Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. headlines PPO concert "Fantasy"

Violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's Artist-in-Residence and current Concertmaster has been impressing audiences with his featured solos in Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), Op. 40 and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 during the last couple of season concerts of the PPO.

Saraza Jr. was originally scheduled to close out the PPO's 40th concert season in April but it seems that the previous season still has a hold on the current one as there has been a switch with him now being the featured soloist for the upcoming concert, billed as Fantasy, happening on December 6, 2024, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Diomedes Saraza, Jr.

While the rest of the program remains unchanged, with Maestro Grzegorz Nowak leading the orchestra with Giochano Rossini's William Tell Overture and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, the concerto with Saraza Jr. will now be Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47.

Previously scheduled soloist, violinist Andrea Obiso will now close out the season while Saraza Jr. is still slated to perform Dmitri Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 in a special concert outside of the season.

What is more remarkable is that just a day before, on December 5, 2024, 4:30 PM, Saraza Jr. joins pianist Victor Asuncion and cellist John Henry Crawford in a performance of Brahms and Mendelssohn Piano Trios at the Corazon Aquino Hall at St. Scholastica's College, Manila.

Reprinted below is the press release for the upcoming PPO season concert.

PPO's Concert III: Fantasy explores depths of human emotions

Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr takes music lovers on a journey of imagination with the third installment of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO)’s 40th concert season, slated on December 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

With his 1972 French violin by Eugene Guinot and Rene Morel (given by Standard Insurance), Saraza Jr. will captivate with his exceptional skill and artistry on the violin as he effortlessly meets the virtuosic demands of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto op.47, D minor.

One of the most challenging in the repertoire in the classic music scene, Sibelius concerto premiered in 1904, with violin teacher Victor Novàček as soloist. With lukewarm reception during its premiere, Sibelius rewrote the concerto in 1905, with Berlin concertmaster Karl Halir playing the revised piece.

Music history has revealed that the concerto was initially created for violinist Willy Burmester, who was then the concertmaster in Helsingfors. After Sibelius passed him over during its two premieres, Burmester never touched the work for the rest of his life.

For the PPO Concert III, Saraza will be performing with the PPO and taking the audiences on a profound journey through the emotional spectrum of life, under the baton of acclaimed music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Currently the PPO’s guest concertmaster and artist-in-residence, Saraza received both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in music from The Juilliard School as a full tuition scholar. He studied under the tutelage of Juilliard's Dean Emeritus-violinist Stephen Clapp, American violinist-pedagogue Lewis Kaplan, and Taiwanese-American violinist Joseph Lin (the first violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet from 2011 to 2018).

He also finished his master’s in musical arts from Yale University, under Prof. Hyo Kang. During his time in Yale, Saraza was awarded the Brodus Erle Prize 2016 for best violinist of the school year and the Alumni Association Prize 2017 for important community initiatives that he led.

Since winning the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in the Philippines in 2002 at age 12, Saraza has been performing and giving solo recitals both in the Philippines and abroad. He has won international competitions, including New York’s Friday-Woodmere Young Artist Competition and Associated Music Teacher’s League Competition.

He has performed solo internationally with the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, as well as locally with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the PPO. He has collaborated as soloist with prominent conductors, namely Darrell Ang, Olivier Ochanine, David Bernard, Gerard Salonga, Yoshikazu Fukumura, Joshua Kangmin Tan, and Haoran Li.

Saraza served as concertmaster of MSO and Yale Philharmonia, as well as an associate and assistant concertmaster of The Juilliard Orchestra and Juilliard Lab Orchestra. He was also an educator at St. Scholastica’s College Manila and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra.

Saraza has finished his USA recital tour and album recording with Music Foundation founder and Steinway artist Victor Asuncion.

Completing the program for the Concert III: Fantasy, the PPO will perform Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 5, op. 64, E minor.

Premiered in Paris on August 3, 1829, the William Tell Overture is part of Gioachino Rossini’s opera Guillaume Tell, which was adapted from Friedrich Schiller’s 1804 drama inspired by the legendary 14th-century Swiss patriot William Tell. In pop culture, this piece is best known for its thrilling final three minutes, which became iconic as the theme music for The Lone Ranger, the masked avenger of the Wild West.

Meanwhile, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, is often interpreted as a reflection of the composer’s personal struggles and doubts. First performed in 1888, with Tchaikovsky conducting, the symphony is known for its sweeping melodies, dramatic contrasts, and rich orchestration. Over the years, this masterpiece has remained a favorite in concert halls.

The PPO Concert III: Fantasy is scheduled for December 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Secure your seats at the CCP Box Office at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez and/or via TicketWorld. For inquiries, call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880 or email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph.