Cecile Licad holds solo piano concert at Gallery MiraNila on October 1

Whenever world-renowned pianist Cecile Licad performs piano concertos with an orchestra, the final note is always greeted by deafening applause by a dazzled and enthralled audience. The combination of a large theater packed to the brim, a full symphony orchestra, technically demanding pieces, and Licad's larger than life stage presence all add up to a grand experience.

The above paragraph is mainly why the switch to a solo concert, with Licad and just a piano, at an intimate venue surrounded by the garden of an historic heritage house, make Cecile Licad Up Close, happening on October 1, 2025, 6:30 PM at the Gallery MiraNila, a must see.

Presented by the MiraNila Heritage House & Library in partnership with the Erehwon Center for the Arts and the P. Ilusorio Foundation and in collaboration with Gallery MiraNila by The Blue Leaf, Cecile Licad Up Close sees Licad performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 Quasi una fantasia or more popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata, Robert Schumman's Carnaval, Op. 9, Franz Liszt's St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves, a handful of Scott Joplin's ragtime pieces namely The Entertainer, Rose Leaf Rag, Stoptime Rag, and Easy Winters, and Frédéric Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23.

A recipient of the Leventritt Gold Medal, Grand Prix du Disque, and Pamana ng Pilipino Award, Ms. Licad has also worked with esteemed orchestras and distinguished conductors, including the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Claudio Abbado, as well as Sir Georg Solti, the National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich, the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa, the London Symphony Orchestra under Kurt Masur, the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Andre Previn, and the Russian Academy State Orchestra (Moscow) under People’s Artist of Russia Mark Gorenstein.

Cecile Licad
Photo ©Patrick Diokno

She continues to captivate audiences at the Carnegie Hall and, most recently, on tour with famed Wynton Marsalis and his brass band playing alongside Louis, a modern silent film based on the early years of the legendary trumpetist Louis Armstrong.

The Gallery MiraNila concert offers a rare opportunity to hear this most decorated of Filipino classical artists in the intimate setting of the hall.

Tickets for her one-night-only solo concert in Metro Manila are priced at P3,500 (premium) and P3,000 (regular).

For tickets, text Bern at 0906-547-8268 or email miranilaheritage@gmail.com.

Apart from the concert, guests can avail of pre-concert cocktails and post-concert dinners on offer. The pre-concert sunset cocktail hour from 5:00-6:00 PM, serving cocktails and charcuterie with panoramic sunset views is priced at P1,000 per guest. While the post-concert dinner, a curated late dinner under the stars by Bizu on the rooftop cost P2,000 per guest.

Spots can be booked at: https://bit.ly/3JvaG9q

Other guests can avail of the Bizu pasta station and light snacks for sale during the intermission and after the concert.

MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy Bagong Lipunan Crame, Q.C. Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House Events.

Cecile Licad Up Close is presented by the Benitez-Tirona MiraNila Foundation in partnership with the Erehwon Center for the Arts, P. Ilusorio Foundation, and Gallery MiraNila by The Blue Leaf.

Grammy Award-winning cellist Sara Sant'Ambrogio makes Philippine debut at PPO's concert

Grammy Award-winning cellist Sara Sant'Ambrogio makes her Philippine debut at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's upcoming concert on November 15, 2024, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Billed as Triumph, the second concert of the PPOs 40th season sees Sant'Ambrogio take on one of the most popular pieces in the cello repertoire, Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85.

Other pieces programmed for this evening include the lushly orchestrated Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and the uplifting Symphony No. 2, Op. 61 by Robert Schumann to be conducted by PPO Music Director and Principal Conductor Grzegorz Nowak.

Always pushing the boundaries of classical music and looking for new ways to draw in new audiences, the award-winning cellist first leapt to international attention when she was a winner at the International Tchaikovsky Violoncello Competition in Moscow, Russia. From then on, she has appeared as a soloist in concerts of various orchestras in Beijing, Boston, Budapest, Chicago, Prague, Osaka, and San Francisco, USA, among others.

