Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra announces 30th Season “Milestones”

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

Last concert season, Olivier Ochanine, music director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra asked via facebook for music suggestions that the audience would want to hear the orchestra to play. I gave Olivier a few pieces of music that I hope that the PPO could play. Thankfully, when the PPO had its press conference for the upcoming 2012-2013 season I was relieved and excited to find out that one of my suggestions is still part of the season.

The upcoming concert season, entitled Milestones, does serve as a double milestone for the orchestra since not only are they having their 30th concert season, but they will also celebrate their upcoming 40th anniversary. And in line with this occasion, the PPO had a press conference over at the MKP Multi-Purpose Hall at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. During this event, Olivier announced an updated programme lineup for this season which reflected one of his observations regarding the PPO audience: that they have a desire to learn more. And I myself will learn more since the pieces that the orchestra will perform for the eight concerts this season are dominated by music that I don’t know at all. One such notable (and still unknown) piece is the new work by Ryan Cayabyab. I was disappointed when the new and commissioned work was scrapped from last seasons’ lineup but the inclusion of it for this season makes up for it big time considering that I’ve had the pleasure of working with/for Ryan Cayabyab just a few months ago.


The press conference also featured a short performance by some members of the PPO’s strings section which is already expected. One thing that I didn’t expect during that afternoon was the presence of other PPO members like violinist Joy Sababan and cellist Vicky Chang who have been with the orchestra for a long time. The veterans were joined by new members, trombonist Ricson Poonin and Joanna Ruth Livioco who is also the new Assistant Concertmaster. The four of them shared their experiences with the orchestra and what being a part of the PPO meant for them. I was amazed to know that Vicky Chang has been with the PPO for as long as I’ve lived. Joy Sababan also mentioned that getting rusty with his technique prompted him to return to the PPO after some years in a cruise ship. Joanna, on the other hand, said that she still continues to learn from the elder members of the orchestra. While young Ricson, so not used to speaking in front of an audience, probably has fulfilled the ambitions of his family and of everyone in his marching band when he finally made it to the PPO. It was a nice touch including these musicians at the press conference since it gave me a different perspective on PPO members.

PPO Musicians Joy Sababan, Ricson Poonin, Joanna Ruth Livioco and Vicky Chang

Back to the season’s programme, here is what people should expect for the PPO’s upcoming 30th Season dubbed as Milestones. As always, programme and performers are subject to change. See you at the concerts!

September 21, 2012

Featuring:
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:
Dmitri Shostakovich Suite for Variety Orchestra
Carl Nielsen Aladdin Suite FS 89
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

October 19, 2012

Featuring:
Kurt Muroki, double bass
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:
Giovanni Bottesini Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B minor
Sergei Prokofiev Lieutenant Kijé Suite
Alan Hovhaness Mysterious Mountain (Symphony No. 2), Op. 132

November 16, 2012

Featuring:
Yoshikazu Fukumura, conductor

Programme:
Frederick Delius Irmelin Prelude
Zoltán Kodály Dances of Galánta
Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

December 14, 2012

Featuring:
Raymond de Leon, trumpet
Iñaki Etxepare, cello
Herminigildo Ranera, conductor 

Programme:
Bedřich Smetana Die Moldau (Vltava)
Édouard Lalo Cello Concerto in D minor
Alexander Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto in A flat major
Ferde Grofé The Grand Canyon Suite

January 25, 2013

Featuring:
Dino Decena, violin
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:
Richard Wagner Siegfried Idyll
Ryan Cayabyab New Work for Violin and Orchestra
Robert Schumann Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 Spring

February 22, 2013

Featuring:
Hyunah Yu, soprano
Tenor, to be announced
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:
Otto Nicolai Overture from the Merry Wives of Windsor
Felix Mendelssohn Suite to A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
William Walton Suite to Henry V
Various Works for Soprano and Tenor based on Shakespeare

March 22, 2013

Featuring:
Gao Can, violin
Mark Gibson, conductor

Programme:
George Bizet Jeux d’enfants, Op. 22
Mauris Ravel Daphnis et Chloé
Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61

April 26, 2013

Featuring:
PPO Piano Competition winner, to be announced
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:
Piano Concerto, to be announced
Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 5
Wolfang Amadeus Mozart Overture from Così fan tutte, K.588

*Except for the September 21, 2012 concert, all other performances will be held at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

PPO opens 30th season with Orchestral Fireworks


September 21, 2012, 8:00 PM
Philam Life Auditorium
UN AvenueManila

Featuring:
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:
Dmitri Shostakovich Suite for Variety Orchestra
Carl Nielsen Aladdin Suite FS 89
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

Thank goodness for Classical Champs: The Young Music Idols concert the month before, or else, I would’ve suffered major withdrawal symptoms for concerts by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. The first concert of the PPO’s 30th season happening this September 21, 2012 at 8:00 PM is again an interesting one because the venue will be at the Philam Life Auditorium instead of the Cultural Center of the Philippine’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). The Phantom has taken over the CCP Main Theater, hence the change of location. But this is again very interesting since it’s another chance for me to hear the orchestra, now with Olivier Ochanine conducting them, play in this venue with superior acoustics. The last time that the orchestra played in this venue was during their February 2012 concert under a different conductor, so this is now the opportunity to hear how they would sound under Olivier.

The pieces to be performed are very distinct pieces that show a lot of character and personality. Dmitri Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra used to be called the Jazz Suite although there’s nothing jazzy about marches, waltzes, polkas that characterize the short sections making up this fun piece. Carl Nielsen’s Aladdin Suite takes listeners to a journey to a different land. And Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances may not be fit for a dance floor but this piece is a culmination of his prior works. But what am I saying? The only piece in here that I’m familiar with is the one by Shostakovich. I think that the unifying theme of this season for me is that all, but one, of the pieces to be performed are unknown to me. But I’m grateful that here comes an opportunity for me to hear new pieces and expand my musical horizons.

Ticket prices:
P1000 Orchestra Center
P800 Orchestra Side
P500 Loge Center
P350 Loge Side
-50% student discount
-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:
CCP Marketing Department 832-1125 loc. 1806
CCP Box Office 832-3704
TicketWorld 891-9999

No comments:

Post a Comment