An April Evening with a String Quartet . . . Finale to MCOF Music Series 2013

Press Announcement:

What a perfect way to spend a romantic summer evening enjoying the pure sound of four string instruments playing music in unison.  This April 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ayala Museum, join Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation (MCOF) and Ayala Museum for an evening with the Philippine premiere of a string quartet, "Quartetto Espressivo" as the ensemble performs for you two of the most romantic works for string quartet ever written - Tchaikovsky's nostalgic first string quartet, and Verdi's heartwarming and the only String Quartet. This concert ends MCOF’s “Chamber Music Festival”, which opened last February 2013. 

 

Quartetto Espressivo won the first prize in the National Competition for Young Artists Chamber Music Category.  Each of the four members of the quartet are winners of the same music competition, and are regular members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.  The quartet is composed by violinist Christian Tan, second violinist Sara Maria Gonzales, Violist Ray Casey Concepcion, and cellist Gerry Graham Gonzales.  The ensemble's mains advocacy is perform Filipino classical compositions in string quartet arrangements to bring further awareness on, and appreciation for Filipino Art Music.

Tchaikovsky's first string quartet work is considered the first major great Russian string quartet.  Its second movement, famous in its own right, was based on a folk song heard by the composer whistled by a house painter.  When the quartet was performed at a Tribute concert for Leo Tolstoy, it was said to have brought Tolstoy to tears.  As a tribute to Giuseppe Verdi on his birth bi-centennial this year, we present his dramatic and only String Quartet.  Written before the world premiere of his famous opera Aida, the work demands impeccable technique from its performers, but filled with beautiful melodies only the King of Opera can imagine.

The MCO Foundation is a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1985 and is dedicated to the promotion of the classical arts.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999, MCOF at 750-0768 or 0920-9540053, and Allan 782-7164 or 0918-3473027. 

Turning Point:: An Evening of MCO Music

Press Release:

After the success of the first concert of the series which featured tenor Arthur Espiritu and pianist Najib Ismail, the MCO Foundation and Ayala Museum invite you again to another enchanting chamber music evening featuring two of the most loved chamber music written - the dramatic  3rd Piano Trio of Dvorak and the exquisite  Four Seasons of Piazzolla  in a concert entitled “Turning Point: A Chamber Music Evening” on March 6, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ayala Museum. Featured artists are some of the country's finest musicians headed by pianist Mary Anne Espina, violinist Gina Medina; and a new sensational, young cellist making waves in the international music scene, -Guo Qiele.

Gina Medina

Repertoire includes Antonín Leopold Dvořák’s “Third Piano Trio”, which is considered his most dramatic and passionate chamber music composition.  This work is a product of a series of disappointments including rejections from fellow composers, the death of his mother, and beginning of Dvorak’s musical friendship with Johannes Brahms. Brahms had a lasting influence on Dvorak. This work placed Dvorak among the league of great composer.  Another featured work is Astor Piazzolla’s “Four Seasons”, which After graduating from the Nadia Boulanger in Paris, Piazzolla returned to Buenos Aires to form a new tango ensemble mixing the traditional instruments with modern electric guitars.. He began composing in a style influenced by jazz and avant garde art music, and was dubbed tango nuevo. “Four Seasons” depicts the cycle of life in each of the four seasons of Buenos Aires but focusing on the urban nightlife throughout the year.

Mary Anne Espina

Leading the group is the two-time Aliw Awardee for the Best Instrumentalist Category, pianist Mary Anne Espina.  Known for her excellence in chamber music, she is one of the most sought after collaborating artists in the country today.  She has teamed up with violinist Frederic Pellassy of France,  Violinist Hagai Shaham of Israel,  Russian violinist Anastacia Chebotareva, the winner of Tchaikovsky and Paganini Competition,  Sopranos Joan Gibbons, Kaori Sato, Leigh Adolph to name but a few.   Likewise, distinguished Gina Medina has gained a vital seat in the Philippines' classical music circle as an admired violinist for both solo and chamber music concerts.  She has performed with distinguished artists including pianist Nena del Rosario, violinist Chino Bolipara, cellist Willie Pasamba, Renato Lucas to name a few.  She is currently the concert master of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.  The sensational 16-year old Chinese cellist Guo Qiele was named one of the "Ten Talented Young Artists of China" when he was only 14.  Two years later, he took part in a national cello competition "Ai qin bei" and won the 2nd prize.  Currently he is the prized student of world reknowned Cellist Qin Li Wei in Singapore. (Cellist Qin Li Wei has given a concert under the aegis of the MCO Foundation where he received numerous standing ovations in fully-attended concert.) Quile regularly participates in masterclasses including the one conducted by pedagogue Frans Helmerson, Louis Claret and Luise Hopkins.  He is a regular member of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra in Singapore.

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999,  MCOF at 750-0768 or 0920-954-0053, Allan (782-7164 or 0918-347-3027).