Sara Sant'Ambrogio

A founding member of the Eroica Trio, the award-winning cellist has performed with Sting and Joshua Bell in the production of Twin Spirits, featuring the love affair between composer Robert Schumann and pianist Clara. Tracks from her Dreaming solo CD have been featured in various film soundtracks, including the opening title of HBO award-winning documentary A Matter of Taste.

Sant’Ambrogio started her cello studies with her father John, a principal cellist of the St. Louis Symphony. At 16, she was invited on full scholarship to study with David Soyer at the Curtis Institute of Music where she received her high school diploma.

Three years later, world renowned cellist Leonard Rose invited Sant’Ambrogio to study at The Juilliard School. Within weeks of arriving, she won the All-Juilliard Schumann Cello Concerto Competition, resulting in the first of many performances at Lincoln Center.

Fukumura, PPO deliver exceptional Tchaikovsky

Ray Wang, Yoshikazu Fukumura, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

An exceptional and emotionally charged Tchaikovsky symphony gave the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of music director/principal conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura, one of their finest performances to date.

Expectations were set high even before the first note sounded as news I've gathered from some musicians about their rehearsals speak highly of the scheduled Tchaikovsky piece. And there was a different kind of buzz felt at the lobby too as hundreds of high school students all the way from Laguna trooped to the Cultural Center of the Philippines for this concert. As someone who rarely missed a PPO season concert, there was indeed a feeling that this had the making of an unforgettable night.

Yoshikazu Fukumura and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

These students were actually in my thoughts when the first piece, Toshiro Mayuzumi's Bacchanale was performed. Bursts of vigorous sound and rhythms, with a couple moments of breathing space via romantic violin solos is how I would describe this work. And for the students who were watching an orchestra performance for the first time, I thought that this music was an awesome introduction to the symphony for them.

I did worry about them a bit when it was cellist Ray Wang's turn with Robert Schumann's Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129. During his previews visits here, Wang performed concertos that demanded full attention from the audience like the Lalo which he did the last time. The Schumann may not be as cerebral as the Lalo, but still, the structure and the introverted nature of the piece made for a challenging listening experience. And just like the last time, he involved the whole cello section with his encore which was Pablo Casal's Song of the Birds.

I will just be brief with how Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 turned out. I said last month that I couldn't recall applauding the horn solo so enthusiastically before. Let me just say that I very much outdid myself in applauding enthusiastically this time around. And this divine horn solo was responsible for making the person seated to my right tear up starting from the second movement and continued to wipe tears at the lobby even after the concert was done.

With two, back to back outstanding performances in the bag, the PPO sets up for a very highly anticipated season finale concert next month.

Cellist Ray Wang returns for PPO's March concert

Cellist Ray Wang

Cellist Ray Wang returns once again and joins the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and music director/principal conductor Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura at their upcoming season concert happening on March 15, 2019, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. 

The music lined up for this evening includes Toshiro Mayuzumi’s Bacchanale, Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129 with Wang as the soloist, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64.  This upcoming performance will be Wang's third time to perform with the PPO.

An international cellist and music professor, Ray Wang has performed in different cities in Asia, North America and Europe. Ray has performed as soloist with conductors and orchestras such as Yoshikazu Fukumura, Yang Yang, Krysztof Penderecki, Macau Orchestra, Soloistas de La Habana. Cellistra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Manila Philharmonic Orchestra and the Guang Zhou Symphony Orchestra.

Ray currently serves as Head of Junior Music Department and Senior Lecturer in Strings at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and also serves as a music faculty member of the Baptist University and Chinese University of Hong Kong.

A joyous Beethoven, Hiyas Hila's elegant Schumann give PPO a promising start

Pianist Hiyas Hila and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

The 2019 performance season is off to a promising start as a noticeably larger number of audience members attended the resumption of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s subscription concert series at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

It looked like people, myself included, were eager to go back to the symphony after the holiday season. I, for one, was eager to see the PPO’s Music Director/Principal Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura at the podium once again since the last time he led the orchestra back in October 2018 felt like ages ago.

