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| Trumpeter Manu Mellaerts and the Manila Symphony Orchestra |
Featuring:
Manu
Mellaerts, trumpet
Manila
Symphony Orchestra
Thanos
Adamopoulos, conductor
Programme:
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart Symphony No.
35 in D major, K. 385 Haffner
Johann
Nepomuk Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E
flat major, S. 49
Franz
Schubert Symphony No. 9 in C major
D. 944 Great
The Color
Your World 2013-2014 Concert Season of the Manila Symphony Orchestra resumed
with the orchestra’s second performance, The
Trumpet Calls at the Santiago Francisco Hall. Along with guest conductor
Thanos Adamopoulos and trumpeter Manu Mellaerts, the orchestra presented a
programme featuring pieces by Mozart, Hummel and Schubert that called to mind
the era when royalty and nobility still were a moving force at the old world.
The
concert started regally with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No.
35 in D major, K. 385. This work is also known as the Haffner Symphony
since Mozart was commissioned to write it by the Haffners, when Sigmund Haffner
was ennobled. In true classical Mozart fashion, the music was energetic, bold
but still retaining that crisp and light quality characteristic of the Classical
era. The same could be said with the following piece which was Johann Nepomuk
Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, S. 49 featuring Manu Mellaerts.
This piece was composed by Hummel for Anton Weidinger, court trumpeter to
Prince Anton Esterhazy which is in keeping with the royal/noble theme of this
concert. Mellaerts delivered a performance fit for a royal court, showcasing
the capabilities of the trumpet going from loud and robust to gentle and
eloquent with such ease. But I’d like to say that the tempo and character of
the trumpet concerto and the previous symphony was almost basically the same.
And for someone who isn’t well versed with the Classical period (or not too
keen with it, like me), it’s hard to distinguish whether a piece was by Mozart
or Hummel or Haydn for that matter even though it’s easy to recognize music
from that era.
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| Thanos Adamopoulos and the Manila Symphony Orchestra |
And
it’s because of my somewhat indifference with the Classical era that got me
thrilled with Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major D. 944 also known
as the Great to distinguish it with the shorter sixth symphony which is also in
C major. This lengthy, noble and serious piece of work from the Romantic period
was published and performed some years after Schubert died and only through the
efforts of Robert Schumann. Sadly, at that time, this symphony was slow to gain
acceptance and acclaim. But now, it is regarded as Schubert’s finest orchestral
work. Knowing the story behind the music made me appreciate the MSO’s
performance a lot better. Thanos Adamopoulos wielded his baton and brought out
from the orchestra not just the energy and vitality of the music but
also the greatness that Schumann heard in this piece as well. Despite its length, I enjoyed the Great a lot more than the Haffner. But then again, I prefer Romantic pieces compared to Classical ones.
Sadly,
it was during this concert when I started to lament the unavailability of the
Philam Life Auditorium which was the MSO’s regular performance venue for the
past few years. The acoustics of the Santiago Francisco Hall leaves a lot to be
desired and the MSO didn’t sound as brilliant compared to their last performance at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
It’s such a pity that the MSO will have to bear with this venue for the rest of
its season since they deserve a much better sounding venue that can give justice to their sound.
This
concert by the Manila Symphony Orchestra was presented in cooperation with the
Embassy of Belgium. And present during this night was Belgian Ambassador
Christian Meerschman and Mrs. Greta Meerschman.
The
Color Your World 2013-2014 Concert Season continues with Spectacle featuring
violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. happening this August 10, 2013 at the Santiago Francisco Hall at the BDO
Complex.
