Homegrown orchestra to back up Andrea Bocelli

ANDREA Bocelli PDI file photo

The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra was recently chosen to accompany Italian classical crossover singer Andrea Bocelli in his concert at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on April 26, according to the ensemble’s conductor and music director, Gerard Salonga.

“We sent videos of some of our take on classical pieces to the producers of the show, and we got the job,” Salonga told reporters shortly after the culminating recital for participants of a three-day conducting workshop that he presided over.

He said that the music for the coming Manila show—part of Bocelli’s “Cinema of the World” tour—are expected to arrive two to three weeks ahead. Some members of the orchestra, he added, have already played for the renowned tenor’s first gig in the country in 2004.

“My job is to rehearse the orchestra… prepare them for the concert’s official conductor, who’s set to arrive a day before the concert,” related Salonga.

Salonga also announced that the 42-piece group will perform the musical score of the movie adaptation of Nick Joaquin’s play, “Ang Larawan,” as well as that of an coming film about the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Aside from such projects, the orchestra has been continuing with its various initiatives to promote the genre, and help educate and hone the talents of aspiring classical musicians. He stressed the importance of training new orchestral conductors, especially since there aren’t too many of them in the country.

“We have lots of choral conductors, but not orchestral,” Salonga pointed out, adding that the recent workshop—which was only on a trial stage—came about after the ABS-CBN Philharmonic failed to find an assistant conductor a couple of months ago. “If we can’t find one, let’s see whom we can teach,” Salonga added.

At the moment, the workshop is invitational, with the first batch featuring TV and film composer Francis Concio, singer-theater composer Ejay Yatco and singer-musician Toma Cayabyab. “They were taught different techniques—how to put your point of view across, facilitate change in tempo, sustain the orchestra’s energy, etc.,” Salonga said.

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