Pianist Hiyas Hila

The opener, Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, had the orchestra sounding crisp very much helped by the clear structure of the piece. Pianist Hiyas Hila gave an elegant and bright rendition of Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54. This piece gave her more range and depth compared to the Mozart she performed during her previous collaboration with the orchestra. But the intricate weaving of the piano and the orchestra especially during the first movement caused for some slight timing hiccups. For an encore, Hila delivered Frederic Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 15 No. 1 in F major, eloquently highlighting the contrasts between tranquil outer sections and the fiery middle part of this piece.

Yoshikazu Fukumura and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

The symphony for that night, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, is a favorite and I was kept on the edge of my seat to hear if the tempo would be to my liking. The joyous piece, made popular over a decade ago by the drama series Nodame Cantabile, could be performed at blistering pace especially when excitement takes over. Thankfully, Fukumura took control of the reigns never letting the tempo go haywire. It was almost a moment of pure joy had I not been jolted by the horn section’s wild moments a handful of times. Also, there were parts when I struggled to hear clearly the middle strings especially during the build-up before the finale of the symphony.

This concert, my first for 2019, was still a promising start to the year despite the slight stumbles which may be due to some dulling brought about by the long holiday break. I hope that the PPO will be at their sharpest in future concerts and one, touted to be a major music event, is just around the corner.

PPO, pianist Hiyas Hila reunite in January concert

Pianist Hiyas Hila

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra with music director and principal conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura welcomes the New Year with the return of pianist Hiyas Hila in a concert this January 18, 2019, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo).

The music lined up for this concert includes Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 with Hiyas Hila as the featured soloist, and Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92.

Hiyas Hila performs regularly as a solo, orchestral and chamber music artist. She has been featured in concerts in the United States, Spain and the Philippines. Her orchestral appearances include performances with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra. She currently teaches piano, chamber music and piano ensemble at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, California and at Saint Brigid Catholic School in San Francisco, California. She previously taught applied piano and class piano at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Hila made her debut with the PPO and Fukumura at an all-Mozart concert back in June 2017.

RAd's Playlist: Jan Lisiecki | Schumann

Before I watch a concert, I usually make it a point to listen to recordings, study the scores, and brush up on the historical context of the music to be performed. This gives me a chance to familiarize myself or get reacquainted with the lined up program. By the time of the actual concert, I know which parts of the music, especially the highlights or the technically tricky ones, to look out for. It also helps to know which section of the orchestra or musician to focus on at a certain moment. Overall, it makes for a more informed experience that really heightens the music appreciation for me.

Sometimes, I am unable to do this when I lack the time or the resources are just unavailable (no recordings available for music yet to be premiered, for example). In this case, I just keep an open mind and ears and make sure to read the program notes before the concert starts.

For the upcoming PPO concert this January 18, 2019 (more on that on a later post), I’ll be putting for a spin a recording of Robert Schumann’s music for the piano and orchestra by Jan Lisiecki with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Antonio Pappano. This album was released by Deutsche Grammophon in January 2016.

Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 has been traditionally paired with Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 in numerous recordings. In this recording, the piano concerto is joined instead by Schumann’s rarely performed and recorded one movement pieces for the piano and orchestra. Having these pieces in the record instead of the usual Grieg piano concerto gives a whole new perspective and context listening to the Schumann piano concerto.

Violinist Iskandar Widjaja's passionate display in Philippine debut

While the protest rallies were happening in various parts of the country, I took solace to music as a way to distract my weary self from all the political drama by catching Passion Flight that featured violinist Iskandar Widjaja and pianist Itamar Golan who were both making their Philippine debuts.

Thoughts of the tense political climate took a back seat right away once the opening act, a dozen Suzuki kids, took to the stage for their rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Variations. And while the intonation was a bit all over the place, there was still cuteness overload with the kids beaming on stage as if they were the main act.

The main acts, Berlin based Iskandar, sporting a recent tan and dressed more like movie star rather than a classical musician and Itamar, looking dapper in a sleek suit quickly eased the audience with an appetizer of a piece, Fritz Kreisler’s Tempo di Minuetto in the style of Pugnani. Then following right after was Cesar Franck’s Sonata in A Major, a large scale work that showed the breadth and depth of Iskandar’s capabilities. Instinctively, I got drawn to the pianist Itamar, who exuded confidence giving me the feeling that he and Iskandar were communicating telepathically and that they will be in sync all throughout the concert.

