Berlin. 7 September 2012.
Renowned Filipino musical artists Dr. Abelardo Galang II and Mr. Jonathan dela Paz Zaens perform at a benefit concert held at the Pauluskirche (St. Paulus Church) in Berlin, Germany on 01 September 2012 for the restoration of the pipe organ of the historic church.
Filipino Bass-Baritone Jonathan dela Paz Zaens and pianist Dr. Abelardo Galang II perform before a packed audience with their rendition of classic European and Philippine songs. (Photos by Mr. Irwan Farjansjah)
The church hall has been the site for performances and recordings by renowned pianist-conductor Daniel Barenboem, tenor Dietrich Fischer-Diskau, and cellist Jaqueline du Pre decades ago.
Ambassador Natividad poses with Mr. Cornelius Häußermann, Cantor of the Orgelbauverein Pauluskirche.
The concert was organized by Mr. Cornelius Häußermann, Cantor of the Orgelbauverein Pauluskirche, an organization of parishioners and local government officials. The event was graced by the presence of Ambassador Maria Cleofe Natividad.
Demonstrating his extensive talent in classical music across several languages (German, English, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Cebuano), Filipino Bass-Baritone Zaens performed excerpts from European masters Hasse, Händel, Brahms, Strauss, Rossini and Donizetti. Mr. Zaens also featured Filipino kundiman songs in his repertoire to present a taste of Filipino musical tradition.
Ambassador Natividad and members of the audience eagerly wait for the benefit concert to begin.
Accompanying Mr. Zaens is the highly-accomplished Filipino pianist, Dr. Abelardo Galang II, whose excellent piano performances of the European and Philippine pieces blended harmoniously with the robust voice of Mr. Zaens.
The package of German, English, Filipino and Visayan songs was very much appreciated by the mostly German audience. The audience found the poetic narrations delivered in the German language by the Ambassador’s daughter, Alexandra Natividad, and young Filipino-German pianist Manuel Pronath, even more charming.
In the early 70s, the Johannes Klais Orgelbau GmbH in Bonn undertook a two-year restoration work on the bamboo organ of Las Piñas. This benefit concert was an opportunity for the Philippines to help in return in the restoration of a historic pipe organ in Germany, and a way to express Philippine appreciation for this mutually beneficial cooperation.
The Embassy continues to support such musical performances as part of the Embassy’s public and cultural diplomacy efforts. END
