The Manila Symphony Orchestra Celebrates 85 Years of Music

The Manila Symphony Orchestra is proudly one of Asia's first orchestras. Established in 1926, this year marks the orchestra's 85th anniversary, which naturally calls for a grand celebration. The MSO's 2011 Concert Season is a year-long celebration of musical excellence, with repertoire and soloists that are significant to the orchestra's distinguished history, while at the same time, look forward to the MSO's future as part of the international music scene. The season opens with The Viennese Symphonic Tradition on June 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Through this concert, the MSO joins a worldwide celebration of Gustav Mahler's centennial, with prestigious orchestras around the world performing the composer's highly challenging symphonies. Mahler is considered the last great symphonist of the Viennese tradition. The concert fittingly includes in its program a cello concerto by Franz Joseph Haydn, who is the Father of the Viennese Symphony. This performance is made even more significant by the featured soloist, Wilfredo Pasamba, an internationally recognized Filipino cellist who was a long-time member of the MSO and one of the pioneers present went the orchestra was reborn in 2001.

The second concert of the season is The Artistry of Thanos Adamopoulos on July 9 at the Philamlife Auditorium. Adamopoulos, a renowned conductor from Belgium, will serve both as guest conductor and violin soloist. He is also serves as a mentor of the prestigious Asian Youth Orchestra, which many of the MSO members have been part of. With a repertoire featuring Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, Mozart's Overture to Marriage of Figaro, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, the audience will surely be treated to some favorites from the symphonic repertoire. The MSO, after being disbanded in 1989 due to lack of support, was reinstated in 2001 under the able hands of its longtime concertmaster, Prof. Billy Manalo. Aside from being the MSO's 85th year, the orchestra likewise celebrates its 10th year of rebirth with Re-Formation on August 27 at the Philamlife Auditorium. The concert features Filipino Juilliard scholar Dio Saraza, who was nurtured under the MSO and PREDIS music programs and was mentored by Prof. Manalo. Saraza has gone on to excel as a student at Juilliard, garnering recognition and awards for his superb performances. The fourth concert of the season, Facets of Romanticism on October 8 at the Philamlife Auditorium, features the MSO at its best, perforning the deeply dramatic works of Romantic composers Strauss, Lizst, and Brahms. The concert features pianist Rudolf Golez, another renowned soloist that has formed a long-time harmonious relationship with the orchestra. The inaugural concert of the MSO in 1926 was an all-Beethoven program, conducted by Austrian conductor Alexander Lippay. The MSO caps its anniversary season with a nod to its origins, with another equally impressive all-Beethoven concert with a repertoire including the Prometheus Overture, Symphony No. 7 in A Major, and Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Noted Russian conductor Alexander Vikulov will wield the baton, while the MSO's music director and principal conductor Arturo Molina takes the stage as featured violinist together with noted musicians, pianist J. Greg Zuniega and cellist Victor Michael Coo. Don’t miss the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s 85th anniversary season! Season subscriptions are available, with special discounts and benefits for subscribers. For inquiries and reservations, call Ms. Jedi Villar at 0916-7015628 or the MSO office at 523-5712.