In her opening remarks at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City for the “Switch” concert of Roustem Saitkoulov on piano and Grzegorz Nowak as conductor with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), Lagunense singer, music educator and arts manager Michelle Nikki Junia spoke glowingly of the tremendous presence of Filipino youth watching and listening in the historic show.
“It is our ardent wish that every Filipino, especially the young ones like you, will get to experience classical opera masterpieces…,” said Michelle Nikki.
You wouldn’t believe it but the audience was filled with young people we only witness in the gigs of pop idols, local and foreign, but this time idols in the realm of classical music.
There they were, these young people, intently and passionately listening to the immortal classics and expressing their support for them.
Lucky were these people who could balance their lives with the beauty of the arts and the wonderment of the quotidian.
Junia was obviously happy with the enthusiasm of the youngsters because she is able to gauge and collect the results of her advocacy in bringing the classics to all quarters of the Filipino citizenry.
“Bastat naiibigan ng ating mga kababayan ang mga sining na talagang para sa kanila,maligaya na ako (As long as our fellow citizens are appreciating arts which are indeed for them, I am happy about it),” said Nikki.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #NikkiJunia