27 June 2014 - The Philippine Embassy in Vienna organized the gala concert series of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the country’s premier choral group, in Vienna on June 3,4 and 6, Ljubljana on June 10, and Zagreb on June 12. The concerts were highly-acclaimed garnering several standing ovations and encore requests from the enthralled audiences.
The concerts were made possible with the funding support for the air fares from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and Philippine Airlines (PAL). Local expenses such as hotel accommodations, meals, and cost of concert venues were shouldered by the host cities and Filipino community associations.
Vienna, Austria (June 3, 4 and 6)
The gala concert was held on June 6 at the prestigious Kursalon Wien, one of the major concert venues in Vienna and home of the annual Johann Strauss Ball. The virtuosity and impeccable professionalism of the Philippine Madrigal Singers awed the guests and audience with their powerful arias and dynamic repertoire. The gala concert was attended by approximately 650 guests from the diplomatic corps, the Austrian government, business and socio-civic community, media, academe, students, Filipino-Austrian community, and music enthusiasts.
In addition, the Philippine Madrigal Singers also performed at the world-renowned Stephanskirche (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) in Vienna on June 3 and at the Mariahilfkirche (Mother of Perpetual Help Church) on June 4.
The Vienna audience was impressed with the remarkable credentials of the Philippine Madrigal Singers such as: first two-time winner of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (1997 and 2007), UNESCO Artists for Peace (2009), the Arezzo Guidoneum Award (2010) and Brand Laureate Premier Awardee (2012).
In her remarks during the opening of the gala concert, Philippine Ambassador to Austria Lourdes Yparraguirre said that “the Philippine Madrigal Singers, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has become a Filipino icon and a venerable institution just like the Vienna Boys’ Choir.” “Through the universal language of music and the arts, the Philippine Madrigal Singers has helped in building formidable bridges of friendship and understanding between the peoples of the Philippines and Austria,” she added.
The concerts in Vienna were supported by the Cultural Office of the City of Vienna (Kulturabteilung der Stadt Wien MA 7) and the Council of Filipino Associations in Austria (CFAA).
Ljubljana, Slovenia (June 10)
The Philippine Madrigal Singers performed at the Festival Ljubljana on June 10 at the Ljubljana Town Square. The concert was also part of the Philippine Embassy’s activities to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Philippines-Slovenia diplomatic relations. Approximately 1,400 guests, including Slovenian locals and foreign tourists attended the concert.
The performance of the Philippine Madrigal Singers in Ljubljana was supported by the Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for Culture Activities (Javni Sklad Republike Slovenije za Kulture Dejavnosti) under the patronage of the office of the Mayor of Ljubljana, and the office of the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Ljubljana.
Zagreb, Croatia (June 12)
The Philippine Madrigal Singers performed at the prestigious Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb on June 12 in celebration of the 116th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence and the 21st anniversary of Philippines-Croatia diplomatic relations. The Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall is the premier venue in Zagreb for both classical and contemporary musical performances.
The Philippine Embassy also hosted the first-ever national day diplomatic reception in Zagreb, its non-resident jurisdiction. In her Independence Day message, Ambassador Lourdes Yparraguirre stated that throughout their 21 years of bilateral cooperation, the Philippines and Croatia have enjoyed smooth and friendly relations. She further highlighted the Philippines’ robust economy through reforms and good governance action programs which would provide a more dynamic business and investment environment for enhanced bilateral relations.
The performance of the Philippine Madrigal Singers in Zagreb was supported by the management of the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall, and Philippine Honorary Consul General in Zagreb Davor Stern.
Despite the heavy rains and the World Cup opening match between Croatia and brazil, the concert was still well attended by the diplomatic corps, business community, Filipino community, academe, students, and music enthusiasts. A cocktail reception was held at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall Lobby. END