Filfest's 5th season opener pays tribute to Angel Peña

February 11, 2012, 8:00 PM

Insular Life Auditorium

Insular Life Tower

Filinvest, Alabang

Featuring:

Renato Lucas, cello

Gina Medina, violin

Jonathan Coo, tenor

Sheryl Ann de Dios, piano

Rommel Cruz, bass

Kasilag Guitar Trio

Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino Big Band

Mel Villena, music director

The Filfest Cultural Foundation, in cooperation with its staunchest partners, Insular Life and BMW ushers in 2012, the 7th Philippine International Jazz Festival and its 5th season themed Southern Exposure with a special concert that honors the legendary classical and jazz composer and musician, Angel Matias Peña. 

Composer, arranger and double bassist Angel Peña was born in 1921 and began his musical career as a guitarist. Through hard work and discipline, he made his way to the forefront of the Philippine music scene from the 1930’s to the 1960’s associating with the likes of the Tirso Cruz Orchestra, Federico Elizalde, Lito Molina and The Executives Band to name a few. He jammed with His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand. 

Angel Peña

In the 1970’s, he was accepted as a double bassist of the prestigious Honolulu Symphony Orchestra where he performed until his retirement in the late 1990s. He is a most sought after arranger and an award winning composer whose works include Igorot Rhapsody, Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra, Bagbagtulambing Jazz Fantasy, and the immortal kundiman, Iyo Kailan Pa Man. 

A Tribute to the Maestro will showcase selected Peña compositions that include the premiere perfomances of Manalig Ka Sinta, with text by Bayani de Leon and A Piece for Cello and Piano and Arigato Guzaimasu, a quartet for violin, cello, piano and double bass. Aside from the classical compositions, also to be featured are his notable works for jazz orchestra such as Peace Beyond, RoTo, Café Espresso and GABE. Featured artists in this special concert are cellist Renato Lucas, violinist Gina Medina, tenor Jonathan Coo, pianist Sheryl Ann de Dios, bassist Rommel Cruz, the Kasilag Guitar Trio and Manila’s premiere jazz orchestra, the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino Big Band led by its music director Mel Villena. 

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra

P500 Balcony

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

Marie 585-3823, (0917) 817-7261, (0918) 941-9472