The Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) treated Manila music lovers to engaging symphonic listening recently at the Ayala Museum that featured young violinist Jeanne Rafaella Marquez as its soloist. John L. Silva of the board of trustees welcomed the audience, whom he informed of the MSO’s mission to “inspire through music, cultivate the next generation of musicians, and share unforgettable musical experiences with our audience.”
Jeffrey Solares, the orchestra’s associate conductor, announced the program and introduced Justin Texon as the concert’s guest concert master, and his better half, Jareena Inacay Texon, as guest violinist in the second violin row.
The orchestra, conducted by its music director, Marlon Chen, roused its listeners in its opening number, Puccini’s “Preludio Sinfonico,” an earlier work composed during the composer’s student days. At once, the MSO bewitched the audience with its solid performance. Needless to say, the work served as an effective rousing opener.
Marquez was the toast of the evening. A winner of competitions held in Manila, Singapore, Vienna and New York, she hushed the audience, who listened intently to her playing of the formidable Brahms Violin Concerto. She surged through the three-movement work and eloquently displayed a virtuosity of high order, combining both technical prowess and mature disposition.
In the first movement, she dished out those challenging arpeggios with solid dispatch, and rendered the cadenza, written by the composer’s close friend Joseph Joachim, with flourish. The rich orchestration of the second movement, which the musicians played brilliantly, was full of aural allure from the violinist’s dynamic embellishments. The final movement was all the more absorbing as the young violinist dished out those third and sixth chords, and crafted elegantly the short cadenza before the piece came to its grand ending.
Rapport
The rapport between violinist Marquez and Chen was tight. Chen wielded his baton with solid dispatch, as he forged intimate rapport with the musicians. Together, they mesmerized the listeners with a superb playing of Brahms’ only violin concerto.
A thunderous applause greeted the violinist at the end, as she acknowledged some curtain calls. The applause only quieted with her playing of Bach’s Gigue in E major. This was followed by a duo that she did with the Germany-based Texon. They played Aleksey Igudesman “La Cucaracha” for two violins, to the delight of the audience.
In the second half of the concert, one had more pleasurable symphonic listening with no less than Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, the “Pathetique.” Chen and the MSO performed this gargantuan symphonic piece with a broad sweep, so to speak. The orchestra’s young musicians played with gusto as they surged though the four-movement work.
The familiar second theme of the adagio-allegro non troppo of the first movement, which Tin Pan Alley adopted as “This is the Story of A Starry Night” all the more moved the audience to intent listening. The musicians played with conviction, and ensemble playing among them was as its best. All the more astounding was their rapport with the conductor, who stood at the podium with dynamic poise, as the orchestra played for more than 40 minutes.
When the last note of the lugubrious last movement-adagio lamentoso was sounded, the audience froze for a while before bursting into a thunderous applause.
As the oldest orchestra in Asia, the MSO deserves the patronage of everyone, both in the private and public sectors. It is a living embodiment of Filipinos’ astounding musicality that deserves continual support. Bravo, MSO!
Successful recital
Congratulations to clarinetist Herald C. Sison for his successful recital held recently at Manila Pianos. The recital was facilitated by Richard Sy-Facunda, a true patron of the musical arts, who arranges performances at the venue.
Gabriel Allan F. Paguirigan provided collaboration at the piano, and Rhonnel M. Ibañez at the percussion. Congratulations!
