Pianist Lorenzo Medel takes on adventurous program in recital

May 23, 2015, 7:30 PM

Brother Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts

La Salle Greenhills

Featuring:

Lorenzo Medel, piano

Jeline Oliva, violin

Programme:

Domenico Scarlatti

     Sonata in E, K.380, L.23 Cortège

Ludwig van Beethoven

     Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 Moonlight

Frédéric Chopin

     Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 Revolutionary

     Étude in G flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 Black Keys

     Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 Winter Wind

Claude Debussy

     Préludes Book 2 No. 12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), L 123

Nikolai Myaskovsky

     Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 13 No. 2

Tomaso Vitali

     Chaconne in G minor

Antonio Vivaldi

     Allegro non molto from Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L’estate (Summer)

     Allegro non molto from Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L’inverno (Winter)

Jules Massenet

     Meditation from Thaïs

Manuel de Falla arr. by Fritz Kreisler

     Danse espagnole

After finishing his sophomore year at the Eastman School of Music in New York, pianist Lorenzo Medel returns to the country for a one night recital billed as billed as A Classical Piano Adventure with Lorenzo Medel happening on May 23, 2015, 7:30 PM at the Brother Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts in La Salle Greenhills.

For this evening, Lorenzo’s pieces include the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 more popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven, a trio of Études (Étude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12 Revolutionary, Étude in G flat major, Op. 10 No. 5 Black Keys, and Étude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 11 Winter Wind) by Frédéric Chopin, Préludes Book 2 No. 12 Feux d'artifice (Fireworks), L 123 by Claude Debussy and the rarely performed Piano Sonata in F sharp minor, Op. 13 No. 2 by Nikolai Myaskovsky.

The concert will also include the special participation of young violinist Jeline Oliva who will join Enzo in performing Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor, a couple of movements (the Allegro non molto from No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L’estate/Summer and Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L’inverno/Winter) from Antonio Vivaldi’s Le Quattro Stagioni/The Four Seasons, Jules Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, and Manuel de Falla’s Danse espagnole as arranged by Fritz Kreisler.

Lorenzo was born in Manila in 1995 and began his piano studies in 2006 at age 10 under Prof. Mauricia Borromeo of the University of the Philippines, College of Music. He is currently into his Bachelor of Music, Major in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music where he will be an incoming junior this September 2015.

In the seven years Lorenzo was with Prof. Borromeo (2006-2013), he had clearly established his piano skills nationally, winning the top prizes of our country’s more prestigious piano competitions, like the NAMCYA (National Music Competitions for Young Artists), PTGP (Piano Teacher’s Guild of the Philippines), UP College of Music and the National Steinway Piano Competition. He had twelve public solo recitals by age sixteen, three of which were full concertos with assistance from the Manila Symphony Orchestra. The recitals received excellent reviews both from Manila’s press and local piano aficionados.

For tickets and inquiries:

(0917) 891-7979, 716-1854, enzopiano@yahoo.com

MCO Foundation Young Artists Series 2013: Jeline Oliva

Violinist Jeline Oliva

Featuring:

Maria Jelina Llorin Oliva, violin

Mary Anne Espina, piano

Programme:

Tomaso Vitali Chaconne in G minor

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

Ernesto Vallejo Habanera Filipina No. 2

Angel Peña Philippine Serenade

Potenciano Gregorio Sr. Sarung Banggi

Niccolò Paganini Caprice No. 20 in D major

Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 

Pablo de Sarasate Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43

Violinist Jeline Oliva showed not just tremendous growth and maturity but also grace under pressure when she opened the MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series 2013 at the Ayala Museum. Jeline played on the violin accompanied by pianist Mary Anne Espina a bunch of difficult pieces that would’ve given college level music students a difficult time.

It had been over a year since I last saw Jeline perform on stage so I was really curious to see how much she has grown since then. I noticed right away during her opening piece, Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor that she has developed more presence on stage. If she had butterflies prior to her concert, then no one in the audience knew. After this, she performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24 or more popularly known as Spring. I think that the lightness and freshness of this piece was a good fit for a young violinist such as Jeline. In a normal recital/concert, this piece would’ve been the finale piece but this was how she just ended up the first half.

