Judo, karate black belts to open PPO’s 34th season on September 9

Two internationally famous Japanese musicians will share the stage at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater on September 9 to open the 34th concert season of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

One of them is a judo black belter, while the other holds a 3rd degree karate black belt.

The new PPO music director, Yoshikazu Fukumura, who quietly assumed the post last May, is a judoka. He is the first Japanese to hold the PPO post. The featured violinist for the concert, Ryu Goto, is a member of the Japan Karate Association.

A native of Tokyo and regarded as a maverick in the Japanese classical music scene, Fukumura, 70, had been a guest conductor of the PPO in its 2012, 2013, and 2015 seasons.

In his younger years Fukumura favored jeans and sported long hair—almost a taboo among the staid ranks of Japanese classical music conductors.

For his first PPO season opener, Fukumura drafted a fellow Japanese to be the featured soloist: violinist Ryu Goto.

The elegantly handsome Goto received his undergraduate degree in physics from Harvard in 2011 and is a 3rd degree judo black belt.

Violinist Ryu Goto will open the PPO's 34th season. Photo: Ayako Yamamoto

He will perform on a 1722 Stradivarius, “Jupiter,” lent him by the Nippon Music Foundation. Presently mentored by Italian violin professor Ana Chumachenco, Goto made his debut at the age of 7 at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, playing Paganini's Violin Concerto No.1.

On Sept. 9, he will perform Berlioz’s Roman Carnival - Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor with the PPO under Fukumura's baton.

Appearing before a small group of journalists on Aug. 30 for an interview, Fukumura wore a formal black barong Tagalog with understatedly intricate white embroidery.

Saying what's on his mind

Fluent in Spanish and conversant in English, Fukumura formally spoke to journalists via a Filipino interpreter, declaring that he is an “unusual Japanese” because he says what is on his mind.

“I want to work on increasing PPO's audience. I am disappointed by the low audience count in PPO concerts. One idea that I have is to perform classical music pieces that are popular with the classical music fans and lovers,” said Fukumura through the Filipino interpreter.

“It is important to go back to the basics of classical music to reform the PPO and to teach the audience to appreciate classical music,” he said.

Fukumura added that while the PPO's musicians have "great musicality," their technique needs to improve.

“We have to work hard on mastering the techniques. An improved orchestra will inspire the audience to come and watch. Then, both the orchestra and audience benefit from these improvements,” he said.

Fukumura also said he wants the orchestra members to be disciplined, punctual, and professional.

PPO Music Director Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura faces the Philippine media on August 30, 2016. Photo: Ibarra C. Mateo

In his decades-long career, Fukumura has conducted orchestras in his native Japan, in other Asian countries, and in parts of Latin America, where he was based for over 25 years.

In 1995, he was named honorary conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba.

Specifically asked to characterize the Filipino classical music audience, Fukumura said, “Filipinos love music in general” and that the PPO members themselves “make good music.”

Fourteen short

Meanwhile, CCP vice president and artistic director Chris Millado told reporters that the new PPO head has also pointed out that the 65-member PPO “still lacks 14 members to be considered a full orchestra.”

“Together with Maestro Fukumura, we will work on addressing this important issue given the limitations and constraints of working within a government institution,” Millado said.

Praising Fukumura’s initial bid to change the classical music repertoire of the PPO, Millado said he had listened to all the pieces being featured in the 2016-2017 season. “The pieces for this season are among your essential and quintessential classical music works,” he said.

Season lineup

On October 14, Japanese soprano Shoko Fukuda, Filipino alto Camille Lopez-Molina, Japanese tenor Hiroshi Watanabe, Filipino bass Noel Azcona, and a chorus of 100 members will perform with the PPO. Program includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C and Symphony No. 9 in D minor.

On November 11, Uruguayan guitarist Eduardo Fernandez performs with the PPO. Featured works consist of Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Vivaldi's Guitar Concert in D, Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, Enrique Granados’ Intermezzo from Goyescas, and Geronimo Gimenez’s Intermezzo from La Boda de Luis Alonso.

Filipino conductor Maestro Herminigildo Ranera takes over on December 16 for a performance of featuring Franz von Suppe’s Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna, Antonino Buenaventura’s Concert for Bassoon and Orchestra in F minor op. 87, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor.

The PPO String Quartet with CCP Vice President Chris Millado (third from left) and PPO Music Director Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura (fourth from left) on August 30, 2016. Photo: Ibarra C. Mateo

Greeting 2017, Fukumura returns to conduct the PPO in its New Year concert on January 20.  Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 in C, Elgar’s Enigma Variations, and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto will be showcased, with Filipino violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr. performing as guest soloist.

On February 17, former PPO music director Olivier Ochanine will return to conduct the orchestra through Tchaikovsky’s March Slave, Haydn’s Symphony No. 88 in G, and D. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10.

Fukumura leads the PPO on March 17 for a performance of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8 in G, Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Suite, with Filipino cellist Renato Lucas as soloist.

For its season-ender concert on April 21, Fukumura conducts the PPO and French pianist Monique Duphil as guest soloist. Music pieces will include Gershwin’s “Girl Crazy – Overture and Piano Concerto in F, Copland’s El Salon Mexico, Arturo Marquez’ Danzon No. 2, and El Conga del Fuego.

All concerts will be held at the CCP's Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) at 8:00 p.m. — BM/KG, GMA News

The 34th season of the PPO will run from September to April.

For inquires, call the CCP Marketing Department at 832-1125 local 1806, the CCP Box Office at 832-3704, or Ticketworld at 891-9999.