Cellist Harel Gietheim has played western classical works of Brahms, Beethoven and Mozart, among others. But on August 14, with pianist Kanako Nishikawa, Gietheim will perform the musical arrangements of Philippine classic kundiman by young American composer Brian John. Gietheim plays an exquisite interpretation of “Pakiusap” (A Plea), an aria favored by Philippine opera singers, composed by Francisco Santiago.

           Kundiman is derived from the Tagalong phrase “Kung hindi man,” (literally, “if it is not possible”). The genre is an articulation of love, more adequately emoted as “love of country.”

Nishikawa has been playing the kundimans for over five 5 years in concerts with violinist Stephen Y.S. Shey. Ms. Nishikawa will premiere Francisco Buencamino's “Mayon, a Fantasy” on the same concert stage at the Ernst Cultural Center in Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), Annandale Campus on August 14. (For more information, contact Remé Grefalda at (703) 862-7232 or email ashfrock@gmail.com.)

The concert will benefit L’Arche International, a movement of communities serving the needs of persons with developmental disabilities. “Punla” is the Philippines L’Arche community.

Ms. Nishikawa combines her wide activity as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician in the U.S. Europe, Israel, Malaysia and Japan. Currently, she teaches at the Dana Hall School of Music in Boston. Based in Boston, Gietheim’s most recent project is a recording of Eric Sawyer’s Quartet No. 2, available on the Albany Label.