Orchestra of the Filipino Youth to perform in 10th anniversary concert

The National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), in celebration of its 49th Anniversary, presents the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth in a special 10th anniversary concert on October 8, 2022, 5:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).

Billed as OFY X: Celebrating 10 Years of Music, this concert is the orchestra's first live performance since the pandemic.

Conducted by Gerard Salonga, the OFY will perform Mikhail Glinka's Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, Antonino Buenaventura's Mindanao Sketches, Lucio San Pedro's Lahing Kayumanggi, and Ryan Cayabyab's Tsismis.

The Orchestra of the Filipino Youth is a non-profit organization founded in 2012, institutionally funded by First Philippine Holdings and First Gen Corporation. Its program structure is inspired by El Sistema, which originated in Venezuela as an alternative after school activity to help at-risk children and to spark social change through music. OFY supports the musically talented, less privileged youth, and provides programs that focus on orchestral training and instrument support. It has performed in local and international venues and events. Currently, OFY is led by Gerard Salonga, Ang Misyon’s Music Director and Chief Conductor of Orchestras.

Roi Aldric Trawon

OFY gave me an opportunity to develop as a leader by challenging me to step up when the conductor is not present the organization as a whole also motivated me to see music education as a vehicle for social change.

-Roi Aldric Trawon, OFY Concertmaster 2012-2015

Admission to the concert is for free but tickets have already been committed. Additional tickets may be released to the public if ticket holders do not come.

Pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria shines in Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky concertos

My apologies if updates with the blog had been extremely scarce of late. People might’ve started to think that there hadn’t been any classical music concerts in here during the past few months. But there had been quite a number in fact, and September is geared to be extremely busy with at least six concerts that I know of.

Just recently, I witnessed the performance of veteran pianist Ingrid Sala Santamaria with the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Professor Arturo Molina. This concert held at the Meralco Theater was in line with the 5^th anniversary celebrations of the First Pacific Leadership Academy.

Sala Santamaria showcased her mastery in pacing oneself as she tackled two of the most popular piano concertos ever: Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23. Performing just one of the two is already taxing for a pianist and for her to do both in a single concert defies belief.

It was forgivable that both concertos were played in a more leisurely, relaxed manner than usual although I admit that there had been times when I wanted her to quicken the tempo as some portions dragged on. I thought that she appeared running out of gas towards the end of the Tchaikovsky but she showed that she still had it in her with her delightful encore of the final movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25, a light, cheerful change from the heavy and brooding Rach and Tchaik.

While Sala Santamaria may no longer possess much of the speed and power of her peak years, she still exhibited sensitivity, musicality, finesse, and majesty. It helps also that she has a regal presence that hasn't diminished at all in time.

Prior to each concerto, conductor Molina led the MSO to a rousing rendition of Mikhail Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96.

It pleases me to point out that not only was the Meralco Theater filled to capacity, there was a diverse audience who were present ranging from Imelda Marcos, the regulars at the symphony, dozens of students, and surprisingly, even Gilas Pilipinas, the national basketball team that bagged the gold medal at the recent South East Asian Games.

Those who have missed this concert have other chances to see Ingrid Sala Santamaria as she performs Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83 with the MSO once again to be conducted by Christoph Poppen this October 14, 2017 at the BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. On March 16, 2018, she partners with Raul Sunico in Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in A flat major with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Manila Symphony Orchestra's concerto overload in Konzertfest

August 19, 2014, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Sara Maria Gonzales, violin

Christian Tan, violin

Antoni Josef Inacay, cello

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Mikhail Glinka Overture from Ruslan and Lyudmila

Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26

Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Violinist Sara Maria Gonzales

The Manila Symphony Orchestra offers a night of concertos with Konzertfest, the third concert for their current season dubbed as The Sound of Life. MSO members, violinists Sara Maria Gonzales and Christian Tan, along with cellist Antoni Josef Inacay take on greater roles as soloists for this concert happening on August 19, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

Violinist Christian Tan

Cellist Anjo Inacay

Conducted by Arturo Molina, the MSO will kick off the concert with the explosive Overture from Ruslan and Lyudmila by Mikhail Glinka. And then it’s on to the concertos with Associate ConcertmasterSara Maria Gonzales tackling the very romantic Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26. Assistant Concertmaster Christian Tan will take on Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. Both concertos are regarded as among the most important pieces for the violin. Principal cellist Antoni Josef Inacay will serve as the soloist for Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 which is the composer’s closest attempt in composing an actual cello concerto.

Conductor Arturo Molina

Ticket prices:

P1200 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

MSO 523-5712, info@manilasymphony.com

TicketWorld 891-9999