Excellence in orchestral music

Manila Symphony Orchestra unveils centennial lineup

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SOPRANO Rachelle Gerodias-Park performs "Mutya ng Pasig" with the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

TO CELEBRATE its 100th year, the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) will be mounting concerts that include collaborations with world-class musicians.

As one of Asia's oldest orchestras — it was founded in 1926 — it has seen its share of hardship. Even through upheavals like World War II and a global pandemic, it has continued holding accessible concerts around the country and supporting the education of music scholars, said MSO Artistic Director Jeffrey Solares.

"It's a daily struggle. It's not only during special years with wars or pandemics that we feel the specialness of keeping this orchestra alive," he said at a press conference on Jan. 7 in Circuit, Makati. "Every payday is special, making sure that there's enough funds in the bank. [With] every project, every scholar enrolled in the conservatory, every musician that gets sick, you can feel what it takes to keep the orchestra alive."

BOUNDLESS TALENT

One of the things that has remained consistent throughout the MSO's 100 years is being able to champion, celebrate, and collaborate with world-class Filipino and foreign musicians.

A hundred years ago, the MSO performed Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3 at its inaugural concert. For the anniversary concert on Jan. 22, the piece first conducted by the orchestra's founder Alexander Lippay in 1926 will be brought to life under the baton of Singaporean guest conductor Darrel Ang.

Meanwhile, closing the program will be the Philippine Madrigal Singers, taking on National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab's Misa 2000 and Te Deum, under the direction of Mark Anthony Carpio.