PPO Recital Series features Nicanor Abelardo music, violinist Dino Decena performs

The music of Nicanor Abelardo takes centerstage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's sixth installment of the PPO Recital Series streaming online this April 29, 2022, 8:00 PM at the CCP and the PPO's Facebook pages and at the CCP's YouTube channel.

Performing Nicanor Abelardo's Sonata for Violin and Piano and Kundiman are violinist Dino Akira Decena and pianist MaryAnne Espina. Decena is currently the PPO's Concertmaster.

PPO presents monthly recital series

Since the usual Philippine Philharmonic Orchetsra subscription concert series at the Cultural Center of the Philippines is still not yet possible despite the lowered alert level in Metro Manila, the orchestra still finds a way to bring classical music to audiences via the PPO Recital Series.

Running from November 2021 until June 2022, this monthly recital series will feature eight members (either principals or assistant principals) from the orchestra performing music pieces that are carefully curated by the PPO's Music Director and Principal Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura.

Each new episode will premiere at 8:00 PM on the last Friday of the month at the PPO and CCP Facebook pages.

Flutist Hercules Santiago

The series opens with principal flutist Hercules Santiago performing Otar Taktakishvili’s Sonata for Flute and Piano in C Major on November 26, 2021.

Clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana

On December 31, 2021, principal clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana plays Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke Op. 73 and Michele Mangani’s Pagina d’ Album for Clarinet and Piano.

French horn player Ernani Pascual

French horn player Ernani Pascual ushers in the New Year with his take on Hermann Eichborn’s Sonate für Waldhorn und Klavier, Op. 7 on January 28, 2022.

Trumpet player Glober Calambro

Trumpet player Glober Calambro will render Paul Hindemith’s Sonata for Trumpet and Piano on February 25, 2022.

Cellist Giancarlo Gonzales

On March 25, 2022, cellist Giancarlo Gonzales interprets Claude Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, L. 135 and Svante Henryson’s Black Run.

Violinist Dino Akira Decena

Orchestra concertmaster Dino Akira Decena performs a couple of Nicanor Abelardo's works namely the Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Romanza on April 29, 2022.

Violist Rey Casey Concepcion

In May 27, 2022, the spotlight will be on violist Rey Casey Concepcion as he performs Paul Hindemith’s Viola Sonata in F, Op. 11, No. 4 and Max Bruch’s Romanze in F Major for Viola and Piano, Op.85.

Contrabass player Ariston Payte III

Principal contrabass player Ariston Payte III wraps up the series with a performance of Adolf Misek’s Sonata No. 2 in E minor, Op. 6 on June 24, 2022.

Pianist Mary Anne Espina

Pianist Mary Anne Espina is the collaborating artist for the entire recital series.

PPO V: Happy 40th PPO!

Ryan Cayabyab

Featuring:

Dino Decena, violin

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Richard Wagner Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin

Ryan Cayabyab New Work for Violin and Orchestra

Richard Wagner Siegfried Idyll

Robert Schumann Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 Spring

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its 40^th anniversary by premiering the highly anticipated new work by Ryan Cayabyab. This new work, a violin concerto, was commissioned by the PPO specifically for this occasion which is the orchestra's fifth performance for their 30^th  concert season entitled Milestones. This concert was perfectly set up for me since I’ve had my fill of Ryan Cayabyab’s other works like Rama Hari and Katy which recently got restaged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Both Cayabyab and PPO principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine knew how much I looked forward seeing this piece of work performed so there was no way that I was going to miss this concert.

Violinist Dino Decena

But before everyone else got to hear the new work, we had to sit through a short Richard Wagner piece first. A late addition to the concert, the Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin lasted for only about three minutes and before I even got settled into the piece, it was all over.

The Ryan Cayabyab New Work for Violin and Orchestra that followed was a totally different creature compared to his more well known works in the popular genre. If someone in the audience expected something in the vein of Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, then he would be terribly disappointed with what he had heard that night. Associate Concertmaster Dino Decena was the featured soloist in this performance and he played a theme that wasn’t fully developed during the first movement. While Decena played his part, the orchestra accompanying him rumbled their way as if it was totally independent of what the violin solo was playing. There were only a few instances when the soloist and the orchestra, specifically the strings were in unison. I understood then what Ryan Cayabyab tried to convey as he waved his arms to describe the first movement to me when I asked him about the piece when it was still a work in progress. I also totally got what he meant when he said that the first movement would be a “quasi development of a theme”. The second movement slowed things down and displayed Cayabyab’s penchant for the minor tonalities almost to the point of romanticism. This segued into the third movement which was contrapuntal and and venturing into the tonal territories. Then the unexpected happened towards the end as a cheeky shift in rhythm had the bass drum thumping a hip hop beat. And before I got myself wrapped around this sudden and unexpected change in mood, the music reverted back to its contrapuntal nature as it settled into a clear shift to the major tonality. This violin concerto certainly was a clear departure from the prevailing works of Cayabyab and it definitely merits another performance and possibly a recording so that I could sink my teeth deeper into it.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

I would totally understand if many among the audience felt that the violin concerto didn’t live up to their expectations. But I think that Decena’s encore of Astor Piazzolla’s Ave Maria satisfied their cravings for a very romantic, melodic and mushy violin piece.

The second half of the concert included yet another piece by Richard Wagner, Siegfried Idyll. While I found it hard to grasp his operas, especially with the arias taken out of context, this intimate piece was very accessible. Knowing the story of how Wagner wrote this as a surprise for his wife made me appreciate this piece a lot more. Olivier was able to make the orchestra sound like it was embracing its audience with the music. The last piece for the night was Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 or Spring. Just like the title suggests, this symphony was indeed spring like starting from the exhilarating brass fanfare at the beginning up to the lightness and grace of the joyful finale.

Mike Swift and Rico Blanco

The anniversary concert of the PPO drew in an interesting and diverse crowd. Many members from other orchestras like the Manila Symphony Orchestra and ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra including Gerard Salonga were there. What’s even more promising was spotting music personalities from other genres among the audience that night like rock musician Rico Blanco and hip hop heavyweight Mike Swift. Now, if only this would be the case every time an orchestra performs and not be limited only to anniversary performances.

Ryan Cayabyab’s violin concerto debuts at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s anniversary concert

Violinist Dino Decena

January 25, 2012, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Dino Decena, violin

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

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

The Christmas season may be over but the celebrations continue on as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes 2013 by celebrating its 40^th year with the world premiere of Ryan Cayabyab’s New Work for Violin and Orchestra happening this January 25, 2013, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). PPO principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine returns after a two month break from leading the orchestra during their 30^th concert season entitled Milestones.

Ryan Cayabyab

The new work, a violin concerto, was commissioned by the PPO to be played for its 40^th anniversary. The orchestra’s Associate Concertmaster, Dino Decena will be the featured soloist for this much anticipated performance. For months now, I’ve been asking Ryan Cayabyab about the development of the piece. While I’ve asked for a description or character of the piece, I’ve consciously avoided trying to hear even a snippet of the piece. I would want to listen to it with fresh ears like the rest of the audience that night.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Aside from the new Ryan Cayabyab work, a couple of pieces by Richard Wagner and Robert Schumann will be played by the orchestra. Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, an intimate piece originally written as a gift to his wife Cosima. Also featured in this concert is Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 “Spring”. This symphony by is indeed very cheerful and befitting of a concert celebrating an momentous event like an anniversary.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

P500 Balcony I Center

P350 Balcony I Side

P200 Balcony II

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Marketing Department 832-1125 loc. 1806

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999