Pop goes the Manila Philharmonic

Beethoven would have been proud.

If he were alive today, the famed 18th century German classical composer would have been very pleased to know that his brand of symphonic music is alive and well. Now playing in malls and other atypical concert venues, classical music is also slowly seeping into the mainstream pop market and gaining the acceptance of the masses.

Symphony in F marked a milestone in the local music biz as it fused the robust strains of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) with the groove-inducing rhythms of the hottest showband in town, Freestyle. Held over the weekend at the Araneta Coliseum, the concert, presented by Mossimo and produced by Renaissance Entertainment Corp., featured divas-in-the-making Anna Fegi and Bituin Escalante.

The pop/classical fusion is the brainchild of MPO music director Rodel Colmenar, who is also the driving force behind the 85-strong orchestra. Blessed with a more daring musical palette, the boyish-looking conductor was inspired when he heard the CD featuring the unlikely tandem of the heavy metal rock group Metallica and the San Francisco Philharmonic Orchestra.

"It’s amazing how Michael Kamen, that concert’s musical director, did all the arrangements for that one!," he raves. "You can hear all the nuances of the orchestra, and the technical treatment was fantastic!"

Of course, it’s not easy breaking new ground for a musical genre commonly played only in such stuffy venues. "We want to touch a broader base, that’s why we’re bringing the music to the malls, and other more commercial venues," Colmenar adds.

While the move was initially frowned upon by classical ‘purists,’ Colmenar was unfazed. "I’ve been with the Philharmonic Orchestra for 15 years, and I’ve seen the sad plight of our talented classical players," he muses. "By breaking new ground, I hope to find better employment opportunities and other health benefits to our deserving players."

Under Colmenar’s leadership and derring-do, the six-year old MPO started out producing its own shows. Its more memorable outings include Lea Salonga’s Songs From The Screen, a classical concert with Romanian violin virtuoso Alexander Tomescu, team-ups with Regine Velasquez and Kuh Ledesma, and Latin forays as well.

For his part, Mossimo’s VP for Operations Rene Go attributes his clothing company’s success to their fruitful tandem with the MPO. "Of all the advertising ploys, we realized that music/concert production is still one of the best ways to touch a wider base," he says. "Besides, we’ve been very supportive of our local artists, especially Rodel and the MPO because of their novel musical ideas."

Like a kid with a new toy, Colmenar beams proudly when asked about his plans, which include concepts to collaborate with various local jazz and rock groups. "Like a Wolfgang-MPO tandem?," we asked.

"We’d love to," Colmenar gushes.