Pianist Victor Asuncion and the Manila Symphony Orchestra to perform all Russian programme

BREAKING NEWS: In light of the current weather situation, the MSO is postponing the concert to August 18, 2012, 8:00 PM, at the Francisco Santiago Hall at the BDO Corporate Center in Makati. Tickets purchased for both August 10-11, 2012 will be honored on the 18th.

August 10, 2012, 8:00 PM Postponed

Francisco Santiago Hall

South Tower, BDO Corporate Center

Makati

August 11, 2012, 8:00 PM Postponed
Philamlife Auditorium
UN Avenue, Manila

Featuring:

Victor Asuncion, piano

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op. 32

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34

Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70

Russia (include also their Soviet era) is a country renowned for their music, literature and their vast contribution to the art and culture scene worldwide. For two nights (August 10-11, 2012), music by Russian masters Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky will be celebrated by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Prof. Arturo Molina for their next concert of their 2012 season. The August 10, 2012 concert will be at the Santiago Francisco Hall at the BDO Corporate Center while the August 11, 2012 performance will be at the Philam Life Auditorium. Both performances start at 8:00 PM.

Joining them is US based pianist Victor Asuncion who will be the featured soloist for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34 that includes the very popular Variation 18. Other pieces to be played in this concert are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op.32 and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70. I admit that I don’t much about Victor Asuncion although I’ve heard most of my pianist friends talk about him a lot especially when I told them about his upcoming performance here.

Pianist Victor Asuncion

According to the bio sent to me by the MSO that came from his website, Victor Asuncion is hailed by the Washington Post for his “poised and imaginative playing,” he is also “recognized as a pianist of innate musical sensitivity, fiery temperament, and superb technique”. He has already worked with conductors including Sergio Esmilla, Enrique Batiz, Zev Dorman, Arthur Weisberg, Corrick Brown, David Loebel, Leon Fleisher, Michael Stern, Jordan Tang, and Bobby McFerrin. As a chamber musician, he has worked with artists such as Lynn Harrell, Zuill Bailey, Andres Diaz, Antonio Meneses, Cho-Liang Lin, James Dunham, Ronald Leonard, Susanne Mentzer, H.K. Gruber, John O’Connor, Marc Neikrug, Liang Wang, Ensemble Sao Paolo, and the Vega and Emerson String quartets at venues that include the Phillips Collection, the Corcoran Gallery, 92^nd Street Y, Benaroya, Merkin, Spivey and Shriver Concert Halls, and the Santa Fe, Aspen, Madison, Virtuosi, Pera, and Amelia Island Music Festivals. He is currently an associate professor of piano, and Director of Collaborative Arts Studies at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis.  He received his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in 2007 from the University of Maryland at College Park.  His principal teachers include Rosario Picazo, Avelina Manalo, Roberta Rust, and Rita Sloan.

This list is indeed impressive so don't blame me if I'll be having high expectations coming into the concert. Close friends know that I've always admired great works of literature by Russian authors like Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago. This also contributed a lot to my affinity with Russian music. That's why, this upcoming concert by the MSO is a must see for me.

Ticket prices:

August 10, 2012

P1,000 Orchestra

P800 Balcony

August 11, 2012

P1000 Orchestra

P800 Orchestra Side

P600 Loge

For inquiries:

523-5712

sales@manilasymphony.com