ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates John Williams’ music

September 2, 2012, 6:00 PM

Meralco Theater

Ortigas Avenue

Pasig City

Featuring:

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

Gerard Salonga, conductor

Jose Mari Chan and Karylle

In a surprising turn of events, the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s first major concert will be in fact the celebration of the music of one of the most popular living composers in the world today: John Williams. Known primarily for his work in film, Williams also celebrated his 80^th birthday earlier this year. So what better way to celebrate this milestone than to have a concert devoted solely to him and his music? This coming September 2, 2012 at 6:00 PM, the Meralco Theater will resonate with The Magic of John Williams played by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, led by their conductor and music director Gerard Salonga.

Since the ABS-CBN is known as the Kapamilya (Family) Network, families are highly encouraged to watch and enjoy the concert together that starts at 6:00 PM, a couple of hours earlier than the usual orchestral performance. Judging by the poster, I can expect to hear music from films like Stephen Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Schindler’s List and Jaws. I can also look forward to music from George Lucas’ Indiana Jones and Star Wars. Other movies that have John Williams’ music are the Harry Potter series and Superman.

It’s been announced also that Jose Mari Chan and Karylle will be special guest performers in this concert as well. I’ve been trying to think which John Williams composition with vocals the two will perform but I couldn’t think of any. I don’t know if their numbers will be announced at all prior to the concert. If not, then they will provide the element of surprise which is not the norm in orchestral performances where the prepared programme is known in advance.

I also heard that those who would come to watch the concert in costume will enjoy a discounted ticket price. I guess that the costumes will be limited to those coming from the movies that John Williams worked on. And looking at the list of movies that he has worked on, cosplayers will have a lot to choose from. I guess that one could also dress up as an athlete from the early 1980’s since Williams also composed the Olympic Fanfare and Theme for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. But I would be very impressed if someone will attend the concert as a shark from Jaws.

The awesome experience that I’ve had in conducting the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra is already becoming a distant memory. I think that I will relive that moment once again when I hear the brass fanfare that begins Star Wars theme. Who knows, I might be seated next to a Jedi or a Storm Trooper this time around?

Ticket prices: 

P2500 Orchestra Center

P2000 Orchestra Side

P1800 Loge Center

P1500 Loge Side

P500 Upper Balcony

For inquiries:

Tinky Cruz  0915 194-9760

Landline: Chris Graham 586-6732

absphilharmonic@gmail.com

Gloc-9 holds another show at Eastwood due to popular demand

August 17, 2012, 7:00 PM

Eastwood Central Plaza

Quezon City

Featuring:

Gloc-9

Ebe Dancel

Denise Barbacena

Q-York

Mike Swift

Silent Sanctuary

Three shows in three different malls for rapper Gloc-9 to launch his newest album, the highly anticipated MKNM: Mga Kwento ng Makata wasn’t enough for his fans. The demand for him to stage another show just reflects the success of this new album, his first under Universal Records. In order satisfy this clamor from his fans, Gloc-9 will have a special MKNM show this August 17, 2012 at 7:00 PM at the Eastwood Central Plaza. Joining him are Ebe Dancel, Denise Barbacena, Q-York, Mike Swift, Silent Sanctuary among others.

Just like in the previous mall shows, fans who will purchase the CD at the venue will also get a limited edition MKNM lanyard and poster, on a first come, first served basis. But there were many others who couldn’t wait for the physical CD to hit the stores as they purchased digital copies of the album upon its release and sent it to the top of the charts at MyMusicStore Philippines.

MKNM: Mga Kwento ng Makata is a 15 track album that features collaborations with Chito Miranda, Ebe Dancel, Jay Durias, Billy Crawford, Maychelle Baay of Moonstar 88 and many others. While most of the tracks are all new material, the two bonus tracks included in the album are previously released songs: Kung Tama Siya, released as a tribute to Dr. Jose Rizal for his 150^th birth anniversary and Hari ng Tondo, the theme song from the film Manila Kingpin, The Asiong Salonga Story.