The second half had Jeline playing pieces by Filipino composers that weren’t included in the earlier version of the programme: Ernesto Vallejo’s Habanera Filipina No. 2, Angel Peña’s Philippine Serenade and Potenciano Gregorio Sr.’s Sarung Banggi giving the concert a much welcomed local flavor. And then it was time for Jeline to be on her own when she performed Niccolò Paganini’s Caprice No. 20 in D major. For most members of the audience, Jeline’s final two pieces were the most highly anticipated of the evening: Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 and Pablo de Sarasate’s Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43. Jeline was going through the Saint-Saëns well until she entered the capriccioso in which her shoulder rest slipped from her violin. But she showed calmness and great presence of mind, and quickly put the shoulder rest back into place without letting panic get in her way. And she was able to recover quickly from this very brief interruption and resumed playing like it never happened at all. But I had to note that it was during these two pieces also when I noticed signs that she was getting tired and weary. It was understandably so because she ended up performing for around two hours which is quite long for a concert that is supposed to be featuring young artists who are still on the rise.

One cannot deny that Jeline has improved tremendously since her Pilipinas Got Talent days. I just wish to see her play pieces that are lighter and fun, featuring less drama and tension, so that she can remind everyone that despite being a music prodigy, she is still a teenager.

Violinist Jeline Oliva opens MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series 2013

September 5, 2013, 7:00 PM

Ayala Museum

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

Featuring:

Maria Jelina Llorin Oliva, violin

Mary Anne Espina, piano

Programme:

Tomaso Vitali Chaconne in G minor

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

Niccolò Paganini Caprice No. 20 in D major

Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 

Pablo de Sarasate Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43

It’s now time for the young ones to shine as the MCO Foundation opens its Young Artists Series 2013 by presenting 16 year violinist Maria Jeline Oliva in a solo concert this September 5, 2013, 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum. Collaborating with Jeline for this concert will be pianist Mary Anne Espina.

Violinist Jeline Oliva

Jeline first burst into the scene by becoming a finalist at the first season of ABS-CBN’s Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010. Now mentored by Manila Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster Gina Medina, Jeline has shown tremendous growth, polish and finesse as a violinist when compared to her PGT days. This growth enabled her to come out as the runaway winner during the 2011 National Music Competitions for Young Artists for Violin Category B. Now, people can see truly how much she has developed in her first ever solo concert.

For this evening, Jeline has prepared Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 Spring, Niccolò Paganini’s Caprice No. 20 in D major, Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor and Pablo de Sarasate Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43. Jeline is only 16 years old and is currently a fourth year high school student but the pieces she will perform for the concert are usually played by much older violinists.

The rest of MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series 2013 will include concerts by tenor Ivan Niccolo Nery on September 18, soprano Myramae Nemeses on October 2 and pianist Matthew Calderon on October 16. All concerts will be held at the Ayala Museum.

Pianist Mary Anne Espina

MCO Foundation Young Artists Series 2013 is made possible through a special partnership with Ayala Museum, together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, BusinessWorld, Lyric Piano and Organ, DZFE.FM 98.7 The Master's Touch, Her Word, Highlife, Development Bank of the Philippines, Sheaffer Fine Pens, National Bookstore and Titania Wine Cellars.  

Ticket prices:

P800

P500

For inquiries:

MCO Secretariat at 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053

COEA 782-7164 or (0918) 347-3027

TicketWorld 891-9999

Classical Champs: The Young Music Idols

Jimmy Tagala Jr., Maria Jeline Oliva
and Gabriel Allan Paguirigan

Featuring:

Maria Jeline Oliva, violin

Jimmy Tagala Jr., violin

Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Alexander Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia

Henryk Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

In a cruel twist of fate and a sense of déjà vu, the weather wreaked havoc once again and I almost didn’t make it to the concert of the 2011 National Music Competitions for Young Artists with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The day before the concert, heavy rains submerged most of Metro Manila especially Roxas Boulevard near the CCP and cast doubt on whether the concert would still take place. Thankfully, the skies cleared and most of the roads became passable already allowing violinists Marie Jeline Oliva and Jimmy Tagala Jr. as well as pianist Gabriel Allan Paguirigan to take center stage and perform their respective concertos with the PPO under the baton of Olivier Ochanine. Yet it was still a monumental task for me to get to the CCP since roads were still impassable in my place but some stroke of luck was on my side and I was still able to make it. Last year, a similar situation made me miss the concert entirely which was quite remarkable considering that the concert actually pushed through despite classes up to the college level being cancelled.

