Aegis and PPO bring in more "hugot" in repeat concert at the CCP

The unlikely music collaboration between the band Aegis and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra returns once more in a repeat performance of Aegis in Symphony Symphonic Aegis #HugotPaMore! on February 11, 2017, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

Aegis band members Juliet, Mercy, and Ken Sunot on vocals, guitarist Rey Abenoja, keyboardist Stella Pabico, bassist Rowena Adriano, and drummer Vilma Goloviogo join forces with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of conductor Herminigildo Ranera in bringing the “feels” in this pre-Valentine’s Day offering especially to those who are very much in love, to those nursing a broken heart, and lastly to those who still believe that love will come their way.

Also returning for the repeat is tenor Arman Ferrer whose cross genre mash up duet with Aegis became one of the main highlights of the previous concert in November. A new addition to the fold is pianist and CCP President Raul Sunico performing a specially arranged rockestra collaboration with the band.

Concert director Ariel S. R. Yonzon revealed at a recent press conference that compared to the original show that lasted for about an hour and a half, this Valentine’s Day edition will go on for about two hours. As the previous show featured dance sport and pole dancers, dancers from Ballet Philippines and Philippine Ballet Theatre will take to the stage this time. And lastly, I don’t know what surprises will actor Philippe Palmos will have up his sleeve. During the first concert, he delivered a very amusing opening act as the most unusual theater crew personnel that the CCP has ever had.

Aegis in Symphony, Symphonic Aegis #HugotPaMore! is presented by The CCP Complex Employees Organization (CCPCEO) with the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Harbour Square.

Rey Abenoja, Vilma Goloviogo, Ken Sunot, Mercy Sunot, Juliet Sunot, Stella Pabico,
Ariel S. R. Yonzon, Rowena Adriano, and Herminigildo Ranera

Aegis in Symphony, Symphonic Aegis #HugotPaMore!
February 11, 2017, 8:00 PM | Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

Featuring:
Aegis

     Juliet Sunot vocals
     Mercy Sunot, vocals
     Ken Sunot, vocals
     Rey Abenoja, guitar/vocals
     Stella Pabico, keyboard
     Rowena Adriano, bass
     Vilma Goloviogo, drums
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Herminigildo Ranera, conductor
Arman Ferrer, tenor
Raul Sunico, piano

Ticket prices:

P1500 | P1300 | P1000 | P800 | P700 | P500 | P300

50% discount for students (Balcony I & II only)
20% discount for senior citizens, PWD, government and military personnel

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999

Ensemble Resonanz bridges classical and electronic music in Manila concert

Time for me to step out of my classical music box and explore the world of electronic music with Classical X Electro, a genre crossing music performance by Hamburg based chamber group Ensemble Resonanz and local electronic artist similarobjects on February 9, 2017, 7:00 PM at the Beato Angelico Gallery, at the University of Sto. Tomas.

The concert, a part of the ensemble’s Urban String Asian tour, will cover a wide spectrum of music ranging from Baroque and Romantic period composers Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber and Felix Mendelssohn respectively to contemporary composers Alexander Schubert and Michael Gordon.

Urban String is the ensemble’s monthly concert of classical and electronic music at the resonanzraum, located at the St. Pauli district of Hamburg. Each session, employing a club atmosphere, almost includes a guest dj or an electronic musician. And the Philippine stop is no exception with similarobjects on board. Urban String won the Innovation Award from Classical:NEXT in 2016.

Ensemble Resonanz. Photo by Tobias Schult

Ensemble Resonanz, an 18 member string ensemble, is considered as one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras with their innovative programming. The group has entered a new milestone at the start of the year with their residency at the newly opened Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

similarobjects

On the other hand, Jorge Juan Wieneke V, under the stage moniker of similarobjects, is one of the big names in Manila’s beat scene. I am not a fixture of the beat scene so I can't say that I'm familiar with his music but I’ve encountered his work through the Cinemalaya film #Y that earned him a Gawad Urian nomination.

Classical X Electro is organized by the Goethe-Institut Philippinen with the support of the University of Sto. Tomas. Admission to the concert is free.

Classical X Electro

February 9, 2017, 7:00 PM | Beato Angelico Gallery, University of Sto. Tomas

Featuring:

Ensemble Resonanz

similarobjects

Ticket price:

Free admission

Noli Me Tangere, the Opera: posing a challenge from page to stage

The cast and creative team of Noli Me Tangere, the Opera

Two thoughts lingered on my mind once the curtains came down on the opening night gala performance of 60^th Anniversary production of Noli MeTangere, the Opera by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, J&S Productions, Inc. in cooperation with the Ayala First Foundation. First was that it must have been a Herculean task undertaken by composer Felipe de Leon and librettist Guillermo Tolentino in adapting the source novel written by Jose Rizal into an opera. And second, boy was I glad to have reread the novel prior to this!

