September 19, 2024
I first knew of Damodar das Castillas from the effusive posts of veteran writer Pablo Tariman about this cello child prodigy. As my favorite musical instrument was the cello, I had been wishing that I could watch him perform live in a concert, and my chance to do so came to pass today. It was a bonus that the venue for this benefit concert was also new to me -- the MiraNila Heritage House and Library, located along Mariposa St. in Quezon City.
Because it was not located in a gated community, I did not expect the elegant beauty of the main mansion and expansive grounds that I saw when I drove through their gate. MiraNila was built in 1929 by Conrado and Francisca Benitez, parents of the late Dr. Helena Benitez of the Philippine Women's University. The pre-war grand style house and its collection of art and books are now open to the public for guided tours and catered events.
Damodar das Castillo was born in 2007, which makes him all of 17 years of age now. According to his bio, he started playing cello at age 4. He won his first international competition in 2017, and since then, he had won 4 more. Since 2017, his studies, competitions, and cellos are all sponsored by the Standard Insurance Co., Inc. Tonight's concert was also a send-off concert for him, as he flies off tomorrow for Salzburg.
When he first stepped out onto the stage, I was surprised how he did not look like the boy in the poster above for this event. He was much taller now, and wore a thick mop of hair on his head. According to the emcee's introduction, das Castillo was a well-rounded guy. His hobbies include playing basketball and football. He could also play death metal on his electric cello, (too bad he did not include one such song in his repertoire tonight).
The program proper started a little after 6 pm. The performers were introduced by the emcees, who were a couple of 4th generation Benitez scions. Das Castillo was to be accompanied on piano by Julliard alumna, concert artist and music professor Mariel Ilusorio. The piano Ms. Ilusorio played was a 1904 Steinway grand piano, refurbished by the same technician who serviced Cecille Licad's pianos. This concert celebrates this piano's successful rehabilitation.
Das Castillo opened the concert with a solo number -- "Cello Suite no 3. Prelude" by Johann Sebastian Bach. Ilusorio joined him to play Frederic Chopin's 30 minute-long piece with four distinct movements of various moods and tempos -- "Sonata in G minor for Cello and Piano." During the 10-minute intermission, I really felt the society page experience that this concert as the guests, politicians and ambassadors among them, hobnobbed with each other.
The second act opened with another cello solo -- "Transcendence" by Faye Miravite (a Filipina composer from Italy), notable for including the cellist's singing vocals (!) into the piece. It was followed by a composition by National Artist for Music Nicanor Abelardo -- "Cavatina". The next two songs were lighter popular fare -- Henry Mancini's "Moon River" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (VIDEO) and Richard Rodgers' "Edelweiss" from "The Sound of Music" (VIDEO).
The final number was described by Ilusorio as "meaty" and indeed it was -- the 11 minute-long "First Movement for Cello Concerto in B-minor" by Antonín Dvořák (VIDEO). For his encore, he first played the 8-minute long "Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62" by Tchaikovsky (VIDEO), with the piano taking over the orchestra parts. Finally, the concert ended with the beautiful "Gabriel's Oboe" by Ennio Morricone, the theme music from Roland Joffe's "The Mission" (1986).
This evening of beautiful classical music played in a nostalgic historical setting was such an enriching experience. I have a personal bias for the full-bodied string music emanating from a cello, so this concert of cello music from a rare Filipino prodigy of this majestic instrument like Damodar das Castillo was certainly extraordinary. Mariel Ilusorio's piano complemented his cello in a precise and passionate partnership. Glorious.
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This concert is only the first in a series of future performances from the nation's best talents to be held in MiraNila. MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan, Crame, QC (find us on Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House and Library). If you want to visit the house, contact 87220243 or 09454876827 to set an appointment.
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