MMCO presents ‘Gershwin Plus’ at Audi Global Showroom
MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Concert Orchestra (MMCO) presents “Gershwin Plus” set on Nov. 28, Friday, 8 p.m., at the Audi Global City Showroom on 11th Ave. corner 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. Enjoy rousing music, jazzy notes, and bursts of romantic tones in this concert featuring four great composers: Gershwin, Bernstein, Copland and Dvo?ák.
Music lovers will definitely be enchanted by Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, which will be performed by pianist Cristine Coyiuto with the MMCO and conductor Josefino “Chino” Toledo. According to Coyiuto, the spirited melodies of the late American composer inspired her to select the piece for the concert.
She said, “After having performed the Khachaturian Concerto last year and the Mozart K488 this past July, I thought it would be quite interesting and fun to do a different genre this time with the MMCO — the Gershwin Concerto in F. What attracted me most to this piece was its exciting rhythms, with a touch of Charleston dance and blues, the unique combination of jazz and classical elements, interjected with a bit of the American Broadway theater.”
Coyiuto is considered one of Philippines’ most outstanding and admired pianists, and continues to enjoy overwhelmingly critical acclaim. Her concerts have earned her the titles “Pianists’ Pianist” and “Poetess of the Piano.” A recipient of a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, New York, Coyiuto was a lauréate of the Académie Internationale de Musique “Maurice Ravel” in St. Jean-de-Luz, France and Genève Conservatoire in Switzerland.
Coyiuto has given numerous recitals and appeared as an orchestral soloist in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. Her 2013 performance included the Khachaturian Piano Concerto with the MMCO.
Critic Rosalinda Orosa of The STAR wrote of her performance: “This piano concerto was composed for virtuosos, Cristine Coyiuto undoubtedly among them...the audience rose in immense admiration for the pianist who had exceeded all expectations!”
Leading the MMCO is its founding music director and conductor Josefino “Chino” Toledo. A TOYM awardee and International Awards for Arts recipient, Toledo is noted for premiering works of Filipino composers as well as Asian composers. As conductor of the MMCO, he has led the MMCO to critically acclaimed 14 concert seasons. Last September 2013, The New Juilliard Ensemble premiered Toledo’s Mga Sulyap sa Simbahan ng Quiapo Mula sa Kalye Echague (Glimpses of Quiapo Church from Echague Street) for 18 instrumentalists at the Juilliard’s Peter Sharp Theatre in New York City.
Completing the “Gershwin Plus” program are Bernstein’s Candide Overture, Copland’s Rodeo, and Dvo?ák’s American Suite. For tickets and inquiries, call Imelda at 813-1866 or 0917-8226192 and MMCO 533-7629 or 0915-5244085.
Catch other “Gershwin Plus” concerts at the following venues: Santuario de La Salle in Bacolod on Nov. 19; Luce Auditorium in Dumaguete City at the Silliman University on Nov. 21 and 22, with selections from Harry Potter and The Phantom of the Opera. Joining the MMCO in the Dumaguete concerts will be flutist Crystal Rodis who will be performing Griffes’ Poem and violinist Kristine Claire Uchi-Galano who will be performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto (3rd movt.)
“Gershwin Plus” is presented with the support of Prudential Guarantee, PGA Cars, Air21, Lyric Piano, and Lettered L.
