PPO presents monthly recital series

Since the usual Philippine Philharmonic Orchetsra subscription concert series at the Cultural Center of the Philippines is still not yet possible despite the lowered alert level in Metro Manila, the orchestra still finds a way to bring classical music to audiences via the PPO Recital Series.

Running from November 2021 until June 2022, this monthly recital series will feature eight members (either principals or assistant principals) from the orchestra performing music pieces that are carefully curated by the PPO's Music Director and Principal Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura.

Each new episode will premiere at 8:00 PM on the last Friday of the month at the PPO and CCP Facebook pages.

Flutist Hercules Santiago

The series opens with principal flutist Hercules Santiago performing Otar Taktakishvili’s Sonata for Flute and Piano in C Major on November 26, 2021.

Clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana

On December 31, 2021, principal clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana plays Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke Op. 73 and Michele Mangani’s Pagina d’ Album for Clarinet and Piano.

French horn player Ernani Pascual

French horn player Ernani Pascual ushers in the New Year with his take on Hermann Eichborn’s Sonate für Waldhorn und Klavier, Op. 7 on January 28, 2022.

Trumpet player Glober Calambro

Trumpet player Glober Calambro will render Paul Hindemith’s Sonata for Trumpet and Piano on February 25, 2022.

Cellist Giancarlo Gonzales

On March 25, 2022, cellist Giancarlo Gonzales interprets Claude Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano in D minor, L. 135 and Svante Henryson’s Black Run.

Violinist Dino Akira Decena

Orchestra concertmaster Dino Akira Decena performs a couple of Nicanor Abelardo's works namely the Sonata for Violin and Piano, and Romanza on April 29, 2022.

Violist Rey Casey Concepcion

In May 27, 2022, the spotlight will be on violist Rey Casey Concepcion as he performs Paul Hindemith’s Viola Sonata in F, Op. 11, No. 4 and Max Bruch’s Romanze in F Major for Viola and Piano, Op.85.

Contrabass player Ariston Payte III

Principal contrabass player Ariston Payte III wraps up the series with a performance of Adolf Misek’s Sonata No. 2 in E minor, Op. 6 on June 24, 2022.

Pianist Mary Anne Espina

Pianist Mary Anne Espina is the collaborating artist for the entire recital series.

A thoughtfully woven program in PPO's tribute to Hector Berlioz

Violist Rey Casey Concepcion, conductor Michaël Cousteau,
and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra paid tribute to French conductor Hector Berlioz in the occasion of the French composer's 150th death anniversary through a concert led by guest conductor Michaël Cousteau.

Conductor Michaël Cousteau and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Embassy of France, and Stores Specialists, Inc, the concert featured a thoughtfully woven program consisting of music by Berlioz and some of his contemporaries.

French Ambassador Nicolas Galey, soprano Rachelle Gerodias, conductor Michaël
Cousteau, violist Rey Casey Concepcion, baritone Byeong-In Park,
and CCP Board Member Baltazar Endriga

Right off the bat, Berlioz presence was felt with his orchestration of the French National anthem performed by the PPO (that included three timpanists) and sung by real life couple Rachelle Gerodias and Byeong-In Park.

The program started with Wagner's Prelude from Tristan und Isolde WWV 90. This piece is usually followed by the Liebestodt but in this evening, it surprisingly segued to Berlioz' Harold en Italie, Op.16 H. 68 instead that had me double checking the souvenir program to see if there hadn't been any mistake. The entrances and exit of violist Rey Casey Concepcion throughout the piece provided a bit of theatricality in the performance which is quite melancholic and relaxed as opposed to the explosive concerto. But Concepcion still delivered a display of technical virtuosity with his encore of Capriccio in C minor, Op. 55 'Hommage à Paganini' by Henri Vieuxtemps.

The second half of the concert consisted of Berlioz' Scène d'amour from Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17, H. 79 and Franz Liszt's Les préludes, S. 97. It was not easy listening to these pieces which aren't really my cup of tea. And being program music, it would've helped greatly knowing the context of the pieces. But I was later told Cousteau had a lecture at the Les Jeudis Culturels the night before explaining the musical connection between these pieces. It made me regret not attending the lecture so that I would've had a greater understanding and appreciation of the PPO's performance in this concert.

String quartet Quartetto Espressivo caps MCOF Chamber Music Series 2013

April 17, 2013, 7:00 PM

Ayala Museum

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

Featuring:

Quartetto Espressivo

     Christian Tan, violin

     Sara Maria Gonzales, violin

     Rey Casey Concepcion, viola

     Gerry Graham Gonzales, cello

Programme:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11

Giuseppe Verdi String Quartet in E minor

The Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation (MCOF) and the Ayala Museum present a date with string quartet Quartetto Espressivo this April 17, 2013, 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum as the MCOF Chamber Music Series 2013 winds down for this season.

Violinist Christian Tan

Quartetto Espressivo will be performing Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11 and Giuseppe Verdi’s String Quartet in E minor, the only piece of music he ever wrote for a string quartet. The Tchaikovsky piece is said to have brought the great Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy to tears when it was performed at a tribute concert for him. The Verdi piece on the other hand is a surprising work from a composer known for his operas. This piece of chamber music came into being during his idle time when the Milan/Naples production of Aïda got delayed due to soprano Teresa Stolz’s illness.

Violinist Sara Maria Gonzales

Making their debut at this concert is a new Quartetto Espressivo composed of violinists Christian Tan and Sara Maria Gonzales, violist Rey Casey Concepcion and cellist Gerry Graham Gonzales. The quartet has won at the National Competition for Young Artists in the Chamber Music Category. Each of the members who are also regular members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, are also NAMCYA prize winners in their respective categories as well.

Violist Rey Casey Concepcion

The MCO Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1985 and is dedicated to the promotion of the classical arts. This concert is made possible through the support of Ayala Museum together with MCOF’s valued partners Lyric Piano and Organ, BusinessWorld, Manila Diamond Hotel, HighLife, HerWord and DZFE.FM 98.7.

Cellist Gerry Graham Gonzales

Ticket price:

P600

For inquiries:

MCOF 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053

Allan 782-7164, (0918) 347-3027

TicketWorld 891-9999