Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Violinist Odin Rathnam and pianist Mariel Ilusorio reunite for benefit concert


American Violinist Odin Rathnam and Filipina pianist Mariel Ilusorio reunite for a benefit concert happening this July 27, 2019, 6:00 PM at the St. Cecilia's Hall in St. Scholastica's College, Manila.

Billed as Music and Healing, this event is presented by the Philippine Chapter of World Surgical Foundation in close collaboration with Defending Family Values Foundation, Inc. with the mission to enhance the surgical healthcare capacity in the Philippines in an equitable manner and to help establish its sustainability focusing on the marginalized Filipinos.

At the concert, the pair of Rathnam and Ilusorio will perform a selection of violin sonatas rarely heard at the Manila concert scene namely Jean-Marie Leclair's Violin Sonata in D major, Op. 9 No. 3 "Tombeau"Claude Debussy's Violin Sonata in G minor L. 140Eugène Ysaÿe's Violin Sonata in D minor, Op 27 No. 3 "Ballade, and Richard Strauss' Violin Sonata in E flat major, Op. 18.

I was able to correspond with Mariel Ilusorio and got a few words from her regarding her working experience with Odin Rathnam and more.

Pianist Mariel Ilusorio

You first collaborated at a recital in Casa San Miguel, Zambales back in April 2016. How was working with each other like? And how did this upcoming repeat collaboration come about?

MI: If I remember correctly, that was a last minute plan, as Odin had come to perform the Korngold Violin Concerto with the PPO. Coke Bolipata called me on short notice to play a short light program with Odin in Casa San Miguel. It was too short, but there was not much time, and I thought how wonderful it would be if we could play together again!

You will be playing pieces that are rarely performed at concerts in here. What made you decide to choose these pieces?

MI: Odin already asked me to play this set of pieces many months back and I found it exciting. Leclair and Debussy are new works for me. I played the Debussy cello sonata many years ago and it belongs to the same set as the violin, having been composed just before Debussy died. In fact, it is the last composition Debussy wrote. It is very different from how we normally perceive Debussy to sound like. But it is a beautiful work! I was excited to relive the Strauss as I performed it in my senior year at Oberlin. I was so scared of this great piece then, and never found the opportunity to work through this wonderful music again until now. It is a wonderful way to grow as a musician to be able to work on this repertoire with a violinist like Odin.

The upcoming concert is billed as Music and Healing and will benefit the World Surgical Foundation and Defending Family Values Foundation. Can you recall any experiences wherein music has healed you in some way?
MI: Music heals me everyday. It is my therapy. It is my way to self-express. It is my way to see the beauty in life. I believe music can heal people in every level, physically, emotionally, spiritually, also intellectually.

The World Surgical Foundation was established by renowned Filipino surgeon, Dr. Domingo Alvear in Pennsylvania in 1997 and is committed to providing charitable surgical health care to the world’s poor and under served in developing nations regardless of race, color, religion, or creed. The foundation's Philippine chapter was established in 2017 with a commitment to regularly conduct free surgical missions, educate and help surgical capacity building in the poorest provinces in the country.

Defending Family Values Foundation, Inc. (DFVF) a PCNC and DSWD accredited non- government organization, established in 1994,  serves thousands of poor families and individuals through various socio-educational, nutrition and health programs and projects. DFVF currently assists handicapped (blind, deaf-mute) students to gain a better future through varied skills training programs and in improving their school’s facilities.

Music and Healing with violinist Odin Rathnam and pianist Mariel Ilusorio happening on July 27, 2019, 6:00 PM at St. Cecilia's Hall, St. Scholastica's College, Manila is sponsored by World Surigcal Foundation, Manila Bulletin, 98.7 DZFH, Baguio Country Club, MBLife, PE Capital Investment, Lin and Albert Bildner Foundation, Josie Cruz Natori, and EEI Corporation.

For concert inquiries, contact Sugar Ferre at wsfphilippines@gmail.com or (0995)954-5368. Tickets are also available for purchase at ticket2me.net.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...