Special Concert Series III: Raymond De Leon

Trumpeter Raymond de Leon

Featuring:

Raymond de Leon, trumpet

Raul Sunico, piano

Programme:

Oskar Böhme Trumpet Concerto in F minor, Op. 18

Jean-Baptiste Arban Variations on a Theme from Bellini’s Norma

Jeno Hubay Scènes de la Csárda No.4 Hejre Kati, Op.32

Vladimir Peskin Trumpet Concerto No. 1 in C minor

Camille Saint-Saëns Le Cyne 

Vittorio Monti Csárdás

US based trumpeter Raymond de Leon’s guest stint during the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert performing Arutiunian’s trumpet concerto back in December 2012 made such a splash that a solo concert featuring him seemed inevitable. Important family matters led to the postponement of the concert, but after a lengthy delay, Raymond’s concert did finally happen at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

Raymond de Leon, accompanied by pianist Raul Sunico, prepared a mix of unfamiliar and rarely played trumpet concertos that included Oskar Böhme’s Trumpet Concerto in F minor, Op. 18 and Vladimir Peskin’s Trumpet Concerto No. 1 in C minor, and some transcriptions for the trumpet like Jean-Baptiste Arban’s Variations on a Theme from Bellini’s Norma and Jeno Hubay Scènes de la Csárda No.4 Hejre Kati, Op.32, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le Cyne and Vittorio Monti’s Csárdás.

The couple of trumpet concertos he performed expanded my horizons as I only know Hummel, Haydn and the Arutiunian that he did before. There were a handful of times while listening to the piano parts when I wondered how the actual orchestration would’ve sounded in these pieces. It also made me note that I couldn’t recall ever hearing a trumpet sonata before. The trumpet transcriptions of the popular tunes Saint-Saëns’ Le Cyne and Monti’s Csárdás gave me more insight on the timbre, range, scope and limitations of the trumpet. The trumpet has a penetrating sound but Raymond was able to make it sound so tender during his two encores which was Sa Ugoy ng Duyan by Lucio San Pedro and the Canadian Brass arrangement of Amazing Grace.

One thing that I noticed throughout the concert was that he was gasping for breath through his mouth. The quick gasps, especially in between the tricky phrases, were audible even from where I was seated inside the Little Theater. A possible explanation came to light after the show during the meet and greet. Seeing Raymond up close made me notice his reddened nose which made me suspect that he could’ve been suffering from a nasty cold. I could only imagine how difficult it was for him to get through the whole concert where breathing is so essential. And for that, Raymond deserves and extra pat on the back for a job well done.

US based trumpeter Raymond de Leon performs at CCP’s Special Concert Series

Trumpeter Raymond de Leon

January 29, 2014, 7:30 PM Performance

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

January 30-31, 2014, 1:30 & 3:30 PM Workshop/Masterclass

Silangan Hall

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Raymond de Leon, trumpet

Raul Sunico, piano

Programme:

Oskar Böhme Trumpet Concerto in F minor, Op. 18

Jean-Baptiste Arban Variations on a Theme from Bellini’s Norma

Jeno Hubay Scènes de la Csárda No.4 Hejre Kati, Op.32

Vladimir Peskin Trumpet Concerto No. 1 in C minor

Camille Saint-Saëns Le Cyne 

Vittorio Monti Csárdás

Award winning trumpet player Raymond de Leon had a successful performance as the featured guest of the PPO during their De Leon and Arutiunian concert back in 2012. De Leon now returns for a solo concert this time, as one of the featured artists of the CCP Special Concert Series. The concert, originally scheduled for last September 2013, will now happen on January 29, 2014, 7:30 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

De Leon will be performing Oskar Böhme’s Trumpet Concerto in F minor, Op. 18, Jean-Baptiste Arban’s Variations on a Theme from Bellini’s Norma, Jeno Hubay’s Scènes de la Csárda No.4 Hejre Kati, Op.32, Vladimir Peskin’s Trumpet Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Le Cyne , and Vittorio Monti’s Csárdás. Accompanying him in this concert is pianist Raul Sunico.

