Rach 2 opens PPO’s 32nd Concert Season

Pianist Albert Tiu

September 12, 2014, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Sergei Rachmaninoff Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op. 35

Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

The popular Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 lead an all Russian lineup at the opening concert of the PPO’s 32^nd concert season dubbed as Sound Kaleidoscopes happening this September 12, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Singapore based pianist Albert Tiu is the guest soloist for this concert to be conducted by Olivier Ochanine, the orchestra’s principal conductor and music director.

In an e-mail interview, I was able to ask pianist Albert Tiu a few questions about Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ever popular Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18.

RAd: Rach 2 is regarded as one of the most popular piano concertos out there. What is it about this concerto that made it very popular and the favorite among many people.

Albert Tiu: Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto, or Rach 2, is extremely popular with everyone from musicians to music lovers to people who may not normally like classical music, because of its beautiful melodies and lush harmonies. Every moment in this concerto is absolutely appealing and easy to listen to, and every passage is pianistically fulfilling and well-written.

RAd: There's a fascinating story on how Rach 2 was composed right after Rachmaninoff suffered from a nervous breakdown. How on earth do you think he was able to compose this beauty after being in such a rut?

Albert Tiu: The dedicatee of the Concerto is Dr. Nikolai Dahl, the physician who used hypnotherapy to cure Rachmaninov of his depression. Even the best artists go through low points, so a little encouragement on self-belief obviously did wonders for Rachmaninov.

RAd: The first two movements of the concerto has the pianist playing almost a subordinate, accompanying role to the orchestra. How would you approach these two movements when you go on stage to play this concerto?

Albert Tiu: It is a fallacy to think of the soloist as being the focus of the concerto the whole time. A concerto is just a larger version of a chamber work, with a high concentration of the work on the soloist, whatever the instrument. And in chamber music, the parts are intertwined and seamlessly interchanged from instrument to instrument, much like a conversation between people.

In the first movement, after the introductory chords, the piano proceeds to accompany the orchestra with arpeggios, as if to give the pianist a chance to warm up. The piano assumes various roles - play the solo part in the 2^nd theme, provide filigree passages, and play a counter-melody to the main theme in the big return. Eventually, the piano does take over the melody. The same thing happens in the 2^nd movement. All these are a testament to Rachmaninov's creative prowess, because the way he transforms the way the thematic material is presented is clever, instead of just a simple copy and paste.

I hope that this information about Rach 2, courtesy of Albert Tiu will make for a more rewarding viewing and listening experience come PPO’s Opening Night: Tiu Plays Rach 2. The concert will also include Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Op. 35 and Rachmaninoff’s orchestration of his Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14.

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