Lukáš Sommer, a storyteller with a guitar

Earlier this month, Czech guitarist/composer Lukáš Sommer had a weeklong tour that had him perform and also conduct masterclasses in and out of Metro Manila. 

As much as I want to be there in all of his stops, I could only catch the penultimate performance of his tour held at the Palm Grove, Rockwell Center in Makati.

Coincidentally, Lukáš' performance was also in line with the celebration of the Czech Republic Liberation Day. Before he got on to the stage, Czech Ambassador Jana Šedivá gave opening remarks and welcomed the guests that were mostly from the diplomatic corps. I was surprised to recognize only three from the usual music circle that night though. It made me wonder if the guitarists, other musicians, and enthusiasts were at his earlier performances instead.

The lack of music people got me initially worried since I know that Lukáš would perform his own compositions (mostly taken from his album Savana!). While music people may be receptive to unfamiliar, contemporary music , for others this music may not be their cup of tea.

But Lukáš cast away my worries earlier on with his opener which was Variation on Over the Rainbow. With just that piece, he has captivated his audience already. His brief introductions before playing the succeeding works prepared the audience to what they would hear. And Lukáš' skill, charm, showmanship, and of course, the quality of his music easily enthralled the listeners. 

Lukáš was such a story teller with the guitar thay by the end of each piece, it felt like I already knew a bit about his friends, children, ex-wife, and the places that he has been to as these were the subjects of the works that he played.

Seeing Lukáš perform live, with the guitar taps, finger snaps, tongue clicks, and even a slap to the face, and how he plays to and interacts with the audience, gave a whole new layer to the music that I didn't get to experience by just listening to his recordings.

Now that the Philippine audience already had a taste of Lukáš' guitar music, I fervently wish that someday, his orchestral works, especially one of the concertos recorded in his Three Concerts album, will be performed here by one of the orchestras in here.

Europeans, Pinoys join forces once again in EuroPinoy Concert

European and Filipino musicians join forces once again as the EuroPinoy Concert returns this year on May 7, 2019, 7:00 PM at The Ruins in Poblacion, Makati.

This year's featured artists include guitarist/composer Lukáš Sommer from the Czech Republic, DJ BadKiss from Germany, percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita from the Philippines, flamenco guitarist Alex Alcaraz from Spain, and artists from the Sikuna Collaborative Arts Festival 2019.

EuroPinoy Concert 2019 is presented by the European Union in the Philippines, in partnership with Czech Embassy Manila, German Embassy Manila, & the Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with SIKUNA 2019 and Para Sa Sining.  This event is supported by The Ruins and Z Hostel.

Czech guitarist/composer Lukáš Sommer goes on Philippine tour

The European Union's music project Euro-Pinoy Concert, a collaborative performance between Filipinos and musicians from the EU, may still a few weeks away, but let's get to know right now one of the artists slated to perform in that event, the Czech guitarist and composer Lukáš Sommer who will be on tour here this May 6-10, 2019.

The tour starts with a performance at the National Museum of Natural History on May 6, 2019, 6:30 PM.

On May 7, 2019, 7:00 PM, he joins Spanish guitarist Alex Alcaraz, Filipino percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita and German-Filipina DJ Marie Badkiss in the Euro-Pinoy Concert at The Ruins, in Poblacion, Makati

On May 8, 2019, 7:00 PM, he will have another performance at the Rockwell Center in Makati.

Lukáš is also scheduled to conduct masterclasses at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and at the International School Manila.

The tour poster indicates a performance at the Room Gallery in Puerto Galera on May 10, 2019. This might be a recent development that came after the Viva Europa 2019 launch. Do watch out in this space for whatever updates there may be as the tour fast approaches.

Guitarist/composer Lukáš Sommer

Regarded as a prominent figure of the young composer generation, Lukáš has studied at the Conservatory in České Budějovice and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Since then, he has devoted himself fully to composition and concert activities. His works have been produced by prestigious institutions or prominent musical personalities

Lukáš Sommer's Philippine tour is presented by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila.

RAd's Playlist | Lukáš Sommer Savanna! and Three Concerts

Here are a couple of releases by Lukáš Sommer, both featuring his compositions. Savana! features very personal compositions he has written for the guitar. I expect that tracks from this album will make up his solo performances.

A trio of concertos, one for the harp, another for the oboe, and the last for the flute are the tracks found in his latest release, Three Concerts, featuring his works for a solo instrument and orchestra. This gives a hint of what is possible on the horizon after Lukáš' finishes his tour in here. I, for one, would love to hear this works performed locally.

Gaze the stars and more as the European Union's Viva Europa goes techno

It is time to gaze the stars, score goals, bike to work, and more as the European Union Delegation to the Philippines, together with EU Member States' Embassies and Cultural Institutions, launch Viva Europa 2019, their annual summer cultural season.

