Manila Symphony Orchestra launches 2012 Concert Season

Live Life with Music is how the Manila Symphony Orchestra ushers in their 2012 concert season. Coming off a successful 2011, the MSO has prepared a challenging and varied repertoire (including an opera and a special concert with Ryan Cayabyab) along with exciting guest artists like violinist Regina Buenaventura, pianist Victor Asuncion and conductor Robert Rÿker.

MSO Chairman Tony Boy Cojuangco hosted a dinner at La Regalade French Bistro launching the orchestra’s 2012 season. This dinner was attended by the MSO Board of Trustees, several members of the orchestra and other guests (including myself). The sections of the orchestra (strings, winds, brass, and percussion) were introduced and short pieces were performed so that the people who gathered that night would have an idea of what instruments made up each section of the orchestra and how each instrument sounded as well.

MSO’s executive director and associate conductor Jefrey Solares also informed everyone about the orchestra’s mission to educate and promote music more people especially those from outside of Metro Manila. And that they would use Filipino music, like folk songs for example in promoting music to them. So for this season, it will not be just the performances that the Manila Symphony Orchestra are looking forward to, but also their outreach program as well.

July 6 & 7, 2012
The MSO with Regina Buenaventura

Featuring:
Regina Buenaventura, violin
Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Paul Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Samuel Barber Violin Concerto, Op. 14

Zoltán Kodály Háry János Suite

August 10 & 11, 2012
Music by the Russian Masters

Featuring:
Victor Asuncion, piano
Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini: Symphonic Fantasy after Dante, Op. 32

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 in E flat major, Op. 70

September 21 & 22, 2012
Robert Rÿker

Featuring:
Robert Rÿker, conductor

Programme:
Claude Debussy Prelude to an Afternoon of a Faun

Richard Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Op. 28

Alfred Reed El Camino Real

Igor Stravinsky Suite from Petrouchka

October 26-28, 2012
Carmen

Featuring:
Lyric Opera Company

Special Concert with Ryan Cayabyab*

Date and venue to be announced

*The previously announced Special Concert with Ryan Cayabyab was replaced by a concert that featured soprano Claire Primrose and the music of Richard Wagner.

**The July 6, August 10 and Sepember 21, 2012 concerts will be held at the Francisco Santiago Hall at the South Tower of the BDO Corporate Center in Makati. The July 7, August 11, and September 22, 2012 concerts will be held at the Philamlife Auditorium. Bizet's Carmen will be held at St. Cecilia's Hall at St. Scholastica's College Manila.

Violinist Regina Buenaventura starts MSO’s 2012 Season

Violinist Regina Buenaventura

July 7, 2012 8:00 PM

Philam Life Auditorium

UN Avenue, Manila

Featuring:

Regina Buenaventura, violin

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Arturo Molina, conductor

Programme:

Paul Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Samuel Barber Violin Concerto, Op. 14

Zoltán Kodály Háry János Suite

I last saw Regina Buenaventura back in 2010 when she and Diomedes Saraza Jr., along with the Manila Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Arturo Molina, performed at My Dreams for My Children, a Standard Insurance, Inc. sponsored concert held at the FEU Auditorium. She and Saraza Jr. only did a movement of a violin concerto along with other show pieces. She played Brahms while his did Tchaikovsky but a single movement from both of them wasn’t enough for me. A few months later, I was able to see Saraza, Jr. perform all three movements of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto and it was followed by the Khachaturian a few months after that as well. So while I had two violin concerto performances by Saraza Jr. last year, I’ve yet to see Buenaventura perform a complete one. After almost two years, that time has finally come. Along with the MSO and conductor Arturo Molina, Regina Buenaventura will perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto this July 7, 2012, 8:00 PM at the Philamlife Auditorium. Other pieces featured in this evening are Paul Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which was made popular when it was featured in the Disney animated film Fantasia and also the rarely played piece by Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály: the Háry János Suite.

This concert starts the 2012 Concert Season of the Manila Symphony Orchestra although they did have a special concert with the Israeli musicians back in February. The orchestra also performs the same program on July 6, 2012, 8:00 PM at the Francisco Santiago Hall at the South Tower of the BDO Corporate Center in Makati. But if I’m not mistaken, this performance is exclusive for sponsors and subscribers only.

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

P600 Loge
-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

523-5712

info@manilasymphony.com