Throughout history, music has played various functions: to tell a story, to worship God, to provide entertainment, and even to take part in resistance. Music has the capacity to transport its listeners from their current spatial and temporal borders to distant lands, bygone eras, and forgotten memories—all through sheer aural power alone.
Indeed, to listen is to travel, and in the evening of May 3, the University of the Philippines Symphony Orchestra (UPSO) once again took their listeners on a musical odyssey in their recent concert, “Beyond Time and Space,” at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati.
“Beyond Time and Space” is UPSO’s third concert this year following “Puso at UPSO” on February 23, which featured UP conductors, and “Seasons of Love” on March 16. The concert was conceived as an exploration of stories, beliefs, and customs from across periods and cultures through renditions of the iconic compositions of Richard Wagner, Olivier Messiaen, Giacomo Puccini, and National Artist for Music Ramón P. Santos, under the baton of UPSO’s music director and acclaimed composer-conductor, Josefino Chino Toledo.
Of Norse gods and heroes
The first half of the evening began with a quest to the mythical realm of Norse gods and heroes as the orchestra delivered an exhilarating performance of Wagner’s “Ride of Valkyries.” The majestic piece’s symphony of stirring brass and rapid strings and woodwinds heralded the arrival of the titular Norse creatures as they fulfill their noble mission to bring fallen heroes from the battlefield—and perhaps, even the its listeners—to the heavenly halls of Valhalla.
“Ride of Valkyries” opens the third act of “Die Walküre,” the second installment in Wagner’s epic four-part opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen, but it has since become a beloved and enduring concert staple as a standalone work, and the orchestra’s flawless rendition was immediately met with rapturous applause by the audience.
From Valhalla, the orchestra then brought its audience to a spiritual journey with Messiaen’s “Les Offrandes Oubliées;” its French title, which translates to “the forgotten offerings” in English, underscores Messiaen’s devout Catholic spirituality which would be a central theme in his later compositions.
The continuous three-part suite opened with plaintive strings signaling both introspection and a brewing turmoil before dramatically shifting to an agitated explosion of brass and percussion interjections that evoked the turbulent struggle between man’s corporeal desires and spiritual aspirations. After this long musical battle, the piece concluded in a serene and silent resolution, suggesting the triumph of the human spirit.
Tapestry of Filipino music
After mythical and spiritual battles, the concert traversed our local soundscapes with a performance of Santos’ Penomenon, a five-part orchestral suite, which showcased the National Artist’s unique blend of indigenous Filipino musical traditions with contemporary avant-garde techniques through its depictions of various experiences in the Philippine landscape.
From the festive noise of town fiestas in “Pagdiriwang,” the mournful reflection of “Pasyon,” the foreboding tension in “Balang” which evoked the coming of locusts and the flapping of their wings slowly building to a swarm, the intensity and trepidation of expressing one’s feelings during courtship in “Harana,” to the cacophony of wind in “Agay-ay,” Penomenon offered a glimpse into the colorful and diverse tapestry of Filipino musical expression. Santos, who graced the concert as a member of the audience, gave the orchestra a standing ovation as they concluded their performance
The night’s second half, meanwhile, was dedicated to Puccini’s centennial death anniversary. Though the Italian composer is better known through his operatic masterpieces “La Bohème,” “Tosca,” and “Madame Butterfly,” the UPSO honored Puccini with a solemn performance of his early choral work “Messa di Gloria” together with the UPSO Chorus, tenor Ervin Lumauag, and baritone Raymond Leslie Diaz.
Upon the crowd’s request, the orchestra performed four more pieces for its encore—including Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 39/2, and the University’s hymn, “UP Naming Mahal.”
“Beyond Time and Space” was presented together with the Office of the UP President, the UP College of Music, Orkestra ng Bayan Inc., and the UP College of Music Alumni Association. Part of the proceeds from the concert will be given to the UP College of Music Alumni Association’s MusiKalinga Scholarship and Grant Fund.
UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, former UP President Danilo L. Concepcion, Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo D.P. Cubillan, and Vice President for Planning and Finance Iryn Y. Balmores, and Alumni Regent Robert Lester F. Aranton were among the UP officials who graced the concert.
