An emotionally charged "Saraza in Concert"

Featuring:

Diomedes Saraza, Jr, violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Programme:

Ludwig van Beethoven
     Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 Spring

Nicanor Abelardo
     Cavatina

Manuel Velez
     Sa Kabukiran

Frédéric Chopin
     Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. posth

Franz Waxman
     Carmen Fantasie

Richard Strauss
     Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18

Encore:

Willy Cruz
     Sana'y Wala ng Wakas

  

The sudden announcement of violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr.’s upcoming concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines caught me by surprise. The concert was happening on a Saturday, and I learned about it on Monday when Saraza himself made the announcement in Facebook. But I knew that I have to catch it no matter what. So on Saturday, I left home before noon, more than eight hours before the actual concert, just to avoid getting stuck in my hometown that was having a parade at the main roads in celebration of its foundation day.

For this concert, Diomedes, along with the ever reliable Greg Zuniega on the piano accompanying him, prepared a program that I initially thought was generally positive, light and brimming with optimism. With this in mind, I was taken aback with his opening piece, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 “Spring” which he performed with too much tension and drama for my taste. The all too familiar first movement, Allegro, felt like it teetered on the dark side but the tricky Scherzo of the third movement, with the violin seemingly chasing the piano in a game of tag, was handled very deftly. If performed by less capable hands, this part can come off as a mess, but Diomedes and Zuniega were up to the task.

The next couple of pieces, Nicanor Abelardo’s lyrical Cavatina and Manuel Velez’ playful Sa Kabukiran, showed Diomedes’ range as he was able to showcase the contrast between the two short, well known pieces. And it was crystal like clarity when he tackled Nathan Milstein’s violin transcription of Frederic Chopin’s Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. The way he made the violin sing as it flowed from the primary theme to the next made me want to attempt to replicate such clarity on the piano as soon as I arrived home after the concert.

Diomedes displayed a great deal of fireworks with Franz Waxman’s Carmen Fantasie. Listening to it should be a walk in the park seeing that this piece was made up of various music from George Bizet’s opera Carmen. But familiarity with another Carmen Fantasie, the more popular one composed by Pablo Sarasate, meant that there were times during the performance when I was taken by surprise by how some parts went into unexpected turns. I had to remind myself that this was a different arrangement and whatever differences the Waxman have with the Sarasate was not a mistake.

Clearly, the main highlight of the concert for me was Richard Strauss’ Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18. Before starting, Diomedes offered some insight regarding the piece, telling the audience that Strauss wrote this when he was in love with his eventual wife and that we should all watch out for the contrasting lyrical and rhythmical themes in the sonata. Lastly, he recounted how this piece was assigned to him by Stephen Clapp, his teacher at the Juilliard School shortly before he passed away. With this piece having such a personal and profound meaning for him, it was no wonder that Diomedes delivered an intense and emotionally charged performance. He even looked like he was on the brink of tears during the second movement. Again, Zuniega proved himself as one of the most reliable accompanists here and it was hard for me to imagine anyone else in the piano during the Strauss. For an encore, Diomedes did Sana’y Wala Ng Wakas by Willy Cruz which prompted a few members of the audience to hum along.

With the very short notice for this concert, the audience turnout was not surprisingly the full house that his last concert was. Still, I am pleased by how the concert turned out which is incidentally my first for 2016 that also marked my return to this blog after some months of inactivity. May this be the fuel that will invigorate me for a more fruitful and musical year ahead.

Japanese violinist Kazuhiro Takagi in solo concert at the CCP

December 10, 2013, 7:30 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Kazuhiro Takagi, violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005

Karol Szymanowski Three Myths for violin and piano, Op. 30

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op. 42

Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75

The Cultural Center of the Philippines presents Japanese violinist Kazuhiro Takagi as he performs in a solo concert billed as Takagi in Concert: A Violin Recital on December 10, 2013, 7:30 PM at the CCP’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

Along with collaborating pianist Greg Zuniega, Takagi will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005, Karol Szymanowski’s Three Myths for violin and piano, Op. 30, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op.42 and Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75.

