15 June 2016 – Following a well-attended concert at Maison de la Radio France on June 7, highly-acclaimed Filipino pianist Dr. Raul Sunico made his way south of Paris to perform his beautiful repertoire of European and Filipino compositions, this time for a “Lyonnais” audience.
The concert, held at the French historical monument Temple du Change, was organized by the Filipino Community based in Lyon as a way of sharing Philippine cultural heritage and showcasing exceptional Filipino talent to their professional and personal circles, as well as to the general public in Lyon.
This special event, held in celebration of the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, was held in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Paris and the Philippine National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
To express the Embassy’s support, Philippine Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro attended the concert and shared with the community her Independence Day message.
In her remarks, Ambassador Lazaro said that, “One can see in some Philippine masterpieces how our artists have been able to take these Western influences and infuse it magically into original Filipino artwork, and the other way around. Other times, Filipino artists celebrate the contrast and similarities by presenting Western art side-by-side to our own. Tonight, I believe you will have a taste of both. We are very fortunate to have with us this evening one of the most prominent Filipino virtuosos of all time, Dr. Raul Sunico. He will take you on a journey from the familiar to an exciting exploration of what is truly Filipino.”
Special guests included the Honorary Consul of Luxembourg and the Philippine Honorary Consul-designate, Mr. Hervé de Maillard. An estimated 90 people attended the concert, which chose Gawad Kalinga (a Philippine poverty-alleviation organization) as its beneficiary. END