I finally got to focus on Iskandar as the spotlight was solely on him when he tackled Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chaconne from Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004. Very commendable was his clarity and consistency making each line and layer sing distinctly and smoothly. In less capable violinists, the result is usually a muddled jumble of notes without any direction. My only gripe with Iskandar’s take was that it had too much attack and it sounded too aggressive.

Refreshed after the interval, the duo gave a more relaxed George Frideric Handel’s Violin Sonata in D Major HWV 371, brilliantly fleshing out the melodies with a bit more restraint compared to that of the pieces of the first half. My most eagerly anticipated moment in this concert was hearing Arvo Pärt’s Spiegel im Spiegel live for the first time. With lights dimmed for a bit of theatrics during this portion, it was hypnotic and haunting to hear such music, sparse on paper and yet so difficult to play effectively. I initially wondered how the audience would react to music that is devoid of any fireworks but the applause that followed soon after just allayed my fears.

And because of this, I admit that I wasn’t able to focus much on the piece that followed, the Fantasie for Violin and Piano in C Major, Op. 131 by Robert Schumann. And through most of this time, my mind was already preparing to hear the final piece that featured the music from George Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess.

I was really expecting Jascha Heifetz’ transcription of Porgy and Bess to be performed but hearing the short piano introduction told me that this was not the case. Instead, what I heard was a single movement fantasy work that showcased loads of virtuosic moments from Iskandar that was accompanied by Itamar playing jazzy chords that sounded so deliciously rich. It was only later on that I learned from Iskandar that this piece, the Concert Fantasy on Themes from Porgy and Bess, Op. 19, was actually by Igor Alexandrovich Frolov. I also learned that one violinist who was among the audience was planning to give the Philippine premiere of this piece sometime next year. Too bad for him that Iskandar and Itamar already beat him to it. But I would definitely want to hear this Frolov piece again.

For encores, Iskandar and Itamar performed William Kroll’s Banjo and Fiddle, a highly entertaining piece that had Iskandar plucking the violin as if it was a banjo. This was followed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovksy’s Valse Sentimentale, Op. 51 No. 6 which was a sweet, relaxing way to cap the concert. The concert made me more energized to face the world outside where one cannot escape the tense political climate.

Overall, the first half felt to me that Iskandar pushed too much, too overt, and almost going over the top in both the Franck sonata and the Chaconne. This made the restraint he exhibited at the second half a much welcome change of pace. Ultimately, this effectively built the momentum towards a dazzling finale.

Passion Flight featuring violinist Iskandar Widjaja and pianist Itamar Golan was presented by the Philippine Suzuki Association in cooperation with St. Paul University, Manila.

Raul Sunico concert in the spirit of Philippines-Germany friendship

Pianist Raul Sunico

Featuring:

Raul Sunico, piano

Programme:

Robert Schumann

     Fantasiestücke, Op. 12

Isaac Albéniz

     Iberia Suite, El puerto and Triana

Richard Wagner/Franz Liszt

     Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde

Nicanor Abelardo

     Nocturne in C sharp minor

Antonio Molina

     Malikmata

Franz Liszt

     2 Légendes, S.175

Johann Strauss/Adolf Schulz-Evler

     An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 The Blue Danube

World renowned pianist Raul Sunico showcased his vast repertoire at a concert held recently at the residence of German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski. Less than a month after setting a record by playing three Tchaikovsky piano concertos in a single concert, Sunico performed a totally different lineup of solo piano pieces in front of an intimate audience of selected guests.