Born in Osaka, Japan, Kazuhiro Takagi started violin lessons at the age of six where he studied under Takayoshi Wanami, Yuko Mori, Eduard Wulfson and Eduard Schmieder. He later left for France to study at the Conservatoire National Superieur Musique de Lyon where he graduated with the highest grades in 1994. He furthered his training at Southern Methodist University in 1995 and Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2000 via Program of Overseas Study for Upcoming Artists organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. His major awards include a prize at the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels (1997), 3rd prize at the Geneva International Music Competition (1998), and the 1st prize as the first violinist of the Eusia String Quartet at the Fischoff National Music Competition in Indiana State, USA (2001). He also obtained the National Arts Festival New Artist Award sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Osaka Cultural Festival Grand Prize (2005) and the Recorded Work Award, Audio Category at the 19th Music Pen Club Japan (2007).

Violinist Kazuhiro Takagi

Takagi had been a soloist of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Century Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and Wuerttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany. He served as concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago conducted by Daniel Barenboim and a solo concertmaster of the Wuerttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany, Kazuhiro Takagi had also been a concertmaster of the touring Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (2007-2012) as well as a solo concertmaster of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra (2006-2013). He is currently a member of the Nagaokakyo Chamber Ensemble in Kyoto, concertmaster of the Dallas Chamber Symphony Orchestra (USA), member of Izumi Sinfonietta Osaka, and leader of Lilis Chamber Orchestra. He also performs as a violinist of "A Hundred Birds", a house music orchestra band, and "tokyo.panda.", a hip-hop chamber group.

Kazuhiro Takagi was the guest concertmaster of the Orchestra Nipponica Tokyo that had a concert during the Japan-Philippines Friendship Contemporary Music Festival that was held at the CCP earlier this year. Watching the concert, I felt that Takagi really stood out from the rest of the violin section of the orchestra. This upcoming concert is the perfect opportunity for those who wants to see Takagi perform at a chamber music setting showcasing more of his virtuosity with the violin.

Ticket prices:

P800 Orchestra Center

P600 Orchestra Side

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999

Special Concert Series I: Diomedes Saraza Jr.

Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr.

Featuring:

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005

Alvin Zhu Poeme

Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 Kreutzer

Jiulliard trained violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. opened the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Special Concert Series in spectacular fashion. Performing the same programme he did for his graduation recital, Diomedes showed the audience that filled the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) that he is indeed one of the country’s leading violinists in this generation.

Diomedes started the concert with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005 and despite my general disinterest with Baroque era music, he was able to amaze me during Fuga, the piece’s second movement. His deft touch made the voices in the fugue come out with such clarity. And I was astonished by Bach’s ability to craft a piece with an intricate architectural structure. For the next piece, collaborating pianist Greg Zuniega joins Diomedes on stage for the Philippine premiere performance of Alvin Zhu’s Poeme. Diomedes told me that Alvin Zhu was his roommate and one of his bestfriends, and that the piece was composed for the both of them for a theory class. It was originally made up of only the first movement, Appassionata, which is a sweeping, impressionistic work (especially the piano part) reminiscent of Claude Debussy. The teacher said that it was too good so Zhu added two more movements, Water and Sailing, to the piece. The whole version had its premiere last December 2012 at Juilliard’s Paul Hall for Double Vision where composers get to premiere their works if they are good enough.

Then it was the highlight of the evening for me which was Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 also known as the Kreutzer Sonata. An imposing work that feels more like a concerto rather than chamber music, Diomedes handled it like it was a walk in the park. I particularly liked the second movement Andante con variazioni which is the longest movement in the entire sonata. I find it a lot easier to appreciate variations when I see them performed rather than just by listening to it. And Diomedes, being a rather animated performer, not only did I hear the variations; I was also able to see it. And he didn’t let up when he got into the frantic tarantella rhythm of the final movement Presto. I’ve waited a long time to see a performance of the Kreutzer Sonata once again and seeing Diomedes deliver it pleased me a lot. Equally pleasing was his encores, Cavatina by Nicanor Abelardo and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas by Willy Cruz. It was really nice to see him pay tribute to his Filipino roots by playing these favorite local pieces of music.

