Striking a chord with classical musicians
MANILA, Philippines - The MCO Foundation Inc. (named for the now-defunct Manila Chamber Orchestra) sprang into action recently in the first press conference they have hosted in nine years, held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). It was a collective celebration of their 25th anniversary and an unveiling of the upcoming Great Performance Series 2010.
Although it is an institution committed to the promotion of classical music and the cultural arts, MCO Foundation avoided speaking solely through their musicians’ vibrant pieces. Watching over the entire event was a man who not only freely mingled with guests, hosts and musicians but also chose to seat himself in a table full of journalists, pleasantly answering any queries and requests sent his way. He turned out to be Baltazar N. Endriga, former president of CCP and current chair of MCOFI.
Executive director Camila Angeli R. Nacino opened the program with a narration of the institution’s long and (unfortunately) turbulent history. The Manila Chamber Orchestra was formed by a core group of musicians in 1985 who had banded together after having dispersed from the Manila Symphonic Orchestra, which broke up due to financial troubles.
Performances were primarily held at PCI Bank’s Francisco Santiago Hall, eventually earning the venue its esteemed titles — “Makati’s Cultural Oasis” and “Hall of the Classics” being two of them. However, a constant string of buyouts and transfers in ownership resulted in the MCO Foundation’s loss of the beloved hall in 2007. This first-class venue is currently under renovation, and the MCOFI aspires to return to it eventually.
As a distressing example of the struggles that classical musicians in the Philippines face today, the actual orchestra of MCO is now defunct. It was dissolved in 1993.
Nevertheless, the MCO Foundation continues to thrive and, as clarified by Nacino, continues its goals of promoting classical music to this day through various means. Its aims include developing artists and allowing topnotch Filipino musicians to visit from abroad and garner appreciation from their own homeland for a change.
Its steady stream of endeavors includes the MCO Arts Festival, a flagship project held annually for more seasoned artists, the Young Artist Recital Series, and the Business Executives Cultural Series, a “crash course in liberal arts” designed especially for businessmen. It also provides audience development programs to bring classical music to schools, through “informances” (informed performances) and “edutainment,” and hosts outreach programs to bring bands and chamber music groups to less privileged areas. Working tirelessly from every approach and managing to cover each and every target audience without pay, the members undoubtedly help in confirming the foundation’s description as a “non-stop and non-profit organization.”
Three concerts are lined up for the Great Performance Series 2010, with Trio con Brio kicking it off on Sept. 5. It will feature the talents of Joseph Esmilla (violin), Rudolf Golez (piano) and Victor Coo (cello) — all of whom gave sample performances during the presscon.
Rudolf Golez dubbed himself a “living, breathing product of MCO,” having entered Julliard (as did Esmilla) at 13. “An experience in concert is worth a thousand lessons,” he declared before sitting down before an old wooden piano (which had been literally fine-tuned for him before the event). Everyone’s attention was briefly drawn to his remarkable silver-sequined shoes, before he wowed the auddenince with Chopin’s Military Polonaise. He was then joined by renowned cellist Victor Coo — who is based in Taiwan and arrived in Manila just recently — to perform another piece.
Rounding off the performances was Joseph Esmilla, who was a concertmaster and associate conductor of the Manila Chamber Orchestra and currently enjoys an active concert career. He pulled out his violin and executed a fast and furious rendition of Tango No. 3.
During the question-and-answer portion, the three performers avidly discussed the debate concerning classical music versus other genres (particularly pop music), in relation to the plight of the artist when the built-in target audience is a small one. Esmilla wished to dispel notions that to be a classical musician is to be an elitist. “When I’m 40, I might start to play jazz. I have many more years ago,” he acknowledged.
Golez added that to be a good artist, one needed to have conviction; “You cannot be fence-sitting.” The three also posed their own theory as to why classical music was not more popular in the Philippines. “It is not as instant when it comes to gratification,” they admitted. Nevertheless, all expressed high hopes for the future. “It will take time,” Golez said sheepishly.
* * *
The three headline Trio con Brio, to be performed at Philam Life Theater on Sept. 5 at 7:30 pm. The second concert, Duo Concertante, will be on October 10 and will feature Qin Li Wei on cello and Albert Tiu on piano. Finally, Qin Le Wei’s Masterclass is a special event to take place on Oct. 8.
Tickets are available at Ticketworld (891-999) and at the MCO Foundation (750-0768, 0920-054-0053). The MCO Foundation is also currently accepting donations at this time.