German Ambassador Thomas Ossowski and Raul Sunico
Photo courtesy of the German Embassy

After welcome remarks by Ambassador Ossowski, the concert commenced with Sunico performing Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 12. A suite made up of eight short pieces that made for quite a hefty concert opener as the music journeyed through the realm of dreams and possibly nightmares. Sunico followed it up with two pieces from Isaac Albéniz’ Iberia Suite which were El puerto, a lively depiction of a busy fish port and Triana, named after a gypsy quarter in Seville and infused with the dances paso doble and the sevillana. There was no mistaking the Spanish character and flair of the Albéniz’ music. It was indeed a revelation to hear these Albéniz pieces performed by a solo pianist since the more often performed orchestral arrangement is more familiar to me. A soaring Franz Liszt transcription of Richard Wagner’s Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde was brilliantly rendered by Sunico right from the unsettling “Tristan chord” at the beginning up to the piece’s stirring climax with the piano resonating as if there was a symphony orchestra inside the living room.

DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo and wife Rowena, Raul Sunico, and Luisa Zaide

Filipino music was also represented that night through Nicanor Abelardo’s sublime Nocturne in C sharp minor and Antonio Molina’s mysterious Malikmata. Sunico was able to conjure images with his rendition of Franz Liszt’s 2 Legendes, S.175.

The lightness of St-François d'Assise La prédication aux oiseaux made me imagine that it was the small, friendly birds and not the birds of prey that he was preaching to. But the weighty and grand chords of St-François de Paule Marchant sur les flots brought imagery of turbulent waves that he was able to sail through via an improvised raft and sail after getting denied by a ferryman to carry him.

Diether Ocampo and Raul Sunico

For the finale, Sunico went for the crowd pleasing Adolf Schulz-Elver’s transcription of Johann Strauss’ An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 more popularly known as The Blue Danube. While the popular waltz melody takes centerstage, 20^th century harmonies and dissonances included by Schulz-Elver gave it modern sensibilities. Not wanting the concert to end, one of the guests requested a certain Franz Schubert piece which Sunico unfortunately didn’t know. To satisfy the lady’s Schubert request, he played the composer’s lyrical Impromptu in G flat major, Op. 90 No. 3 instead for an encore.

RAd and Ambassador Thomas Ossowski

Raul Sunico’s concert was organized by Ambassador Thomas Ossowski and the German Embassy to promote cultural dialogue and also to celebrate the friendship between the Philippines and Germany. Among the guests in this evening included NCCA Chairman Felipe de Leon Jr., DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo, Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber, Monaco Consul Fortune Ledesma, eminent music critic Rosalinda Orosa, actor Diether Ocampo and equestrienne Michelle Barrera, and of course, members of the German community residing/working in the Philippines.

Clarinetist Andrew Constantino wraps up MCO Foundation's Young Artists Series 2014

October 8, 2014, 7:00 PM

Ayala Museum

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

Featuring:

Andrew Constantino, clarinet

Melissa Taqueban, piano

Programme:

Marcel Dautremer Récit et Impromptu

Francis Poulenc Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, FP 184

Claude Debussy Premiére rhapsodie

Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 for Clarinet and Piano

Aaron Copland Clarinet Concerto

The MCO Foundation's Young Artists Series 2014 ends with a performance of one of the most promising young clarinetists today, Andrew Constantino on October 8, 2014 at 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum in Makati.

Clarinetist Andrew Constantino first drew the attention of world renowned clarinetist Marcel Luxen in his masterclass two years ago. Luxen noted, "Andrew is a talent to watch out for, a major talent in the making".  

Andrew started his first clarinet lessons at a young age of nine under his father, Ariel Constantino and become a member of his grandfather's band, Imus Youth Symphonic Band. At 12, he was accepted as a music scholar under the tutelage of Prof. Ariel Sta. Ana at the Philippine High School for the Arts.

As a member of the Philippine Youth Symphonic Band, he was able to perform in various venues such as Cultural Center of the Philippines, the defunct Philam Life Auditorium to name a few. Last year, he participated and performed at the Il Convegno Clarinet Festival held at the UST Conservatory of Music. An avid participant in various masterclass including those conducted by John Schertel, Wendy Mazon, Brian Gnojek, Marcel Luxen and recently Andrew Simon.

This concert marks Andrew's professional solo debut. He will be performing Marcel Dautremer’s Récit et Impromptu, Francis Poulenc’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, FP 184, Claude Debussy’s Premiére rhapsodie, Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 for Clarinet and Piano, and Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with Melissa Taqueban as his collaborating pianist.

Clarinetist Andrew Constantino

This concert is made possible through partnership with Ayala Museum,  NCCA, Friends For the Cultural Concerns of the Philippines, Raintree Group of Restaurants, BusinessWorld, Her Words, Highlife, Lyric Piano and Organ and 98.7 The Master's Touch.

The MCOF Young Artists' Series is one of Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation's core programs.  The MCO Foundation, established in 1985, has a mission of promoting classical music. Every year the foundation selects four of the most promising young artists, who are given the endorsement, performance opportunities, and exposure to a wider public. Oftentimes, the recitals of young artists under the MCO Foundation aegis have become the artists’ official debut as performers.

Ticket prices:

P1000 Premiere

P800 Regular

For inquiries:

MCO Foundation 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053

CAEO 762-7164, (0918) 347-3027

TicketWorld 891-9999 

Korean artists guest star in Tribute to the Thomasian 2014 concert

March 30, 2013, 6:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Fr. Manuel P. Maramba OSB, piano

Yun-Kyoung Yi, soprano

Nenen Espina, mezzo soprano

Ronan Ferrer, tenor

Daesan No, baritone

UST Singers

Coro Tomasino

Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble

UST Symphony Orchestra

Jae-Joon Lee, conductor

Programme:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Overture from The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492

Robert Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

The University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines presents the UST Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Korean conductor Jae-Joon Lee with Filipino and Korean classical artists in a concert entitled Tribute to the Thomasian 2014 on March 30, 2014, 6:00 PM at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Soprano Yun-Kyoung Yi

Baritone Daesan No

The program consists of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture from The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125. Featured artists are pianist Fr. Manuel P. Maramba OSB, soprano Yun-Kyoung Yi, mezzo soprano Nenen Espina, tenor Ronan Ferrer, and baritone Daesan No with the UST Singers, Coro Tomasino, and the Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble.

Mezzo soprano Nenen Espina

Tenor Ronan Ferrer

Founded in 1927 by Dr. Manuel Casas of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the UST Symphony Orchestra has produced many musicians, some of whom have become the country’s leading artists. Presently, the Orchestra is comprised of 70 student-members, including winners of national music competitions, participants of foreign youth orchestras and scholars of important music schools abroad. It is the official orchestra of the University of Santo Tomas and an integral part of the UST Conservatory of Music. A resident performing group of the CCP which subsidizes its training program, it holds regular concerts at the CCP and participates in the CCP Outreach and Exchange program. It also serves as a training orchestra for the future needs of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and other professional ensembles.

Conductor Jae-Joon Lee

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

P600 Balcony I Center

P500 Balcony I Side

P300 Balcony II

For inquiries:

UST Conservatory of Music 731-4022, 406-1611 local 8246

CCP Box Office 832-3704
TicketWorld 891-9999

Clarion Chamber Ensemble opens 2014 season with Beyond the Shadow of Beethoven

March 20, 2014, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Dino Decena, violin

Renato Lucas, cello

Hyun Joo Lee, piano

David Jerome Johnson, flute

Reynato Resurreccion, oboe

Ariel Sta. Ana, clarinet

Noel Singcuenco, bassoon

Jay-Ar Mesa, horn

Rommel Cruz, double bass

Programme:

Louis Spohr Nonet in F major, Op. 31, IV. Finale

Robert Schumann Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47

Johannes Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11

The Clarion Chamber Ensemble presents pieces that go Beyond the Shadow of Beethoven in their first concert in the 2014 season happening this March 20, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

The concert program for this evening consists of the Finale of Louis Spohr’s Nonet in F major, Op. 31, Robert Schumann’s Quartet in E flat major, Op. 47 and Johannes Brahms Serenade No. 1 in D major, Op. 11.

Clarion members are violinist Dino Decena, cellist Renato Lucas, pianist Hyun Joo Lee, flutist David Jerome Johnson, oboist Reynato Resurreccion, clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana, bassoonist Noel Singcuenco, horn player Jay-Ar Mesa, and double bassist Rommel Cruz. 

