Instituto Cervantes celebrates life and work of Torrente Ballester
WITH the signing of the Joint Declaration of Intent for Cultural Relations between Germany and the Philippines, the German Embassy Manila is set to launch a bigger installment of its major cultural project, the Philippine-german Month 2012.
“We want to fulfill our country’s commitment to enhance cultural ties with the Philippines, as stated in the recently signed Declaration,” says Ambassador Joachim Heidorn of the German Embassy.
The Joint Declaration of Intent for Cultural Relations was signed by Federal Minister Guido Westerwelle and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario on December 7, 2011 in Berlin. It emphasizes the two countries’ commitment to foster cultural cooperation by an open exchange of literary and cultural publications, performing arts, cinema and television, education, etc.
Philippine German Month began as a cooperative venture between the German Embassy and the NPDC in February 1980. Dr. Christoph Jessen, then Press and Cultural Attaché of the German Embassy, and the late Ka Doroy Valencia, then National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) vice chairman, conceived the idea of having a classical concert at the historic Paco Park in Manila. It was an event which would also mark the birth of the renowned Paco Parks Presents concert series. Since then, the Embassy has hosted Philippine German Month every February.
“But we wanted to do something bigger this year, in light of the recent development. We wanted to impart more of our culture to Filipinos,” expressed Thomas Schrod, Cultural Secretary of German Embassy.
For this reason, the German Embassy, in partnership with the NPDC, the Goethe Institute, the Film Development Council of the Philippines and the GermanPhilippine Chamber of Commerce, will open February 2012 with a bevy of activities as listed below.
‘Paco Park Presents’
Holding on to tradition, Philippine German Month will begin on February 3 at Paco Park with performances by vocalist Eudy Palaruan, accompanied by guitarist Ferdinand Medina and the Basunistas Pilipinas—an up and coming quartet propagating bassoon.
February 10 is themed “A tribute to Bach,” and will see the performances of renowned pianist Alejandro Consolacion 2nd, accompanied by flautist, Tony Maigue.
Soprano Minette Padilla and pianist Aries Caces will serenade audiences on February 17, with the classical pieces of German composers Mozart, Beethoven, interspersed with compositions of Filipino legends F. Buencamino and E. Cuenco.
On February 24, world-renowned pianist Leonor Kilayko will perform
Renowned chamber musician Professor Rolf Dieter Arens will hold a concert at the Philamlife Auditorium German classics at Paco Park.
The concerts start at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
‘Chamber Music Concert’
On February 23, renowned chamber musician Professor Rolf Dieter Arens is set to grace the Philamlife Auditorium in Malate for a one-night concert, showcasing his world-class talent and esteem.
Professor Arens has had an extensive concert career as a musician. He has performed as a soloist for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (1986 to 1991); played with famous conductors such as Kurt Masur, Herbert Blomstedt and Neville Marriner; and toured various European, American and Asian countries. He has also been a juror for several international competitions.
He is currently the chairman of the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition; artistic director of the Summer Music Academy Schloss Hundisberg and president of the Liszt School of Music Weimar.
For tickets and more information, please contact the Goethe Institute at 440-1021 or 0917-5077343.
‘German Cinema in the Open Air’
Award-winning German films will be shown this February for NPDC’S “Cinema in the Open Air.” This will take place at the open auditorium at Rizal Park, every Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m.
The premier is on February 4, featuring the film, The life of the other (Das Leben der Anderen), by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck.
For more information about the movie schedules, please visit the German Embassy website http:// www.manila.diplo.de/. EXPLORE the journey of one of the major literary figures of the 20th century Spain as Instituto Cervantes de Manila features an exhibit on Gonzalo Torrente Ballester ( 1910 to 1999). It opens tonight at 7 at the Spanish cultural center’s exhibit hall area.
Titled Los Mundos de Gonzalo Torrente ( The Worlds of Gonzalo Torrente), the exhibition presents a snapshot of the renowned Spanish writer and highlights a selection of photographs documenting his life and his unique way of using photography as a work tool for his creative process.
The exhibit opening also includes a roundtable discussion entitled “The World in a Novel” featuring Spanish scholar Carmen Becerra, Ballester’s son Alvaro and Filipino writer and publisher Ramon Sunico. It starts 4 p. m. at Instituto Cervantes’ Salon de Actos.
Well known as a novelist, Ballester was born in Galicia, Spain and received his first education there, subsequently attending the universities of Santiago de Compostela and Oviedo.
Following several problems with Spanish government censors under Franco and disappointment by the indifferent reception of his novel Don Juan ( 1963), he decided to leave his country and accepted a post at the University at Albany in 1966 and remained there until 1973 as the University’s first distinguished professor.
Two years later, the Galician novelist was elected member of the Spanish Royal Academy. In 1985, Ballester was the first Spanish novelist to receive the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the highest Spanish literary prize.
The exhibition at Instituto Cervantes looks at the life of the writer through a sampling that brings together a selection of photographs from his life and the places he called home, his personal belongings, as well as various documents and editions of his books.
The lecture, on the other hand, will provide insights and perspective on the late Spanish writer— one of the most prominent figures of the Hispanic culture. Experts Becerra and Alvaro’s approach will involve highlighting the contents of Ballester’s novels and works as well as relating these to the historical and cultural background in which he lived.
The forum will also be an opportunity for the audience to exchange their ideas with Sunico and the two Spanish writers, about the changing trends in literature, fictional writing, their personal works and so much more.
Los Mundos de Gonzalo Torrente is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Spanish Embassy in the Philippines, Fundación Gonzalo Torrente Ballester, Acción Cultural Española and Spanish Agency International Cooperation for Development.
Admission to this event is free. For more information, please call 5261482 or visit http:// manila. cervantes. es Instituto Cervantes de Manila is at 855 T. M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila.