How the Manila Philharmonic brings orchestra music closer to younger generations

The first act ended with an ABBA medley consisting of Mamma Mia, Chiquitita, Thank You For The Music, and Dancing Queen with the Philippine Madrigal Singers (Madz). While audiences are used to hearing these songs in the iconic voices of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, it was electric to hear Madz’s rendition.

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Once the audience returned to their seats, we were presented with “Act Two: Camera”—starting with the Game of Thrones opening theme by the MPO, Philippine Madrigal Singers, and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Singers. Hearing the two companies harmonise was a treat that kept the audience spellbound for the show’s second half.

In a sudden yet seamless shift, the MPO with the UST Singers presented us with a rock medley consisting of Aerosmith’s I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing and Goo Goo Dolls’ Iris from Armageddon and City of Angels. These classic rock songs satisfied many fans of the genre and added a great deal of variety to an orchestra concert.

In the middle of the performance—at the end of Skyfall from the James Bond film—the production ran into some technical difficulties. As the microphones stopped working, Maestro Colmenar was forced to improvise to keep the audience entertained. While difficulties are always unwanted, we were able to hear some of Colmenar’s accounts in the industry.

He shared a story about his former student, Dulcissimo “Dodong” Terrado. He was an underprivileged child living in Tondo a decade ago when the MPO visited the area as part of their children’s orchestra project. The company allowed him to rise, fitting him with his first instrument and teaching him how to play. 

“Ten years later, a man approached me and introduced himself. I didn’t recognise him at first, but when he said, ‘Sir, ako po si Dodong,’ it all came back. Now, he’s a successful graduate and has toured Europe and Asia,” shared Colmenar.

Upon returning, Escalante shook the ground with a breathtaking performance of Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard. Her rendition of the popular song was memorable, if the audience’s thunderous applause is any indication. This was followed by another showstopping solo by Maigue, singing Lady Gaga’s Always Remember Us This Way from A Star is Born. With two heartbreaking songs back-to-back, I could feel a knot forming in my stomach and was holding back my tears.

As if to blindside the audience, Ferrer returned on stage to sing Speak Softly Love from The Godfather. Hearing the first notes played by the MPO immediately made our ears perk up in anticipation of such an iconic score. Unexpectedly, he performed the Italian version instead of the English version, a surprising move that convinced me he was one of this generation’s greats. In just one night, he showed hundreds of people his range and mastery of the craft.

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Preparing to close the show, the Madz treated the audience with a feel-good performance of La La Land’s Epilogue. Just when we thought the MPO was all out of tricks, Maestro Colmenar introduced Japanese violinist Shiho Takashima for a memorable solo of Cinema Paradiso’s theme. Takashima’s skill with the violin filled the air with an ethereal aura, calming our nerves while making the audience somewhat melancholic.

The soothing atmosphere was then revitalised by perhaps the most awaited scores in the concert—The Girl Who Fell From The Sky and Merry Go Round of Life from Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky and Howl’s Moving Castle. The playful themes reminded the audience of times of innocence. The UST Singers and the Madz made their final appearance alongside Maigue as they performed Titanic’s theme.

Finally, the orchestra closed the concert with the Star Wars opening theme accompanied by some visuals that immersed the audience in a journey through hyperspace. Lights, Camera, Encore! couldn’t end without an encore, and what better way to do that than with an explosive performance of Duel of the Fates from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace? It would be an understatement to say that the MPO performed this flawlessly as they evoked the same intense feeling of watching Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi fight against Darth Maul for the first time.

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