GERMAN CHOIR SINGS FILIPINO CLASSICS AT CONCERT IN HAMBURG
19 May 2025 – The Filipino-German community in Hamburg was treated to an afternoon concert entitled One World, One Music by Ensemble Musicus Diestedde at the historic Museum Am Rothenbaum Kulturen and Kuenste der Welt (MARKK) in Hamburg last Saturday, 17 May.
Under the direction of co-conductors Mr. Raul Huesca Valverde and Mr. Karl Melegrito, the Ensemble sang a mix of hymns and Filipino melodies composed, arranged or written by Filipino National Artists such as Silence My Soul by Dr. Francisco Feliciano and Sa Ugoy ng Duyan by Prof. Lucio San Pedro, as well as crowd favorites like Rosas Pandan and Bukonut.
Guest flutist, Ms. Jean Clariz Petrasanta, a Filipino student at the Vivaldi Conservatory of Music, also performed during the concert.
“It is not every day that we witness a German choir performing Filipino songs. More often we see visiting Filipino choirs rendering German songs. Today is a rare and interesting reversal and one that reflects the beauty of Philippine-German friendship and collaboration,” Ambassador Irene Susan Natividad said during her remarks.
The 2-hour concert was organized in collaboration with the Federation of Filipino Organizations in Northern Germany (FFONG e.V.) and MARKK through its curator Ms. June Rillando Lamadjido, to celebrate 70 years of Philippine-German relations. END