After the concert, on January 30 and 31, Raymond will give a trumpet masterclass at 1:30 PM and workshop at 3:30 PM at the CCP’s Silangan Hall. Participants are requested to come and bring their trumpets for the trumpet choir.

A three-time first prize winner of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), Raymond was a semi-finalist in the 1st Calvia International Trumpet Competition in Mallorca, Spain in 2003. He won Third Prize in the International Trumpet Guild Solo Trumpet Competition in New Jersey in 2006 and won First Prize in the Seattle Philharmonic Don Bushell Concerto Competition in 2011. This led to his debut with the Seattle Philharmonic on March 2012, playing the Arutiunian Trumpet Concerto. Raymond has performed and toured in Europe, U.S.A., and Asia with international orchestra players and competed in international music competitions.

He studied at the University of Santo Tomas where he became a recipient of the Benavidez Award, twice, for International Excellence in Music. He also worked as a recording artist with Global Recording Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Gerard Salonga.

He served and performed as a soloist in the U.S. Army with the 56th Army Band stationed at Joint Base Lewis - McChord in Washington. Raymond’s successful stint with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performing the Arutiunian trumpet concerto as soloist of the fourth PPO season concert in December 2012 drew raves from the audience and critics.

Ticket prices:

P800 Orchestra Center

P600 Orchestra Side

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For performance inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999

For workshop inquiries:

CCP Artist Training Division 832-1125 local 1604/1605, ccp.artist.training@gmail.com

PPO I: Opening Night: Guzman & The Pathétique

Flutist Viviana Guzman

Featuring:

Viviana Guzman, flute

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Paul Dukas Fanfare from La Péri

Franz Liszt Les Préludes

Antonio Vivaldi  Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428  Il Gardellino

Viviana Guzman Flutes of the World

Vittorio Monti Czardas

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s 31st season, dubbed as Classic Blend, formally opened with a concert held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). The concert, billed as Opening Night: Guzman & The Pathétique featured a nice blend of music performed by the orchestra led by its music director and principal conductor Olivier Ochanine and various flutes as well courtesy of the evening’s guest artist Viviana Guzman.

The concert started with Paul Dukas’ Fanfare from La Péri, which is a one act ballet. This piece only featured the brass section which had me a bit nervous considering how spotty this section had been in previous performances. But in a pleasant surprise, they managed to get through this short piece quite well. The PPO then performed Franz Liszt’s Les Préludes, a piece that I’ve heard twice before but then forgotten soon after. I fear that the PPO’s performance of this piece would be relegated to that department as well. I think that I’ve yet to figure out how to appreciate Liszt’s symphonic poems a lot more. And it didn’t help that around this time, I was already looking forward for Viviana Guzman to come on stage and finally perform.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

Viviana started with the Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428, Il Gardellino by Antonio Vivaldi. I am not usually too keen on Vivaldi’s music (or Baroque music for that matter) but having an actual harpsichord for this performance had me glued throughout the performance. It was nice hearing the duets between the flute and solo strings which was done delicately.

It was during the Flutes of the World section when things got really interesting. In this portion, Viviana introduced various flutes (Native American Indian flute, Swiss Gemshorn, Hungarian Fuvola, Chinese Ditzi, Chilean Zampona, Irish Tin Whistle and the Philippine Nose Flute) that she has acquired through her numerous travels and played short pieces with them while being accompanied by members of the PPO’s percussion section. Her winning personality shone through and by the end of this section, she already had the audience at the palm of her hand. This bode very well for her last piece, Vittorio Monti’s Czardas which was the showcase that everybody was waiting for. But the audience couldn’t get enough of her so she had to perform two encores. First was the short tango Milonga de Mis Amores by Pedro Laurenz. And her second encore that brought down the house was the third movement of Three Beats for Beatbox Flute by Greg Pattillo. Like what the title said, Viviana did some beatboxing while playing the flute. It still amazes me up to this day to think about the range and variety of her repertoire, from Vivaldi to beatboxing, that she presented during the concert.

