Gerard Salonga points out misconception on orchestral music
It is common knowledge that orchestral performances are only for the elite or to be more blunt about it, just for the rich who can afford to wear formal suits and understand technically what seems to be a complex sound.
For Gerard Salonga, a famed local conductor and brother to international thespian Lea Salonga, that is a common misconception.
"There are people who think you have to be cultured to appreciate this music. In reality there is no such rule. Everybody can listen to an orchestra and clap when they feel like clapping to it," he said during a recent special performance by the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra at the Dolphy Theater.
The 40-piece orchestra plays off Salonga's baton and that of executive director Mickey Munoz.
The public can catch its inaugural concert at the BDO Francisco Santiago Hall in Makati on August 18.
Educating the public
Salonga made sure the selected audience at the Dolphy Theater that rainy Friday night gets a warm welcome from him and his mates -- all formally dressed and formally trained. He even made a little joke about them being just a bunch of ordinary folks dressed to kill to keep in touch with the misconception, or something to that effect.
In between numbers he faces the crowd to somehow make them feel more at home with symphonic music. In fact the opening performance was a classy rendition of "Laki Sa Layaw" made famous by rock veteran Mike Hanopol.
A deeper analysis to Salonga's routine that night leads to the goal of ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra to educate the youth about the myths and facts of orchestral music and encourage them to give it a try in appreciating and learning it more. The group is holding educational outreach programs to make this a reality, even dividing it to three categories to stress focus in catering to grade schoolers, high school students, and adult enthusiasts.
Salonga insisted, "We aim to bring live orchestral performance closer to Filipinos and give them an option of what to listen to."
Tribute to John Williams
The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, which according to Salonga is in service of the station and its subsidiaries, is set to hold a tribute concert for American conductor John Williams on September 2, a Sunday, at the Meralco Theater.
"Everybody has his way of getting into classical music," he stated, referring to the classic film scores Williams had created that cemented his legacy in pop culture.
Some of Williams compositions included those heard on memorable movies such as "Jaws," "Superman," "E.T.,"Star Wars," and "Indiana Jones."
