Two masters share limelight: Ochanine and Renato Lucas / Guitarists perform Sept. 28

Richard Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben” (A Hero’s Life) and Saint-Saens’ “Bacchanale” from the opera “Samson and Delilah” were the choices of Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor Olivier Ochanine; Elgar’s “Cello Concerto” was the choice of Renato Lucas — all three selections for last week’s concert at the CCP main theater.

“A Hero’s Life” consists of The Hero, The Hero’s Adversaries, The Hero’s Helpmate, The Hero’s Words of Peace, The Hero’s Flight from the World and Self-Development.

To some musicologists, Strauss’ 50-minute work based on his own “heroic” life, “has excessive noise and technical wizardry; the battle scene is tedious rather than exciting, and the love music sounds suspiciously like the smug sentimentality of the fireside rather than a noble, elevated passion.”

Ochanine, however, masterfully succeeded in making the PPO rise above the over-extended composition’s unavoidable shortcomings. Under his guidance, the ensemble traversed the widest range of dynamics, from varying degrees of pianissimo evoking sadness and grief, to varying degrees of fortissimo ending in shattering climaxes picturing battle scenes.

The enlarged orchestra, with additional members in each section, was producing a bigger volume and playing with compelling inspiration under Ochanine: the strings were strikingly cohesive; thewoodwinds and brasses, firmly assured; the percussions, precise and powerful. The ensemble’s abrupt and brief pauses were arresting; its tutti passages electrifying and often overwhelming.

The Oxford dictionary defines “bacchanale” as “an occasion of wild and drunken revelry”, conjuring “a worshipper or follower of Bacchus, the Greek or Roman god of wine”. With vigor and robustness, Ochanine reflected the rousing spirit of Saint-Saens’ “Bacchanale”, the utter abandon of its revellers. The piece, beginning and ending with fire and frenzy, had an eloquently soft, gentle sequence intervening.

Throughout both orchestral works, all sections were pressed into excellent service, and as Strauss piece ended, Maestro Ochanine justifiedly beckoned the soloists to rise, take a bow and acknowledge the lusty applause.

“Concerto for Cello and Orchestra” by Elgar is not only the ast of is major works but also one of hismost sigificant. Renato Lucas, the PPO's principal cellist for the last three decades, does not oftten perform as soloist. But whenever he does, he immediately asserts his position as a leading cellist, comparable to the best of his peers in the local scene.

He performed Elgar's Concerto without a score, his keenly sensitive artistry and utmost skill characterizing his interpretation. The scherzo of the second movement was exciting; indeed, breath-taking. In the slow movement, Lucas was profoundly expressive as he conveyed its meditative and tranquil mood, the orchestra reflecting it, with an exquisite dialogue ensuing. Lucas was alternately rhapsodic and lambent in his rendition, and how admirably virtuosic in the cadenzas!

Response to audience clamor was an unaccompanied piece by Bach impeccably interpreted. Ochanine, after the Strauss epic, closed the program with a dance from Aram Khatchaturian’s “Gayne Ballet”. Even more than the “Bacchanale”, the work, with Ochanine’s sweeping baton, sent the music thundering over the rafters.

That night, the audience, absolutely enthralled, had witnessed two masters sharing the limelight as well as the fervid approbation for a formidable concert.

Guitar winners perform

Arthur Erskine Basilio and Ramoncito Carpio, top winners of the 2011 Philippine International Guitar Competition, will perform in a concert billed “Men with Guitars” on Sept. 28. 7:30 p.m. at the CCP Little Theater.

Program includes Tedesco’s “Capriccio Diabolico”, Walton’s “Bagatelles”, “Villa-Lobos’ Etudes, jazz pieces, Tarrega’s “Fantasia” on themes from “La Traviata”, Bach’s “Allegro Asai” from Violin Sonata No. 3, Kaspar Mertz’s “Variation Mignonnes”, Pujol’s “Elegia”, Houghton’s “State” and De Falla’s “La Vida Breve”.