Olivier Ochanine, Viviana Guzman and Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga

The second half of the concert consisted of the hauntingly beautiful Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A highly personal work for Tchaikovsky, this symphony is more somber in mood, often exploring the depths of despair mirroring the torment that the composer has endured in his life. He titled this piece a Program Symphony but never wrote whatever this program was and took it with him in his grave. This piece also had an unusual quiet ending. One might think that the triumphant march of the third movement sounded like the more proper finale but Tchaikovsky thought otherwise. Adding more to the mystery surrounding this piece was Tchaikovsky’s death just a few weeks after this premiered. One suggested that this symphony was actually his suicide note and that his cause of death was not cholera but by poisoning himself. Even without these stories surrounding the piece, the symphony is still a masterpiece despite not being immediately acclaimed during Tchaikovsky’s time. There had been attempts to play this symphony with the last two movements flipped so that it would have the typical climactic end. I am so pleased that Olivier Ochanine and the PPO stuck with the original order which is essential in retaining the character of the work. 

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra goes Out of the Box for 2013-2014 season

Offering more than just the classics, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra goes Out of the Box for their upcoming 2013-2014 Concert Season. In addition to their subscription concerts held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the PPO, led by music director and principal conductor Olivier Ochanine, brings the orchestra to the Rizal Park for a series of free youth/family oriented concerts.

For the Out of the Box concert series to be held at the Rizal Park, the PPO will collaborate with the University of the Philippines, Manila in November for an Andres Bonifacio themed concert which is in line with the hero’s 150^th birth anniversary. Come December, a Christmas concert will be presented alongside the University of Santo Tomas. A nature themed concert will be coming this January in collaboration with the Far Eastern University. Expect the tamaraw to be featured prominently in this concert. And finally in February, the concert in collaboration with the Ateneo de Manila University will focus on love. I am still not sure if the Out of the Box concerts’ programmes will be announced or if these performances will contain some elements of surprise.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

The Out of the Box concert series sounds interesting and worth checking out but what I am really looking forward to are the performances for the orchestra’s subscription concert season. During the press conference held at the CCP Main Theater Lobby, Olivier Ochanine said that people’s requests factored in a lot for the programming of this season which is the orchestra’s 31st. He revealed that the most requested piece is Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons which will be performed by the orchestra in January. There will be two violin soloists for this performance, PPO Assistant Concertmaster Joanne Ruth Livioco and her brother, Jonathan David Livioco, Concertmaster of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. Other popular pieces that will be part of this season are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique, Manuel De Falla’s El sombrero de tres picos, Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54, Johannes Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 and Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30. This season will also introduce to the Philippines several pieces that have never been played in the country before. One of these will be the world premiere of the winning piece of the 2013 PPO Composition Competition happening at the closing concert of the season this April.

Bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza

Guest artists for this season include Chilean flutist Viviana Guzman, Israeli pianist Yossi Reshef, Chinese cellist Ray Wang, American violinist Roger Wilkie and Chinese oboist Wanchen Hsieh. Guest conductors for this season are the returning Yoshikazu Fukumura from Japan, former PPO music director and principal conductor Eugene Castillo and Apo Hsu from Taiwan.

The November concert is the one that I’ll be looking forward to the most this season. Not just because it will feature a piano concerto, but the event will also be in partnership with the Embassy of Israel.

The FEU Bamboo Band

The press conference also featured a few performances. Olivier Ochanine with the flute was joined by pianist Lourdes Gregorio in performing Cécile Chaminade’s Flute Concertino in D major, Op. 107. They were followed by bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza who performed Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan by George Canseco. Finally, the FEU Bamboo Band entertained those who were present with an energetic performance of Magtanim ay ‘Di Biro, Leron Leron Sinta and Eye Level.

Here is what is in store for everybody at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2013-2014 Concert Season.

September 6, 2013

Opening Night: Guzman & The Pathétique

Featuring:

Viviana Guzman, flute

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Paul Dukas Fanfare from La Péri

Franz Liszt Les Préludes

Antonio Vivaldi  Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428  Il Gardellino

Vittorio Monti Czardas

Viviana Guzman Flutes of the World

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique

October 11, 2013

Mostly Filipino

Featuring:

Herminigildo Ranera, conductor

Programme:

Angel Peña Philippine Festival Overture

Alfredo Buenaventura

     Manik Buangsi and Tuan Putli Symphonic Poem

Lucio San Pedro Suite Pastorale

Darius Milhaud La création du monde, Op. 81a

Antonín Dvořák Slavonic Dances, Op. 46

November 14, 2013

Reshef Plays Schumann

Featuring:

