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| 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.
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| 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!
Featuring:
Olivier
Ochanine, conductor
Programme:
Dmitri
Shostakovich Suite for Variety Orchestra
Carl
Nielsen Aladdin Suite FS 89
Sergei
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
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
Featuring:
Yoshikazu
Fukumura, conductor
Programme:
Frederick
Delius Irmelin Prelude
Zoltán Kodály Dances
of Galánta
Johannes
Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
Featuring:
Raymond
de Leon, trumpet
Iñaki
Etxepare, cello
Programme:
Bedřich Smetana Die Moldau (Vltava )
Édouard Lalo Cello Concerto in D minor
Alexander Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto in A flat major
Alexander Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto in A flat major
Ferde Grofé The Grand Canyon Suite
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
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
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
Featuring:
PPO Piano Competition winner, to be announced
Olivier Ochanine, conductor
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.
*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
Philam
Life Auditorium
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
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