The Manila Symphony Orchestra proves that orchestral music is alive with a sold-out show in Tokyo, Japan
By Poch Eulalia
Orchestral music isn’t dead, as some would have you believe.
While it might not be the type of music that tops the streaming charts, orchestral music has always stayed alive in ways you probably haven’t noticed. Just listen closely to the films and shows you watch or the games you play.
Can you imagine a Star Wars film without John Williams’ epic score, which was heavily inspired by Gustav Holt’s “The Planets” suite? What about watching Game of Thrones without the iconic opening theme you never seem to skip? Or opening Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim game without the intense Dovahkiin (Dragonborn) track playing as you are greeted by its main menu screen?
Orchestral music lives on and the Manila Symphony Orchestra proves just that with a sold-out show at the Tokyo City Opera Concert Hall slated in Japan on Oct. 5, 2022.
The 70-man orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Marlon Chen, will be performing alongside the Kbs Symphony Orchestra of Korea and the Ryukyu Symphony Orchestra of Japan to celebrate Asia Orchestra Week. Audience members will be graced with pieces such as Lucio San Pedro’s “Lahing Kayumanggi,” Prokofiev’s “Ballet Suite” from Romeo and Juliet, and Elgar’s Cello Concerto with award-winning Filipino cellist Dadomar Das Castillo at its helm.
Castillo, a full scholar at Austria’s prestigious Mozarteum Music University, thanks to Standard Insurance’s “In Pursuit of Excellence” program, has notably received five top prizes in various international music competitions in Estonia, Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Italy. He gained recognition as the youngest member of the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra after joining at the age of six, performing as one of its featured soloists in various concerts and tours in Austria, Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Audience members will be graced with pieces such as Lucio San Pedro’s ‘Lahing Kayumanggi,’ Prokofiev’s ‘Ballet Suite’ from Romeo and Juliet, and Elgar’s Cello Concerto with award-winning Filipino cellist Dadomar Das Castillo at its helm.
While the show is sold out in Japan, you can still be lucky enough to catch a preview of the performance entitled “Voyage: An MSO Send-Off Concert for Asia Orchestra Week,” on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ayala Museum’s main lobby.
Tickets are available onsite and online at ayalamuseum.org/events/rhc-voyage.