PPO V: The Inextinguishable

Trombonist Takahiro Ono

Featuring:

Takahiro Ono, trombone

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Antonín Dvořák Czech Suite in D major, Op. 39

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto for Trombone and Military Band*

Carl Nielsen Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 FS 76, The Inextinguishable

*arranged by Christian Lindberg

After the long holiday break, orchestral music was heard once again inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra resumed its 29^th season entitled Soundscapes. For this evening, principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine prepared yet another diverse programme that included a dance based suite, a very entertaining trombone concerto featuring Japanese trombonist Takahiro Ono and the inextinguishable piece that lived up to the season’s tagline “Epic Evenings with the PPO”.

The evening started with Antonín Dvořák’s Czech Suite in D major, Op. 39, a dainty and refined piece that had dance rhythms in all of its five movements. This suite was actually my most eagerly anticipated piece in this concert and I was very pleased that they played this instead of the other one that got listed in some promotional materials that caused a bit of confusion prior to the concert. I truly enjoyed the nimbleness of the first four movements that made the timpani’s entrance during the fifth a lot more striking. The dances in this piece may not be as flamboyant as those from Spain but Dvořák’s suite had its own charm and I was glad that I was finally able to hear this performed live.

Then it was time for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Concerto for Trombone and Military Band with Takahiro Ono as the featured soloist. The version performed during this evening was an arrangement for a symphony orchestra by Christian Lindberg. The original arrangement was actually for a military band and that version was what the one that I was able to listen to prior to this concert. So hearing strings through this arrangement added more color and texture and it made the trombone stand out more. And the trombonist was the star in this piece. Despite looking nervous shifting his weight from one leg to another, Takahiro Ono was still able to deliver especially during the unique cadenza that had some of the lowest possible notes that could be played with the trombone as one of the major highlights in the entire piece. Compared to other concertos like that for the piano and the violin, the trombone concerto performed was very short and that meant that Ono had to do an encore. And what a special encore that was! Accompanied by four other trombonists from the PPO (and probably students from UST), the five of them with Ono appearing more relaxed this time played Shoutin’ Liza Trombone by Henry Fillmore. This ragtime piece used to great effect the glissando that made it even more delightful. I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only one who was in high spirits during the intermission because of this uplifting encore.

I guess that I needed to be in an uplifted mood in preparation for the second half of the concert that had Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 FS 76, also known as The Inextinguishable. Before the orchestra performed this piece, Olivier Ochanine took a moment to tell the audience of his recent trip to Iligan that was ravaged by typhoon Sendong just before Christmas. And he saw, despite the devastation, the will to live of the people there which was inextinguishable just like what Nielsen wrote in the brief preface to the score of this piece. It might’ve been a just a coincidence, but the evening did feel like the PPO concert from last year when Verdi’s Requiem was performed in the wake of the deadly earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. But despite having this Nielsen piece as a fitting tribute to the resilient nature of the Filipino people, I still found it very hard to grasp. I already admitted to Olivier prior to the concert that I was having difficulty in connecting with this piece. Yes, the dueling timpanists in the last movement were an awesome sight to behold and the orchestra performed the piece magnificently. But the music and I somehow didn’t share the same wavelength. Olivier further told me that this work grows on you and that he, along with some musicologists, feels that this underappreciated piece will have its time to shine in years to come. Well, I hope that I've learned to appreciate this piece and that I’m still alive when this happens.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra String Section

I noticed that there wasn't any pre-concert lecture again this time. The reason for this might be the art installation that was at the lobby which made socializing before and after the concert a bit inconvenient. Also, I got the chance to catch the strings section practice one of my favorite pieces some days before this concert in preparation for the vin d'honneur. I could say more about what I saw and heard but I can't. All I can say is that it's been a long time since I heard the PPO play and this concert was definitely worth the wait.