triumphant debut at the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, one of the world’s leading opera houses, earning a standing ovation and bravos from some 2,000 spectators. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the University of the Philippines’ Madrigal Singers or “Madz" performed in a joint concert with the Coro Universitario de Mendoza – UN Cuyo (CdM) last Aug. 13. “Dubbed as the concert of two champions of choral singing from Asia and Latin America, the evening event was attended by over 2,000 invitees from the Argentine government, the diplomatic corps, the academe and business sectors, the small Filipino community in Argentina, as well as a large number of Argentine music enthusiasts," the DFA said in a news release. The DFA said the audience was greatly impressed by the two champion choirs’ exceptional performances of their individual repertories of sacred, avant-garde, folk, and popular songs. Both choirs, which were past winners of the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, were directed respectively by Silvana Vallesi of the CdM and Mark Anthony Carpio of the Madz, it added. The Madz was the first and only Asian choir to win the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in 1997, while the CdM was the first and only Latin American choir to bag the coveted award in 2009. Following its successful participation in the 9th World Symposium for Choral Singing in Puerto Madryn in southern Argentina last Aug. 7 to 10, the Madz is the only Filipino chorale to have performed in the world-renowned theater. Among the organizers of the Aug. 13 event included the National University of Cuyo of the Argentine province of Mendoza and TecPlata of the ICTSI Group of Companies. Tributes The two choirs also paid tribute to each other’s countries, with the CdM performing Veni Creator Spiritus by Alejandro Consolación II of the Philippines, while the Madz singing the tango Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla of Argentina. As a finale, both choirs rendered a joint rendition of Tangata, another Piazzolla composition. The DFA noted the event was a celebration of the fraternal ties of friendship between Argentina and the Philippines. As a gesture of appreciation, Philippine Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang hosted a dinner at the embassy for the members of both choirs at the end of the concert. Teatro Colon The DFA noted Teatro Colón is considered one of the world’s top five opera houses in terms of acoustics. Since its inauguration in 1908, the architectural landmark hosted the performances of the world’s greatest musicians, orchestras, opera singers, composers, as well as orchestra conductors including Argentine-born Daniel Barenboim. “After several years of extensive renovation, the theater had a grand reopening last year on the anniversary of Argentina’s Bicentennial of Independence," it said. Surprising revelation The DFA said the Teatro Colón audience was “awed" by the “extraordinary technique, varied colors and engaging warmth of the Madz’s a cappella singing" and its “uncommon style of rendering songs while seated in a semicircle without a conductor." “Each of the songs was generously applauded by the audience who, at the end of the Madz’s individual repertory, spontaneously rose to its feet to enthusiastically cheer the Madz in an atmosphere of heart-warming rapport between the performers and the spectators," the DFA said. It added many in the audience, including the members of the Filipino community, approached the embassy officials to convey their appreciation for such a memorable concert. “The Madz has once again shown that it is indeed among the best ambassadors of goodwill of the Philippines," it said. More concerts Several other concerts organized by the embassy are in store for the Madz in Buenos Aires and La Plata, the capital of Buenos Aires province, from August until early September. The embassy also organized the Madz’s concerts in Paraguay and Uruguay, countries under its jurisdiction. “It is most fitting that the first performance in Latin America by the country’s premier choral group takes place in Argentina, a leading country in culture and in the arts in the region," the DFA said. – JE, GMA News

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