This year's theme, Go Techno, is in line with the Copernicus Program, a monitoring system using satellites, that provides data and information useful in various fields like food security, deforestation, climate change, pollution, and natural disasters. A conference of the Copernicus Program was recently held last March.

Leading the line up of EU activities for Viva Europa 2019 is a stargazing activity and a session on stars and constellations, in cooperation with the Manila Astronomical Society, at the Skypark, SM Aura on May 10, 2019, 6:00 PM.

A football event, the Schuman Cup, will be held on May 4, 2019 at Ayala, Alabang. This one day football festival not only pits European diplomats against Filipino professionals in a friendly match, but also provides Filipino children from disadvantaged communities to learn more about football aka soccer. This event is also supported by the German Embassy.

After the success of previous bike tours in Palawan and Guimaras, it is time to pedal once again as the bike tour goes to Bohol on May 6 and 7, 2019. The VeloMai campaign will also be launched as the European Commission promotes the use of bikes to work to help the environment and promote a sustainable lifestyle.

Also returning this year is the Euro-Pinoy Concert on May 7, 2019 at The Ruins in Poblacion, Makati. Featured musicians this year are Czech guitarist and composer Lukáš Sommer, Spanish flamenco guitarist Alex Alcaraz, Filipino percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita, and Filipino-German DJ Marie Badkiss.

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen

This year also sees the eleventh edition of Lakbayin Natin ang EU happening on May 23 at the Museo Pambata. Story telling sessions, games, and various activities for children are lined up for this whole day of exploring and celebrating the EU. This event is also presented by the Embassies of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands, and the Philippine-Italian Association. 

On May 25-26, 2019, choirs from various parts of the country will compete at the 11th edition of Musica FEUROPA at the historic FEU Auditorium, Far Eastern University. This year will see the introduction of a new commissioned competition piece, El Vasto Mar, by acclaimed Filipino composer Saunder Choi.

Other cultural events by Member State Embassies and Cultural Institutions to look out for this year includes the Día del Libro, presented by the Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, happening on April 27, 2019 at the Ayala Triangle in Makati. The whole day affair devoted to books will be capped by Posporos, a concert featuring Vulk, a Basque punk band from Bilbao, Spain and The Late Isabel, an art rock band from the Philippines. This collaborative performance comes after a week long musical residence for these two independent bands that will be filmed for a later broadcast on Jack TV. The Posporos project is presented by the Embassy of Spain, Instituto Cervantes and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The rerun of Baka Naman Hindi, translated from Georges Feydeau's French play La Puce à l'oreille/A Flea in Her Ear will be the 6th installment of Les Jeudis Culturels by the Embassy of France happening on April 25, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Adapted to Filipino by Virgilio “Beer” Flores, this play stars TV/film actors Ricky Davao, Rina Reyes, Lou Veloso, along with other veterans of the theater stage.

Various film screenings are also on the horizon like the return of Moviemov: Italian Cinema Now happening on April 23-26, 2019 at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Aside from the nine films to be screened for free, a delegation from Italy, led by Goffredo Bettini, along with a few actors and film industry personalities, will also grace the festival. Moviemov is also presented by the Philippine-Italian Association, the Embassy of Italy, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Viva Europa 2019 team

The Goethe Institute presents Win Wenders: A Legacy of Art house Classics, a retrospective of German filmmaker Win Wenders. Nine of his films will be shown for free during the weekend from April 27-May 26, 2019 also at the Cinematheque Centre Manila at FDCP.

The Embassy of Spain offers Clásicos del cine espanol: 4 Spanish Masterpieces, a film screening series happening on May 3 & 10, 2019 at the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Czech Embassy, on the other hand, will show the film Angel of the Lord on June 1, 2019, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in observance of the International Day of Children.

With all these events for Viva Europa 2019 that feel as numerous as the stars in the sky, there is no more reason to be bored from lack of activities and things to do this summer. Read more about these upcoming events in detail in future blog entries.

Europeans and Pinoys collaborate in Europinoy concert

Another music treat from Viva Europa 2018 comes via Europinoy, a celebration of the heritage and friendship between the Philippines and Europe happening this May 30, 2018, 7:30 PM at the Ruins, Poblacion in Makati.

This event features guitarist Alex Alcaraz from Spain, violinist Jeanette Kamphuis from Sweden, and percussionists Stefan Löwenstein from Austria and Jean Paul Zialcita from the Philippines.

It will also feature a spoken word performance by Michellan Alagao (Philippines) and DJ’s Butta B (Philippines) and Michael Rattinger (Austria).

Admission is free and there will be a Don Papa Rum open bar (until supplies last).

The Europinoy concert is a collaboration between the European Union in the Philippines, the Austrian Embassy Manila, the Instituto Cervantes de Manila, and the Embassy of Sweden in Manila. The event is also supported by Z Hostel Philippines, Don Papa Rum and Lomography Philippines.