With a story that is more complex and far reaching compared to other operas that I’ve seen before, Noli Me Tangere demands a lot from the audience and dutifully rewards those who are familiar with the novel. More than just the doomed love story of Crisostomo Ibarra and Maria Clara, the opera also features a handful of major and minor characters, subplots weaving in and out, and an abundance of symbolisms while many details from the novel are left implied. Staging this must’ve been equally staggering for first time director Jerry Sibal who also handled scenic and costume design duties.

Much has been said about the scenic design of this new staging even before the opera started its run. Boasting of 16 set changes, front and rear projections, and considered the grandest that the CCP has ever had for an opera, my expectations were set high. And I wasn’t disappointed. Noli’s sets were a vast improvement over the drab and uninspired sets from Tosca in 2015, the last opera that was staged at the CCP prior to this. But with such numerous changes, some set pieces like Sisa’s hut, was underutilized that it was almost extraneous.

But this is opera and the sets, no matter how impressive they are, should take a back seat to the real stars of the show: the next generation singers. Leading the cast was tenor Ronan Ferrer who was able to meet the vocal demands as Crisostomo Ibarra but was rather stiff in the acting department. Soprano Jade Riccio easily fit the role of Maria Clara with her exquisite looks and pleasant timbre. making up for what she lacks in projection especially with her mid and lower registers. Baritone John-Andrew Fernandez was a menacing Padre Damaso, ruthless towards Ibarra but surprisingly affectionate towards Maria Clara.

Stealing the show nonetheless was Stephanie Aguilar as the beleaguered mother Sisa. Her aria Awit ng Gabi ni Sisa showcased her agile coloratura that brought the house down. She was a hard act to follow but up to the task was Noel Comia, Jr., playing Sisa’s son Basilio, who continued to grip the audience with his solo. Noel was a late addition to the cast for the original Basilio, Mari Yapjoco got ill days before opening night. One of the few veterans among the cast, Greg de Leon as Elias, capped with passion the plight of the oppressed in the opera. And it was during this part towards the end of the opera, focusing on those belonging to the lower echelons of society, when the emotions ran high that had the audience very much affected.

Seeing and hearing something for the first time is always a challenge for me and Noli Me Tangere, the Opera was no exception. Only familiar with just two arias, Maria Clara’s Kay Tamis ng Buhay and Sisa’s Awit ng Gabi ni Sisa, it was tough listening to the rest of the music while keeping tabs of what’s going on stage. It would’ve helped me a lot had I’ve seen the 2014 Resorts World production or had there been a recording of the entire opera. I envy the members of the newly formed Noli Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Herminigildo Ranera to have been immersed with the music during the course of this production.

The opera resumes its run this week until February 3, 2017. Finally, Mari Yapjoco takes to the stage as Basilio. I also hope that the opening night’s technical issues and miscues will be sorted out then. If not for an already packed schedule, I would’ve loved to catch the opera again, see and hear a different set of leads and sink my teeth further into the material.

Cello rock group Break of Reality visits the Philippines

Break of Reality

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines brings to the country the signature cello rock sound of Break of Reality in a series of performances and workshops happening this January 30-February 3, 2017.

Composed of cellists Patrick Laird, Laura Metcalf, and Andrew Janss, and percussionist Ivan Trevino, Break of Reality is one of the world’s leading alt-classical chamber ensembles. In 2015, members of group were appointed music ambassadors by the U.S. Department of State.

  

The group heads over all the way to Zambales for a concert at Casa San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales on February 1, 2017, 6:00 PM. Metro Manila folks need not to worry for they are also set to perform on February 3, 2017, 6:00 PM at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati. Admission is free for both concerts.

Prior to the concerts, the quartet will conduct workshops on January 30, 2017, 9:00 AM at the Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP College of Music at the University of the Philippines and later at 2:00 PM at the Conservatory of Music of the University of Sto. Tomas.

Break of Reality was formed in 2003 at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. They’ve released for full length albums namely The Sound Between (2006), Spectrum of the Sky (2009), Covers (2012), and Ten (2014). To date, the group’s rendition of the Game of Thrones theme has garnered over 14 million views on YouTube.

Break of Reality’s tour in the Philippines is part of the American Music Abroad program, a people-to-people cultural exchange program designed to communicate America’s rich musical contributions and diverse culture to the global music scene.

Break of Reality Philippine Tour

Workshops

January 30, 2017, 9:00 AM | Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP College of Music, UP Diliman

January 30, 2017, 2:00 PM | UST Conservatory of Music

Concerts

February 1, 2017, 6:00 PM | Casa San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales

February 3, 2017, 6:00 PM | Glorietta Activity Center, Makati

Featuring:

Break of Reality

     Patrick Laird, cello

     Laura Metcalf, cello

     Andrew Janss, cello

     Ivan Trevino, percussion

Ticket price:

Free admission

To book for February 1, 2017 concert, click here.