Easter Sunday featured the return of a much-loved tradition, the Sunday concerts, Concierto Dominical, at the Manchebo Beach Resort French Steakhouse. The free concert series taking place each last Sunday of the month is named after the late columnist Donny Lacle, a music lover. While the entrance is free, concert-goers are asked to contribute to a scholarship fund earmarked to further the education of local musical prodigies.
The concert, says emcee and organizer Joyce Pereira, did not take place during the first two months of the year but was appropriatelyy resurrected at the end of March, on Easter Sunday. It featured a young local pianist Armand Simon and flutist Floor Huygen. They played a number of classical pieces, a Sonata by Vivaldi, interpretations of a Russian folk song by Luwig van Beethoven and a Sonata for flute and piano by Carl Maria von Weber. While Floor is a regular performer at the concert series, it was Armand's debut. The duo was very warmly received.
The second part of the concert featured a trio of Cuban musicians. Radamin 'Kiri' Jimenez, on Trombone, Robert Baron on Sax and Sandor Sangil on Piano. Robert whose saxophone displayed human voice qualities bewitched listeners. The unusual sound of the Trombone as a solo instrument and the virtuosity of the piano enchanted the crowd as the musicians played classical evergreens such as ' Time of Your Life, ' ' My Honey Valentine,' ' the Girl of Ipanema,' and 'tango Sibone' also receiving some spontaneous support for vocalist Maria Silva in Portugese.
The last part of the concert with Eddy Samson, who can play the piano blindfolded for hours nonstop, was rewarded with loud applause. Eddy played jazzy and classic interpretations among them 'Cuando Calienta el Sol,' and 'The Falling Leaves,' he even performed a number with Radamin, Robert and Sandor who fell in as his backup musicians. Eddy's rich and diverse repertory was highly appreciated by the mixed crowd of art lovers, and artists. Thanks to music maestro Roy Sneek, the piano sounded terrific. Manchebo's apfel strudel with ice cream was a hit.
Local businessman Ike Cohen, who owns the Manchebo Beach Resort was guest of honor at the concert. He called it 'out of this world' and is already looking forward to the next one.
