Ochanine's dynamic baton / Christmas concerts galore

Charles Ives was known to be an iconoclast who did away with the traditional concepts of harmony, tonality and rhythm, favoring discords, polyrhythms and polytonality. Musicologists aver that Ives worked with poly-rhythms before Stravinsky; utilized terrifying discords before Bartok; employed polytonality before Stravinsky and Milhaud; ventured into atonality before Schoenberg; exploited tone clusters before Henry Cowell; introduced music of chance before Boulez.

If all the foregoing does not make Ives avant-garde, I don’t know what does. He was an avant-garde composer even before the term was invented, and indeed, “The Unanswered Question”, which the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra interpreted under Conductor Olivier Ochanine at the CCP Theater proved how unconventional and highly innovatve his music was (is).

The strings could hardly be heard as they consistently played the gentlest pianissimo under Ochanine who thus achieved a remarkable tour de force, the strings representing the silence of the Druids. The flute then unwaveringly engaged in the search for the “Invisible Answer” and Ochanine’s own mastery of the flute presumably helped the flutist’s rendition which progressed from animando (more animated) to con fuoco (with fire). The trumpet was heard intermittently yet the listener was still unable to find the answer to the question, with the baton wielder in absolute control of the “silences”.

Redentor Romero’s “Philippine Portraits” attempts to illustrate the diversity of Filipino music, weaving together ethnic and folk. Ochanine eloquently conveyed this wide diversity, capturing the essence and substance of the music, playing it as any Filipino conductor would have done. How enjoyably recognizable it was!

Tchaikovsky, highly critical of his own Francesa da Rimini, discredited the tone poem based on the fifth canto of Dante’s Inferno. However, several musicologists think the work of infinite value, elevating it to a higher level than Romeo and Juliet. As the PPO interpreted it under Ochanine’s dynamic baton, hell broke loose, figuratively speaking in thunderous, overpowering passages reflecting Francesca’s devastating fate for her infidelity to her bethrothed. Exquisite lyricism surfaced in the second movement, this proceeding toward a mighty, smoldering climax.

The opening and ending of the tone poem were in stark dramatic contrast to the “silences” of Ives’ score, making Ochanine a master of orchestral sounds, as it were, leaving the audience enthralled.

Excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” proved a delightful treat, particularly to balletomanes. Indeed, “Nutcracker” seems to be “the flavor of the month”: Raul Sunico played portions of it at the UST Christmas concert gala and at the Johann Strauss Society musicale; Ballet Manila just staged it; tonight it will be Ballet Theater’s turn at the Meralco. Ochanine’s zest, gusto and bouncy spirit would have ideally served the ballet dancers.

The second portion of the concert consisted of carols, with the Madrigals joyously performing. Ochanine induced listeners to join in some of the songs, thus closing the night with camaraderie and cheer.

Christmas concerts galore

Music lover and authority Eddie Yap played his favorite role as impresario for the Christmas Musical of the Johann Strauss Society headed by Fortune A. Ledesma and Olga S. Martel as chairman and president, respectively. Venue was the ravishingly elegant residence of Eddie and Dellie Yap.

International concertist Raul Sunico (introduced by Olga as a genius) masterfully played excerpts from “The Nutcracker”. The firm, powerful voice of baritone-tenor Roger Chua admirably soared in several carols.

Other performers were soprano Joy Tamayo, pianists Maria Victoria Gibson and Farley Asuncion.

In the audience were Austrian Ambassador and Mrs. Donko, Howard Belton, Agnes Huibonhua, Letty Syquia, Rod Cornejo and Evelyn R. Garcia, among others.

Last Dec. 12, the Peninsula Hotel headed by GM Jonathan Crook presented the PPO under “balikbayan” Ruggiero Barbieri, with PPO’s regular conductor Olivier Ochanine as guest flutist. Unfortunately, I missed hearing him. The concert also featured the remarkable soprano Camille Lopez-Molina and trumpet player Fredeling Parin.

The Mandarin Oriental’s GM Mark Bradford will present on Friday, Dec. 17 at 7:15 p.m. “The Glorious Sound of Christmas” at the hotel lobby. The Metro Manila Concert Orchestra will be conducted by Josefino “Chino” Toledo.