MCOF Young Artists' Series 2012 I: Christian Tan

Violinist Christian Tan

Featuring:

Christian Tan, violin

Mary Anne Espina, piano

Programme:

Eugène Ysaÿe Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27 No. 2 Jacques Thibaud

Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75

Nicanor Abelardo Cavatina

Pablo de Sarasate Zapateado Op. 23 No. 2

Maurice Ravel Tzigane

I’ve been aware of who Christian Tan is for some years now. I’ve seen him perform as a member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra and I also saw him compete at the most recent NAMCYA wherein he was awarded an Honorable Mention. It’s amazing that after all this time, we only got acquainted just right after the MCO Foundation had its press launch of its Young Artists' Series 2012 which was just fairly recent. Now that Christian and I formally know each other, it gave me more incentive to catch his concert that was the first of three performances comprising the Young Artists Series' 2012 held at the Filipinas Heritage Library.

Christian prepared a programme consisting of pieces that were both familiar and unfamiliar to me. The unfamiliar pieces, Eugène Ysaÿe’s Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27 No. 2 "Jacques Thibaud" and Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75 made up the first half of the concert. Christian was joined by pianist Mary Anne Espina during the Saint-Saëns piece. I haven’t heard these pieces before so I used this moment to increase my knowledge of the vast violin repertoire especially in chamber music. The second half consisted of pieces that are already very familiar with me: Nicanor Abelardo’s Cavatina, Pablo de Sarasate’s Zapateado Op. 23 No. 2 and Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane. It was during the performance of these pieces when I noticed that Christian’s demeanor changes and he shows some intensity and  emotion while playing compared to his shy and timid personality off stage.

Among the audience members at the intimate venue were a handful of members from the string section of the MSO who were in full support of Christian. Once he finished all of his pieces, his fellow musicians cheered him on prompting him to do an encore performance of Sa Kabukiran by Manuel Velez. Christian is still a very young musician who plans to gain scholarships so that he can further his studies abroad. Seeing his performance during this evening, I wouldn’t be surprised if I find out that he would have to leave temporarily the MSO to do just that.

The Young Artists' Series 2012 continues with soprano Elainne Vibal who will perform this July 19, 2012, 6:30 PM at the Filipinas Heritage Library. I last saw Elainne as part of the ensemble of the recent production of Madame Butterfly. She was also among the masterclass participants who performed at the Songs and Symphony Concert as well. Tickets are at P500 with student and senior discounts. For inquiries, contact the MCOF at 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053, the Filipinas Heritage Library  at 892-1801, and TicketWorld  at 891-9999.