It would’ve been a lot more awesome if violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. was able to fly everyone to the US to watch his graduation recital at the Juilliard School. But still, it was still awesome that he brought his graduation recital programme here instead to the Philippines. The only thing I felt that was missing during this evening was a concerto. But that would be remedied a lot sooner since there’s a concert featuring Diomedes coming very, very soon.

Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. performs Juilliard graduation recital pieces at the CCP

Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr.

July 17, 2013, 7:30 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005

Alvin Zhu Poeme

Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 Kreutzer

When violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. was about to have his graduation recital at the Juilliard School, he made an event page over at facebook and invited his friends, including those residing in the Philippines, to watch. Unfortunately, one had to book a flight to the US to watch and I think that hardly anyone had the time and the resources to do just that. Fortunately, the Cultural Center of the Philippines is offering the next best thing by presenting Diomedes Saraza Jr. at the opening performance of the Special Concert Series happening on July 17, 2013, 7:30 PM at the CCP’s Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

Saraza Jr. recently graduated from the Juilliard School with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin, under the tutelage of Stephen Clapp. This homecoming concert will feature the same pieces that he played in his recent graduation recital that include Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005, Alvin Zhu’s Poeme, and Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 also known as the Kreutzer Sonata. Collaborating with Saraza Jr. for this concert will be pianist Greg Zuniega.

I last saw Saraza Jr. perform during the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s Re-formation concert where he played Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto. If I'm not mistaken, his upcoming CCP performance will be the first time for me to see him perform solo violin and chamber music.

The other artists featured in the Special Concert Series are trumpeter Raymond de Leon performing on September 4, 2013 and percussionist Aimee Mina-de la Cruz performing on November 12, 2013. One can avail of special discounted price through subscribing to the entire Special Concert Series for only P1500 Orchestra Center and P1200 for Orchestra Side.

Ticket prices:

P800 Orchestra Center

P600 Orchestra Side

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

Ticketworld 891-9999

Subscriptions 832-3706

MSO V: Beethoven Lives!

Alexander Vikulov and the Manila Symphony Orchestra

Featuring:

Arturo Molina, violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Victor Coo, cello 

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Alexander Vikulov, conductor 

Programme:

Ludwig van Beethoven

     Overture from Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43

     Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 56

     Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

The Manila Symphony Orchestra recently held their closing concert of their Gala Season celebrating the orchestra’s historic 85^th year at the Philam Life Auditorium featuring guest conductor Alexander Vikulov and soloists Arturo Molino (violin), Greg Zuniega (piano) and Victor Coo (cello). The concert entitled Beethoven Lives! featured the music of Ludwig van Beethoven (obviously) that very much delighted the inner Schroeder in me.

But I am not as obsessive as Schroeder when it comes to Beethoven since I had no idea how the Overture to Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43, the first piece of the evening, actually sounds. And it didn’t help at all that while the orchestra was playing this piece, I paid more attention in checking out how they sounded under the baton of guest conductor Alexander Vikulov. I am prone to doing this especially if the opening piece is not familiar to me. I also checked out if those who didn’t play during the last concert were back this time around. And before I knew it, the piece was already over.

Arturo Molina, Victor Coo and Greg Zuniega perform the Triple Concerto

Then it was time for the Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 56 which was probably the main highlight of the concert for many in the audience that night. This piece also known as the Triple Concerto is an unusual one since instead of just one soloist, there are actually three. And what was more unusual during this performance was that the three soloists do not actually perform together regularly. I usually see Arturo Molina conducting the MSO and I couldn’t even recall if I ever got to see him during his days as the concertmaster of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. On the other hand, I’ve seen Victor Coo perform with violinist Joseph Esmilla and pianist Rudolf Golez (Trio con Brio). And it was during recitals that I’ve seen the very reliable Greg Zuniega. And despite this lack of playing together, they showed excellent rapport especially during the first movement which featured a lively conversation between the three with each instrument taking on the themes. I was also able to appreciate the attention to detail that Beethoven did especially with the cello that had the tendency to be drowned by the piano and the violin. In all three movements, the cello delivered the first solo hence giving it the chance to shine before the piano and violin eventually dominate. After this piece, the trio of Molina, Coo and Zuniega delivered a charming encore of Pamulinawen arranged by Ryan Cayabyab.