The lead single of this album, Sirena, is a song featuring Ebe Dancel that talks about a responsible gay man. The song, a source of pride for Gloc-9, recently released its music video featuring theater actor Abner Delina and also cameo appearances by noted gay personalities like Boy Abunda.

Mga Kwento ng Makata, released by Universal Records is already out on music retail outlets nationwide. Sirena and the rest of the album can also be purchased online via MyMusicStore Philippines.

Follow Gloc-9 online and be updated with his upcoming performances and events.

Official Website: glocdash9.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/glocdash9

Twitter: twitter.com/glocdash9
Instagram: glocdash9

MKNM: Mga Kwento ng Makata

Tracks:

1. Balak Ni Syke

2. Apatnapungbara feat. Ian Tayao

3. Silup feat. Denise Barbacena

4. Alalay ng Hari feat. Allan Mitchell Silonga

5. Sirena feat. Ebe Dancel

6. Hindi Mo Nadinig feat. Jay Durias

7. Sino (Interlude)

8. Salarin feat. Bamboo Mañalac

9. Inday feat. Cathy Go

10. Bakit Hindi feat. Billy Crawford

11. Malakas (Interlude)

12. Pison feat. Chito Miranda

13. Thankful feat. Maychelle Baay of Moonstar88 & Bambu

Bonus:

14. Hari ng Tondo feat. Denise Barbacena

15. Kung Tama Siya feat. Jaq Dionisio of Kissjane

Soprano Katrina Saporsantos performs at the CCP’s Special Concert Series

Soprano Katrina Saporsantos

Concert

August 29, 2012

Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Masterclass

September 1 & 4, 2012, 1:00 PM

MKP Multi-Purpose Hall

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Katrina Saprosantos, soprano

Augusto Espino, piano

Programme:

Joaquín Turina Tres Poemas, Op. 81

Richard Wagner Wesendonck Lieder, WWV 91

Ernest Chausson Chanson perpétuelle, Op. 37

Giuseppe Verdi Stornello, Perduta ho la pace, and Deh, pietoso, oh Addolorata

William Bolcom Selections from Caberet Songs 1 and 2

I first heard soprano Katrina Saporsantos perform during CCP President Dr. Raul Sunico’s birthday celebrations that was held at the main lobby of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. I was very impressed by the projection of her voice that somehow managed to fill up the whole lobby. I also thought at that time that her voice could've been heard even from the fourth floor as well. Music lovers will now also have the chance to be impressed by this young soprano when she performs at the second concert of the CCP’s Special Concert Series on August 29, 2012 at 7:30 PM at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater). Pianist Augusto Espino accompanies Katrina in the concert. Aside from the concert, she will also be giving a voice masterclass on September 1 and 4 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM at the CCP MKP Multi-Purpose Hall. 

It’s no wonder that Katrina Saporsantos has an impressive voice considering that she has completed a Professional Studies Certificate at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM), and a Master of Music degree in Classical Voice Performance under the studio of American soprano Ashley Putnam. Also add to that a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and a Diploma in Creative and Performing Musical Arts, under tenor Ramon Acoymo at the University of the Philippines.

As mentioned earlier, this event is the second of three solo concerts by young outstanding Filipino musicians entitled the Special Concert Series. The series opened with the performance of pianist Charisse Baldoria last July 11, 2012 which I unfortunately missed. On September 26, 2012, cellist Antoni Josef Inacay will close the series with his solo concert.

