15 August 2005—The Philippine Embassy in Buenos Aires reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Filipino-American cellist Raymond Sicam III and fellow musician Isabel Castellvi performed before a packed audience at the Centro Cultural Recoleta on 09 August 2005 in Buenos Aires in a concert entitled Airs from Bach and the Beatles.

Ambassador George Reyes lauded "the exquisite blending of classical and modern music" which he attributed the success of the concert of Sicam and Castellvi to. "They prove that our young artists have the creativity, talent and dynamism to bring music closer to the people," the Ambassador added.

During the 40-minute cello recital organized by the Philippine Embassy in cooperation with the government of Buenos Aires City, the talented young artists played Filipino pieces such as "Lagi Kitang Naaalala" of Silos and Romero as well as compositions of Bach, Mozart, John Lennon and Paul McCartney and music written by Sicam himself.

Joined in their finale by Argentine pianist Federico Mizrahi and accordionist Luis Longhi, the visiting artists brought the house down with their rendition of selected tango compositions of famous composers such as Piazzola and Sosa.

Among the classical pieces played by the cello duo were "Suite no. 3 for Cello in C Major" and Suite No. 4 for Cello in E Flat Major" of Bach, and "Sonata Duo K292 of Mozart.

Sicam sang his own composition "Everyday After That" accompanied by Castellvi on the cello and the two were joined by Argentine cellist Myriam Santucci in a rendition of the Beatles' "Blackbird."

The Embassy hosted a cocktail reception for the members of the diplomatic corps, Argentine officials, music critics and enthusiasts as well as members of the Filipino community who attended the concert. END