LIVELY renditions of staple classical music thrilled Thomasians in “Opus II,” a concert by the UST Symphony Orchestra at the Albertus Magnus Auditorium last May 25.
With Conservatory of Music student Jedrick Itugot on the baton, the orchestra returned to powerful arrangements of romantic and opera classics, after performing mostly contemporary music in recent concerts.
With Conservatory of Music student Jedrick Itugot on the baton, the orchestra returned to powerful arrangements of romantic and opera classics, after performing mostly contemporary music in recent concerts.
“We only had one sectional and four full orchestral rehearsals due to the tight schedule of the recitals of graduating students from the Conservatory,” Itugot told the Varsitarian.
Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco Overture” opened the concert.
National Music Competitions for Young Artists winner Denise See joined the orchestra in playing Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff’s three-movement concerto “Piano Concerto No. 2.”
The orchestra then performed “Pictures at an Exhibition,” a 10-piece suite by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky.
The piece started with the movement “Promenade” followed by the ninth movement “Baba-Yaga” in allegro (fast tempo) that eventually transitioned into andante (moderately slow). It ended with the 10th movement titled “Great Gate of Kiev” in allegro.
For the finale, a lively rendition of “Danzon No. 2” by Mexican Composer Arturo Marquez was played.
Itugot described the performances as “magical” because of the tedious process and rehearsals the team went through.
He attributed the concert’s success to the guidance of ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra Director Gerard Salonga, Musical Director Herminigildo Ranera and UST Piano Department Coordinator Anthony Yu Say.
The orchestra recorded their performances in “Opus II,” which will serve as an audition for the 1st Hong Kong International Conducting Competition.