Violinist Maria Jeline Oliva

Considering that there was a possibility that the weather could turn nasty that evening prompting others to stay at home, the concert had a pretty decent number of people watching. The evening started with Alexander Borodin’s In the Steppes of Central Asia, a piece that evokes images of a caravan of Central Asians protected by Russian troops. The sublime themes of this piece were clear to me but I’m not sure if the others in the audience were that attuned. The piece ended quietly with the Russian theme played by the flute which is probably not what the audience expected hence the muted response from them when this piece concluded. I think that they grew too accustomed to lively overtures that usually served as opening pieces to concerts. As I prepared to watch this concert, I made it a point not to expect too high for this considering that the soloists are still very young and not yet professionals. Although the performances didn’t completely blow me away, the three soloists showed a lot of promise and definitely lived to their billing as musicians to watch out in the future.

Pianist Gabriel Allan Paguirigan

Going to the soloists, Jeline Oliva, winner of Violin Category B, played Henryk Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 which is a piece I’m not really familiar with. If this was the same concerto that she performed during the competition, I could no longer remember. She nonetheless has shown tremendous growth compared to the time when she competed as a finalist at Pilipinas Got Talent a few years back. During the NAMCYA concert though, her sound was a bit tentative and weak, and not able to project too well from where I was sitting. I think that the nerves possibly got in the way a bit in her performance. But still, playing a whole concerto with the PPO at the CCP would cause someone with a weaker nerve to succumb to the pressure but Jeline got through it. Piano Category B winner Gabriel Paguirigan’s concerto, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 is a piece already familiar to me. He is still a developing musician and for me, it felt like he let loose during the second and third movements of the concerto. It’s actually hard to resist since the last two movements of the piece consist of a playful scherzo and a fiery tarantella. The final piece, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 is the most familiar of all the pieces performed during this concert. Jimmy Tagala, the winner of Violin Category C, had the enormous task of playing one if not the most popular concerto in the violin repertoire. Being the oldest among the soloists, he showed onstage much finesse along with a healthy dose swagger and sounded tremendously better when I first heard him when he had a masterclass with Ray Chen months ago. At times during the third movement, I felt that he played too fast for my liking and he somehow lost some steam during the finale. But still, a fine showing from a young man who could well join the ranks of esteemed violinists in the country like his mentor Gilopez Kabayao.

Violinist Jimmy Tagala Jr.

The upbeat atmosphere during the meet and greet after the concert made me forget all the difficulty that I had to go through just to watch the performance. Jeline, Gabriel and Jimmy all relished their moment as they signed autographs and posed for photos with the very appreciative audience. I forgot the difficulty and uncertainty that I had to go through just to make it to the concert. And I felt a bit guilty for lowering my expectations coming into the concert. Now it remains to be seen how things will fare for these three if they decide to compete once again at the NAMCYA in the future.

2011 NAMCYA Champions to perform with the PPO

August 2, 2012, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Maria Jeline Oliva, violin

Jimmy Tagala Jr., violin

Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Alexander Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia

Henryk Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

One of the coolest prizes of being a National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) 1st prize winner is being able to perform as the featured soloist at a concert with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Three of the 2011 NAMCYA winners, Jeline Oliva (Violin Category B), Jimmy Tagala (Violin Category C) and Gabriel Paguirigan (Piano Category B) will do just that at the concert Classical Champs: The Young Music Idols when they perform with the PPO conducted by Olivier Ochanine this August 2, 2012, 8:00 PM.at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

I’ve seen these three perform before but never with an orchestra. I've seen Jimmy Tagala and Jeline Oliva compete during the finals of the NAMCYA last year. I also saw Jimmy took a masterclass with Ray Chen a few weeks before he competed. I last saw Gabriel Paguirigan as one of the three recitalists from the Philippine High School for the Arts some months ago. All of their previous performances that I've seen were either solo or chamber performances so it will be very interesting to see and hear them take the spotlight performing their winning concertos in full with an actual orchestra. Jeline performs Henryk Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 while Jimmy performs the popular Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35. Gabriel performs Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22. But before that, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra led by Olivier Ochanine will play Alexander Borodin's In the Steppes of Central Asia.

It’s been about three months since I last saw the PPO perform onstage and it is still more than a month before their concert season resumes. I also missed seeing last year’s concert that featured NAMCYA winners. I just hope that the weather cooperates this year so that I'll have no problems catching this concert.

Ticket prices:

P900

P700

P500

P200

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999