Pianist Hyun Joo “Julia” Lee and flutist David Jerome Johnson formed Clarion Chamber Ensemble in December 2001. Members of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and the Old San Miguel Orchestra joined the two founders to create a core group of nine ensemble members. Other local and international musicians collaborate with the ensemble as the music demands.

The strength of the Ensemble lies in the diversity and flexibility of instrumental combinations and repertoire that embraces 18th to 21st century works. Clarion Chamber Ensemble has also worked with Opera singers and jazz and tango dancers in the service of the chamber music repertoire and the cause of various charities and non-profits, including the Macabata Children's Foundation and 98.7 DZFE. Clarion’s series of season concerts have been housed at BDO’s Santiago Hall, Makati, and Philam Life Theater, Manila and their regular University outreach concerts presented at Far East University, the University of Santo Tomas and the Philippine High School for the Performing Arts.

Beyond the Shadow of Beethoven is a production by Clarion Chamber Ensemble and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and co-presented by 98.7 DZFE The Master's Touch.

Ticket price:

P500

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

Clarion Chamber Ensemble 890-8840

TicketWorld 891-9999

PPO III: Reshef Plays Schumann

Pianist Yossi Reshef

Featuring:

Yossi Reshef, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

     Overture from The Wasps

     Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor

Richard Strauss Don Juan, Op. 20

Robert Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

A moment of respite was delivered when the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, its principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine, and guest artist, Israeli pianist Yossi Reshef performed at a concert less than a week after the devastating super typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas region at the center of the Philippines. This concert, billed as Reshef Plays Schumann, was co-presented by the Embassy of Israel and was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Conductor Olivier Ochanine and Madame Eti Bar-On

Ambassador Menashe Bar-On was not present during the concert for he was in Cebu overseeing the mobile hospital and team of medical personnel that flew in from Israel. Graciously acting as the host was his spouse, Madame Eti Bar-On who warmly welcomed the Embassy’s guests at the lobby prior to the actual performance.

The concert opened with a couple of pieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams, namely Overture from the Wasps and Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor. Vaughan Williams’ music is abundant with English folk tunes and these two pieces are no exception. These two pieces weren’t part of the original lineup for this evening but I am pleased that they made the change. Orchestras in here rarely play Vaughan Williams’ works and although these two pieces don’t appeal that much to me, it gives me hope that someday, my preferred Vaughan Williams piece will be played soon.

Next to be performed was Richard Strauss’ Don Juan, Op. 20, a tone poem that really captures the audience’s attention right from the start. The orchestra, led by Ochanine, was able to convey the majesty and tenderness that it was not that difficult for the audience to be moved despite not knowing a word from the source material which is Nicolaus Lenau’s poem Don Juan. I noticed also that this was the orchestra’s third symphonic poem in as many concerts.

Diether Ocampo, Michelle Barrera and Neelesh Sajnani

After the intermission, it was time for pianist Yossi Reshef to perform Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54. One of the most enduring piano concertos, this work was composed for Clara Schumann, Robert’s wife and one of the leading pianists at the time. This piece isn’t truly virtuosic as there aren’t really that much fireworks set out to impress the audience. It’s more lyrical, tender and romantic. What made this piece very interesting for me is that this has become Clara Schumann’s signature piece. And when one learns about the romance between Robert and Clara, her father’s objections to the affair, Robert’s sad fate and Johannes Brahms entering the picture later on, all of this adds up to one truly intriguing story and the music becomes more fascinating than ever. Despite an off moment during the first movement when he and the orchestra weren’t in sync, Reshef performed the concerto in the usual contained manner, not letting the emotions get out of hand. For an encore, Reshef played the Allegretto from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 which is also referred to as The Tempest.

Diether and Michelle explain sungka to Yossi

I was pleased to see Diether Ocampo watch the concert along with his non-showbiz girlfriend Michelle Barrera. The two clearly enjoyed watching and surprisingly, stayed on during the meet and greet at the lobby. Michelle even presented Yossi Reshef a sungka and amusingly explained to him how this popular Philippine game works.