VERA Files
Music sources noted the first performance of Handel’s Messiah took place on April 13, 1742 in Dublin’s newest concert hall at the time. How come it is still the most performed choral masterpiece during Christmas time all over the world until 2022?
In a program that came as a mild shock to Iloilo City’s seasoned music lovers, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under Herminigildo Ranera highlighted its recent Iloilo outreach concert with pop and disco music sending its audiences cheering and stomping feet with VIP guests swaying on their seats Friday night at the Iloilo Convention Center.
By sheer will and determination, young classical musicians still find a way to survive a pop-dominated musical milieu.
Manila is Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff country judging by the number of times you hear Concertos No. 1 and No 2 of said composers.
Many events in both local and foreign history came to mind as pianist Hiyas Hila took center stage as soloist of the Philippine Philharmonic Sunday afternoon in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488.
Manila’s ballet scene bristled with excitement last weekend when three sets of Filipino Odette-Odiles took to the CCP stage for their baptism of fire in the world’s favorite ballet warhorse, Swan Lake.
Founded in 1973 as an accompanying orchestra of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Philharmonic — as it was known since 1982 – has evolved since the time of its first music conductor, Maestro Luis Valencia.
By JOSEPH CORTES CONSIDER yourself lucky if you were one of those who enjoyed The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s 40th anniversary concert last month because it may take some time before you will have the opportunity to listen to Ryan Cayabyab’s violin concerto that premiered that night. It has something to do with the […]
By JOSEPH CORTES THERE is a sense of anticipation surrounding the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert on Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. The show, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the country’s national orchestra, features a violin concerto specially commissioned to mark the occasion. In a country where the appreciation of classical music is in the minority, […]
By JOSEPH CORTES THE Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s recent concert “Deleon & Arutiunian” was a mixed bag of sorts. All the works performed that night were technically premieres because the PPO has no record of having played these pieces in its 39 years of existence. Two were tone poems, while the other two were virtuoso […]