Marlon Chen, invigorated MSO deliver solid season ender; Victor Asuncion dazzles

Conductor Marlon Chen and the Manila Symphony Orchestra

Brimming with youthful energy, the Manila Symphony Orchestra put on an inspired performance in their season ending Titan of a concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Diomedes Saraza Jr.and Marlon Chen
(disappointed that I failed to take one of
Victor Asuncion)

The promise of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra members, the debut of new concertmaster Diomedes Saraza, Jr., the breezy and playful Ravel by pianist Victor Asuncion, and the solid weaving of Mahler’s Titan by guest conductor Marlon Chen all contributed to the euphoric feeling of ending a season on a high.

Victor Asuncion was in his element with Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, cruising and oozing in the jazzy twists and turns. He dazzled with the rarely heard Rippling Water by Jose Rodis for his encore. I could’ve been easily overwhelmed having to sit through yet another piano concerto, my 6^th in less than two weeks, but Asuncion’s breezy Ravel was very pleasing and a great way to cap my January that I’ve referred to as a piano concerto overload.

Marlon Chen deftly handled the main offering for that evening, Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Titan’. He was able to form shapes and arcs within the movements and also with the entire symphony making the work very palatable despite its considerable length. Despite the symphony clocking at almost an hour, the actual performance didn’t feel that long. I just wished that the horns had more conviction especially during the finale. But overall, it was a very solid performance by the MSO.

Commendable also was how members of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra carried themselves as they fortified the ranks of the MSO in this concert. In previous performances, the young ones joining the orchestra had a nervous air surrounding them as if they were thrust prematurely into the battle field. But now, armed with competition experience, numerous performances back in 2018, and of course, new concertmaster Diomedes Saraza, Jr., these young musicians exuded confidence and held their own alongside the MSO.

2019 has brought change to the Manila Symphony Orchestra, but with a confident outing to start the year, they head towards their next season with a sense of renewed vigor and interest.

Pianist Victor Asuncion, conductor Marlon Chen join Manila Symphony Orchestra’s season ender.

The Manila Symphony Orchestra bring on The Titan at their season finale concert on January 30, 2019, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo).

Joining the MSO in this concert are pianist Victor Asuncion and conductor Marlon Chen. The season finale concert will also mark the debut of Diomedes Saraza,Jr. as the MSO's new concertmaster. Members of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra will also fortify the orchestra's ranks on this night.

Pianist Victor Asuncion

Victor Asuncion has been hailed by The Washington Post for his “poised and imaginative playing.” He has appeared in concert halls in Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Spain, Turkey and the USA, as a recitalist and concerto soloist.

Conductor Marlon Chen

Marlon Chen on the other hand is considered one of the most versatile and dynamic conductors of his generation, he is equally at home conducting opera, ballet, and the symphonic repertoire

The music lined up for this concert are Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, M. 83 with Victor Asuncion as the featured soloist and will be followed by Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Titan’ capping MSO’s Year of the Titans season.

MSO III: Music by the Russian Masters

Victor Asuncion with the Manila Symphony Orchestra

Featuring:

Victor Asuncion, piano

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op. 32

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34

Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70

This concert of the Manila Symphony Orchestra that featured the music of Russian composers was yet another one of the numerous events that got postponed because of the horrible weather that plagued Metro Manila and nearby areas for two weeks. What was supposed to be a two night performance not only got pushed back a week later but it was also reduced into a one night only event. Fortunately, the guest pianist for this concert, Victor Asuncion still hasn’t flown back to the US and was still able to perform at the rescheduled date held at the Santiago Francisco Hall. And most importantly, my schedule allowed me to catch this can’t miss performance featuring the music by some of my favorite Russian composers.

The hellish situation that a lot experienced the week before was very apt for the opening piece of the night which was Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op. 32 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. This piece told the tragic tale of Francesca and Paolo who got condemned to the Second Circle in Hell due to their love affair. I found it amazing how recent events could change how I would react to a certain performance. A prime example of that were the whirling passages that were supposed to signify the souls tormented and trapped in this portion of hell. But all the while throughout the performance, I’ve thought of the recent bad weather instead. I am pretty sure that if the concert happened as previously scheduled with the weather being a lot more pleasant, I would’ve thought more of the story of Francesca and her lover Paolo.

Pianist Victor Asuncion

Thankfully, I was more focused when it was time for Victor Asuncion to perform one of the most anticipated pieces for the night: Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34. I was very pleased to see Victor play a very elegant rendition of this piece. He avoided unnecessary displays of flamboyance and pomposity in the difficult passages which some people could equate to a display of virtuosity. He also didn’t succumb to over dramatizing that could weigh down in sentimentality the very popular Variation 18. Overall, it was a very effortless, refined and again, very elegant rendition of this Rachmaninoff staple. As an encore, he and the orchestra performed a repeat of Variation 18.