As much as I appreciated the Triple Concerto, it was actually the last piece, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 that I was really looking forward to that evening. This piece has become very popular in recent years because of the manga/anime/drama series Nodame Cantabile. With the exception of the second movement, this piece exudes such joy all the way through. I normally don’t like happy and cheerful pieces but this is a major exception. The fourth movement is one of the pieces I normally listen to whenever I’m feeling down in the dumps and experiencing a live performance easily trumps listening to a recording anytime. And when the MSO played this fourth movement, the joy and the sense of triumph coming out from the orchestra was almost tangible. I don’t know if it’s the November rain but this concert just continued the streak of outstanding orchestra performances that started with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra.

Special thanks should be given also to Lisa Macuja-Elizalde for bringing over the exceptional conductor Alexander Vikulov. He had a rather understated style that didn’t call much attention to himself. But what’s more important was that he was able to bring out the best in MSO who delivered a very inspired performance. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend his masterclass over at the University of the Philippines that happened a few days later due to a conflict in schedule.

Since their season has already ended I couldn’t help but look back at the season as a whole. The MSO had a hit lineup for me since they included some of my favorites like the Mahler Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, Brahms Symphony No. 4, and Beethoven Symphony No. 7. And also, they performed the Khachaturian Violin Concerto which I’ve wanted to hear for some time now. For this concert season, I’ve noticed that everything went ahead as planned without any of the mishaps (Ondoy back in 2009) or sudden program change (July 2010) that they’ve experienced in previous seasons. I do hope that the next season will continue the upward momentum of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

All Beethoven program closes Manila Symphony Orchestra’s concert season

November 10, 2011, 8:00 PM Hearing Beethoven!

November 12, 2011, 8:00 PM Beethoven Lives!

Philam Life Auditorium

UN Avenue, Manila

Featuring:

Arturo Molina, violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Victor Coo, cello 

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Alexander Vikulov, conductor 

Programme:

Ludwig van Beethoven

     Overture from Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43

     Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 56

     Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92

The Manila Symphony Orchestra closes its season celebrating 85 years with a two night concert featuring the works of Ludwig van Beethoven. Music director and principal conductor will be the featured violinist playing alongside pianist Greg Zuniega and cellist Victor Coo in performing the Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 56. Russian Alexander Vikulov will be the guest conductor for the concerts that also feature the Overture to the Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43 and Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92.

I will be watching the concert entitled Beethoven Lives! happening on November 12, 2011 8:00 PM at the Philam Life Auditorium. The performance happening on November 10, 2011 8:00 PM at the same venue is a special fundraising concert entitled Hearing Beethoven! for the benefit of indigent patients of the Philippine General Hospital, in time for the Christmas season. It is in collaboration with the Philippine General Hospital Department of Otorhinolaryngology (also known as Ear-Nose-Throat), celebrating its 50th anniversary this year as an independent division of the PGH. Dr. Jose Lapeña, president of the Philippine Society of Audiology, will also discuss Beethoven's hearing condition in a short pre-concert talk since it’s known that the great composer lost his hearing during his latter years.

Conductor Alexander Vikulov

I’m really looking forward to this concert because of the Symphony No. 7 which was made popular by the series Nodame Cantabile. And I think that this piece has one of the most joyous fourth movements ever which is fitting since this concert is poised to become a celebration of the MSO’s successful concert season. Also, being able to see a performance of the Triple Concerto featuring the three soloists is just an added treat that I don’t mind at all my lack of familiarity with the Prometheus Overture.

Manila Symphony Orchestra’s gala concert season 2011 has been made possible by Mercedes Benz, the Pancake House Group, and other generous sponsors, benefactors, and friends of the orchestra. Alexander Vikulov appears through the courtesy of Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.

Ticket prices:

November 10, 2011 Hearing Beethoven!

     P2000 Orchestra Center

     P1500 Orchestra Side

     P800 Loge Center

     P600 Loge Side

November 12, 2011 Beethoven Lives!

     P1000 Orchestra Center

     P800 Orchestra Side

     P500 Loge 

     50% student discount

     20% senior citizen discount

Tickets are also available at Arts in Taguig City, Bonifacio Highstreet and Red Jasper at the ground floor of the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell.

For inquiries:

MSO Secretariat 736-2717, (0917) 366-2651