Yossi Reshef, piano

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Robert Schumann

     Overture from Manfred, Op. 115

     Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Richard Wagner

     Overture from Rienzi

     Overture from Der fliegende Holländer

Giuseppe Verdi Overture from La Forza del Destino

December 13, 2013

Fukumura, Wang & Saint-Saëns

Featuring:

Ray Wang, cello

Yoshikazu Fukumura, conductor

Programme:

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

Camille Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33

Manuel De Falla El sombrero de tres picos

January 17, 2014

The Four Seasons

Featuring:

Joanna Ruth Livioco, violin

Jonathan David Livioco, violin

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Antonio Vivaldi Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons)

                      Concerto No. 1 in E major, Op. 8, RV 269, La primavera (Spring)

                      Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, L'estate (Summer)

                      Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, L'autunno (Autumn)

                      Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, L'inverno (Winter)

Carl Nielsen Symphony No. 2 Op. 16, FS 29 The Four Temperaments

February 21, 2014

Romantic Brahms

Featuring:

Roger Wilkie, violin

Eugene Castillo, conductor

Programme:

Gerald Finzi Fall of the Leaf, elegy for orchestra in D minor, Op 20

Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82

Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

March 14, 2014

Hsu, Hsieh & Prokofiev 5

Featuring:

Wanchen Hsieh, oboe

Apo Hsu, conductor

Programme:

Carolyn Yarnell Yosemite and the Range of Light

Bohuslav Martinů Concerto for Oboe and Small Orchestra, H. 353

Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 in B flat major Op. 100

April 11, 2014

Symphonic Film Music Extravaganza

Featuring:

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Premiere of 2013 PPO Composition Competition winner

Various Classical works made popular in film scores

Richard Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30

All concerts fall on a Friday with the exception of the November 14, 2013 concert which be on a Thursday. The concerts on January 17, 2014 and February 21, 2014 will be held at the Meralco Theater. The rest of the concerts will be held at the CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.

I noticed that there was an increase in ticket prices for this season which could put off some concertgoers from watching. But there’s still the usual discount given to students, senior citizens, government employees, military personnel and persons with disabilities. Subscription packages for four (4) or eight (8) shows are also available.

Chilean flutist Viviana Guzman spices up PPO’s 31^st Season opening concert

Flutist Viviana Guzman

September 6, 2013, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Viviana Guzman, flute

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Paul Dukas Fanfare from La Péri

Franz Liszt Les Préludes

Antonio Vivaldi  Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428  Il Gardellino

Vittorio Monti Czardas

Viviana Guzman Flutes of the World

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra led by music director and principal conductor Olivier Ochanine opens its 31^st Concert Season in a concert entitled Opening Night: Guzman & The Pathétique this September 6, 2013, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.

Chilean flutist Viviana Guzman will be the featured guest of the night. She will be performing Antonio Vivaldi’s  Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 10, No. 3, RV 428  Il Gardellino and Vittorio Monti Czardas. An improvisational piece, entitled Flutes of the World will have Guzman performing with the PPO percussion section.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

According to her biography, Guzman is described by the New York Times as "an imaginative artist," She began her musical training at the age of 5 and won her first competition at seven. By the age of 15, she played as a soloist with orchestra, studied with Jean-Pierre Rampal, and was featured on a John Denver nationally televised NBC special. Guzmán studied with Albert Tipton, master classes with James Galway and graduated from the Juilliard School. Performing over 80 concerts a year, she has been seen on the cover of Latina Style Magazine, and in COSMOPOLITAN en Español, and has played in 118 countries. Her music video was aired on UNIVISION in 30 countries.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

Other pieces to be performed during this evening will be Paul Dukas’ Fanfare from La Péri, Franz Liszt’s Les Préludes and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s last work that premiered in his lifetime, Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique.

Ticket prices:

P1500 Orchestra Center

P1200 Orchestra Side

P800 Extreme Orchestra Side

P500 Balcony I Center

P400 Balcony I Side

P300 Balcony II

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Marketing Department 832-1125 local 1806

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999