“Closer to the people.”
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President Arsenio J. Lizaso not only meant the phrase figuratively but also literally.
“I am bringing the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) to Ilo-ilo in March; in April, in Davao; and Legaspi in May,” Lizaso said. The PPO, he proudly remarked, is the country’s “national treasure, one of the living treasures that every Filipino must experience.”
Lizaso has brought the PPO to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to perform before cancer patients. “I believe in the healing power of music especially to the young kids who have cancer,” he explained.
“I believe in getting the art to the people,” the CCP president said who happens to be a veteran theater actor and television and film director. PPO has performed in free public concerts targeted to the masses.
“We have to get out…!”
Lizaso’s advocacy is to make art accessible to the grassroots, taking time to approach public officials and government offices to support his outreach projects.
“We have to get out (of CCP), we have to sell our products. We cannot just sit here,” Lizaso stressed.
Another strategy to bring the arts closer to people is through CCP’s cultural caravan. “Our bus is with a LED wall, and it will reach neglected areas. He said it will be brought even to slum areas “so that they would also know about ballet and classical music, stage plays, and the performing arts,” he explained.
It seemed that Lizaso’s strategy is taking an impact. At the opening of the PPO’s 35th concert season last September 15, 2017, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater), there was a notable large group of youth and ordinary folks dressed in casual attire at the CCP Main Lobby compared to previous concerts with the moneyed crowd adorned in their gala outfits.
Lizaso attributed this to going out of his way to local government unit officials, Deped and other entities. “I went out to invite them to get here,” he exclaimed. As a result, some of these organizations and individuals arranged transport accommodations for these audiences.
Russian pianist, Japanese conductor and world-class Filipino musicians
What happens when you bring an internationally acclaimed Russian piano soloist and recitalist, one of Japan’s most famous maestros and the PPO under one roof?
Audiences were transported to the celebration of the coronation of Charles X of France in 1825. The program opened with Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) II Viaggio a Reims-Overture. It was a work for an opera written for a French ruler.
It brought back 1855 with audiences listening to bold, soulful, dance-like orchestral experiences with the performance of Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Flat with Yury Shardrin as piano soloist.
Viewers experienced what Raul Sunico described in the program notes: “beautiful craftsmanship and melodic and harmonic richness” of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27. It was the final performance piece of the evening.
Fukumura’s podium dance
PPOs Music Director and Principal Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura commanded the orchestra with energetic passion, almost in a dramatic squatting position at some points, seemingly wanting to jump and fly to embrace his music. His conducting was burning with emotion. At times, he thumps his heart with his fist. And at one rare point, his torso leaned back, rested his left elbow on the podium bar while raising his baton on the air. His symphony of movements and the music emanating from the PPO are explicitly connected. Fukumura’s podium dance at the opening of the season was elegant. He is also the former music director of the Tokyo Ballet.
“He is terrific, the Japanese maestro works every day,” the CCP President said. He described the country’s leading orchestra under Fukumura’s leadership as “incomparable.” PPO is widely regarded as one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific region.
Noted cellist Ray Wang will grace the next PPO concert, with a performance of E. Lalo Cello Concerto in D minor on October 13, 2017.
-CRV