Ticket prices:

P800 Orchestra Center

P600 Orchestra Side

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For ticket inquiries:

CCP Marketing Department 832-1125 loc. 405/1406

TicketWorld at 891-9999

For masterclass inquiries:

CCP Artist Training Division 832-1125 loc. 1605

Classical Champs: The Young Music Idols

Jimmy Tagala Jr., Maria Jeline Oliva
and Gabriel Allan Paguirigan

Featuring:

Maria Jeline Oliva, violin

Jimmy Tagala Jr., violin

Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Alexander Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia

Henryk Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

In a cruel twist of fate and a sense of déjà vu, the weather wreaked havoc once again and I almost didn’t make it to the concert of the 2011 National Music Competitions for Young Artists with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The day before the concert, heavy rains submerged most of Metro Manila especially Roxas Boulevard near the CCP and cast doubt on whether the concert would still take place. Thankfully, the skies cleared and most of the roads became passable already allowing violinists Marie Jeline Oliva and Jimmy Tagala Jr. as well as pianist Gabriel Allan Paguirigan to take center stage and perform their respective concertos with the PPO under the baton of Olivier Ochanine. Yet it was still a monumental task for me to get to the CCP since roads were still impassable in my place but some stroke of luck was on my side and I was still able to make it. Last year, a similar situation made me miss the concert entirely which was quite remarkable considering that the concert actually pushed through despite classes up to the college level being cancelled.

Violinist Maria Jeline Oliva

Considering that there was a possibility that the weather could turn nasty that evening prompting others to stay at home, the concert had a pretty decent number of people watching. The evening started with Alexander Borodin’s In the Steppes of Central Asia, a piece that evokes images of a caravan of Central Asians protected by Russian troops. The sublime themes of this piece were clear to me but I’m not sure if the others in the audience were that attuned. The piece ended quietly with the Russian theme played by the flute which is probably not what the audience expected hence the muted response from them when this piece concluded. I think that they grew too accustomed to lively overtures that usually served as opening pieces to concerts. As I prepared to watch this concert, I made it a point not to expect too high for this considering that the soloists are still very young and not yet professionals. Although the performances didn’t completely blow me away, the three soloists showed a lot of promise and definitely lived to their billing as musicians to watch out in the future.

Pianist Gabriel Allan Paguirigan

Going to the soloists, Jeline Oliva, winner of Violin Category B, played Henryk Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 which is a piece I’m not really familiar with. If this was the same concerto that she performed during the competition, I could no longer remember. She nonetheless has shown tremendous growth compared to the time when she competed as a finalist at Pilipinas Got Talent a few years back. During the NAMCYA concert though, her sound was a bit tentative and weak, and not able to project too well from where I was sitting. I think that the nerves possibly got in the way a bit in her performance. But still, playing a whole concerto with the PPO at the CCP would cause someone with a weaker nerve to succumb to the pressure but Jeline got through it. Piano Category B winner Gabriel Paguirigan’s concerto, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 is a piece already familiar to me. He is still a developing musician and for me, it felt like he let loose during the second and third movements of the concerto. It’s actually hard to resist since the last two movements of the piece consist of a playful scherzo and a fiery tarantella. The final piece, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 is the most familiar of all the pieces performed during this concert. Jimmy Tagala, the winner of Violin Category C, had the enormous task of playing one if not the most popular concerto in the violin repertoire. Being the oldest among the soloists, he showed onstage much finesse along with a healthy dose swagger and sounded tremendously better when I first heard him when he had a masterclass with Ray Chen months ago. At times during the third movement, I felt that he played too fast for my liking and he somehow lost some steam during the finale. But still, a fine showing from a young man who could well join the ranks of esteemed violinists in the country like his mentor Gilopez Kabayao.

Violinist Jimmy Tagala Jr.

The upbeat atmosphere during the meet and greet after the concert made me forget all the difficulty that I had to go through just to watch the performance. Jeline, Gabriel and Jimmy all relished their moment as they signed autographs and posed for photos with the very appreciative audience. I forgot the difficulty and uncertainty that I had to go through just to make it to the concert. And I felt a bit guilty for lowering my expectations coming into the concert. Now it remains to be seen how things will fare for these three if they decide to compete once again at the NAMCYA in the future.