Unusual music pairing in UST Symphony Orchestra’s Brahms Meets Disney

The UST Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Daniel Bartolome tried to hit two birds with one stone and appeal to a wide variety of audiences at their opening concert of the season with Brahms Meets Disney. held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Probably the most unusual music pairing that I’ve ever seen at an orchestra performance, this concert featured the music of Johannes Brahms along with music from Walt Disney feature films throughout the decades.

As the USTSO’s first concert for this academic calendar, this was my first opportunity to see new blood replacing those who have already graduated. Not surprisingly, the upper strings outnumbered the lower strings and the violins drowned the cellos and basses earlier on with the opening piece of Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80.

The big test for the orchestra though was accompanying Malaysian pianist Ng Chong Lim with Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15. While Lim was up to the task and handled the grand scale of the concerto with command and relative ease (and giving me another opportunity to hear the Fazioli grand piano so soon after the last time I did), the orchestra struggled especially the numerous upper strings that were prone to go wild at times. At the end, I felt more relieved that the orchestra was able to get through and survive the entire concerto. And major props for Lim for keeping his ground even if the orchestra was not up to par.

RAd and Ng Chong Lim

Finally, with the Brahms part out of the way, the orchestra and everyone else were more relaxed with the Disney Suite arranged by Jedrick Itugot. The featured soloists in the suite were faculty members Ronan Ferrer, Eugene delos Santos, Elisanta Cortes, Thea Perez, Nenen Espina, and students Demi Fresco, Faye Transfiguracion, John Saga, and Ryan Tamondong. Backing them up were the combined forces of the UST Vocal Performance Department, Coro Tomasino and Liturgikon. The songs performed were from a wide range of Walt Disney animated feature films like Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, and Moana. Having Santa Fe, a song from the live action film and later on adapted as a stage musical Newsies, was an odd inclusion and I think that this was probably a nod for Ronan Ferrer (who sang it) and Daniel Bartolome as the two were the vocal coach and music director respectively at the musical’s recent staging.

While I have my misgivings with the Brahms piano concerto (my most anticipated part), I knew the importance of the Disney Suite (I was not initially really keen on it, I admit) as it marked the return of Nenen Espina to the stage after suffering from a major health scare earlier this year. She exuded joy in all of her solos and it was truly a treat to witness this important moment for her after being aware of everything that she has gone through this year.

Overall, this concert was a brave risk for the USTSO especially with the Brahms piano concerto. A few concerts are still lined up for the orchestra this season and it’s up to them to make sure that they would show marked improvement in their upcoming performances.