Prize-winning clarinetist teams up with acclaimed tenor Oct. 17
Prize-winning clarinetist Andrew Constantino is all set to return to live concerts with internationally acclaimed tenor Arthur Espiritu at the Manila Pianos on Oct. 17, Monday, 6 p.m. and on Oct. 20, Thursday, 4 p.m. at the University of the Philippines Visayas in Iloilo City.
His last live concerts before the pandemic were his first stints with the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) and also the last live concert at the Nelly Garden in Iloilo City.
Constantino has been able to adjust to the new situation. “I learned new things, like audio mixing, mastering, and video editing,” he says. “I had a steady source of income even if I was not performing live.”
Like most artists affected by the closure of concert venues, he turned to doing virtual concerts. “Because I did not want to risk my health and the people around me, I really refused to perform live,” recounts Constantino. “Luckily, my video and audio editing produced regular clients from the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. I was able to build my modest business. Of course, I did not forget my goals as a professional musician. I still practiced every day and learned new pieces and orchestral excerpts. I did it with the hope that when the situation got better, I would prepared to go back and perform live.”
The result was his virtual concert with pianist Dingdong Fiel called “Leap of Faith” in an hour of contemporary pieces also at the Manila Pianos.
Now and then, he was kept busy conducting a band in his native Imus in Cavite.
‘It was refreshing to see that even if we are coping with the pandemic, we can still showcase our talents virtually. Luckily, we got the gold!’
Just for the fun of it, his band joined the Malaysia International Virtual Band Championship along with his colleagues. “It was refreshing to see that even if we are coping with the pandemic, we can still showcase our talents virtually. Luckily, we got the gold!” beams Constantino
Still, the biggest disappointment was that the pandemic interrupted his stint with the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra where he was earlier accepted as vice principal clarinetist. “China had to temporarily close its borders and as a result, my dreams of working in an orchestra got postponed,” he says. “I was a fresh graduate then. I was really excited about my first ever professional work. You can just imagine how the pandemic affected me so much. To be quite honest, I even stopped playing for months and it made me question my career. On the other hand, I know that I cannot stop and I tried to further research and listen to other musicians who played the pieces before just to get a new set of ideas on how I could interpret them. The rehearsals with Sir Dingdong (Fiel) were fun and educational because he also gave me his input on the other pieces.”
With the gradual return of live performances, he is ready for the big challenge.
In the concert with tenor Espiritu and pianist GJ Frias, the clarinetist will play “Fantasia” on the opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi as arranged by Donato Lovreglio (1841-1907) and “Fantasia” on the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi as arranged by Luigi Bassi (1833-1871).
call 09065104270).