The last piece of the night was Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70 and this was when I really got to focus on the orchestra and conductor Arturo Molina. In direct contrast to the Tchaikovsky piece where my knowledge regarding the piece was rendered moot due to my mind wandering elsewhere, my fascination with Shostakovich, his works and the story behind them served me very well during the performance. I am not sure if I was the only one smiling when the piccolo started playing during the first movement knowing that this section defied any notion that this particular ninth symphony would be as grand as the other similarly numbered symphonies by other composers. I never felt this level of satisfaction while watching an orchestra perform knowing that I’ve devoted many hours learning about Shostakovich, his works and Russian history as well. The notes that were played by the MSO during the performance didn’t come off as just notes for me but rather more. I felt and imagined how things were back then, when Shostakovich’s works could possibly lead to his doom at the hands of Stalin if he weren't pleased with them. And I thank the MSO for giving me the opportunity to listen to Shostakovich who is right there on top of my favorite composers.

The orchestra also gave another encore and in keeping with the Russian theme, they played the crowd pleaser Sabre Dance from Gayane by Aram Khachaturian. While he is considered Armenian as opposed to Russian, he was still part of the trio of Soviet titan composers alongside Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich. Thus, this concert ended a very tiring week not just for me, but for many others who were still recovering from the previous weeks. I am just glad that music performances are always there to give me that extra energy and the drive to deal with the rough road ahead.

Pianist Victor Asuncion and the Manila Symphony Orchestra to perform all Russian programme

BREAKING NEWS: In light of the current weather situation, the MSO is postponing the concert to August 18, 2012, 8:00 PM, at the Francisco Santiago Hall at the BDO Corporate Center in Makati. Tickets purchased for both August 10-11, 2012 will be honored on the 18th.

August 10, 2012, 8:00 PM Postponed

Francisco Santiago Hall

South Tower, BDO Corporate Center

Makati

August 11, 2012, 8:00 PM Postponed
Philamlife Auditorium
UN Avenue, Manila

Featuring:

Victor Asuncion, piano

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op. 32

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34

Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70

Russia (include also their Soviet era) is a country renowned for their music, literature and their vast contribution to the art and culture scene worldwide. For two nights (August 10-11, 2012), music by Russian masters Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky will be celebrated by the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Prof. Arturo Molina for their next concert of their 2012 season. The August 10, 2012 concert will be at the Santiago Francisco Hall at the BDO Corporate Center while the August 11, 2012 performance will be at the Philam Life Auditorium. Both performances start at 8:00 PM.

Joining them is US based pianist Victor Asuncion who will be the featured soloist for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34 that includes the very popular Variation 18. Other pieces to be played in this concert are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op.32 and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70. I admit that I don’t much about Victor Asuncion although I’ve heard most of my pianist friends talk about him a lot especially when I told them about his upcoming performance here.

Pianist Victor Asuncion

According to the bio sent to me by the MSO that came from his website, Victor Asuncion is hailed by the Washington Post for his “poised and imaginative playing,” he is also “recognized as a pianist of innate musical sensitivity, fiery temperament, and superb technique”. He has already worked with conductors including Sergio Esmilla, Enrique Batiz, Zev Dorman, Arthur Weisberg, Corrick Brown, David Loebel, Leon Fleisher, Michael Stern, Jordan Tang, and Bobby McFerrin. As a chamber musician, he has worked with artists such as Lynn Harrell, Zuill Bailey, Andres Diaz, Antonio Meneses, Cho-Liang Lin, James Dunham, Ronald Leonard, Susanne Mentzer, H.K. Gruber, John O’Connor, Marc Neikrug, Liang Wang, Ensemble Sao Paolo, and the Vega and Emerson String quartets at venues that include the Phillips Collection, the Corcoran Gallery, 92^nd Street Y, Benaroya, Merkin, Spivey and Shriver Concert Halls, and the Santa Fe, Aspen, Madison, Virtuosi, Pera, and Amelia Island Music Festivals. He is currently an associate professor of piano, and Director of Collaborative Arts Studies at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis.  He received his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in 2007 from the University of Maryland at College Park.  His principal teachers include Rosario Picazo, Avelina Manalo, Roberta Rust, and Rita Sloan.

This list is indeed impressive so don't blame me if I'll be having high expectations coming into the concert. Close friends know that I've always admired great works of literature by Russian authors like Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago. This also contributed a lot to my affinity with Russian music. That's why, this upcoming concert by the MSO is a must see for me.

Ticket prices:

August 10, 2012

P1,000 Orchestra

P800 Balcony

August 11, 2012

P1000 Orchestra

P800 Orchestra Side

P600 Loge

For inquiries:

523-5712

sales@manilasymphony.com