Marlon Chen, invigorated MSO deliver solid season ender; Victor Asuncion dazzles

Conductor Marlon Chen and the Manila Symphony Orchestra

Brimming with youthful energy, the Manila Symphony Orchestra put on an inspired performance in their season ending Titan of a concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Diomedes Saraza Jr.and Marlon Chen
(disappointed that I failed to take one of
Victor Asuncion)

The promise of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra members, the debut of new concertmaster Diomedes Saraza, Jr., the breezy and playful Ravel by pianist Victor Asuncion, and the solid weaving of Mahler’s Titan by guest conductor Marlon Chen all contributed to the euphoric feeling of ending a season on a high.

Victor Asuncion was in his element with Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, cruising and oozing in the jazzy twists and turns. He dazzled with the rarely heard Rippling Water by Jose Rodis for his encore. I could’ve been easily overwhelmed having to sit through yet another piano concerto, my 6^th in less than two weeks, but Asuncion’s breezy Ravel was very pleasing and a great way to cap my January that I’ve referred to as a piano concerto overload.

Marlon Chen deftly handled the main offering for that evening, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Titan’. He was able to form shapes and arcs within the movements and also with the entire symphony making the work very palatable despite its considerable length. Despite the symphony clocking at almost an hour, the actual performance didn’t feel that long. I just wished that the horns had more conviction especially during the finale. But overall, it was a very solid performance by the MSO.

Commendable also was how members of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra carried themselves as they fortified the ranks of the MSO in this concert. In previous performances, the young ones joining the orchestra had a nervous air surrounding them as if they were thrust prematurely into the battle field. But now, armed with competition experience, numerous performances back in 2018, and of course, new concertmaster Diomedes Saraza, Jr., these young musicians exuded confidence and held their own alongside the MSO.

2019 has brought change to the Manila Symphony Orchestra, but with a confident outing to start the year, they head towards their next season with a sense of renewed vigor and interest.