Spanish concert to help PPO acquire instruments/ Zukofsky conducts MSO

Shortly after the gourmet luncheon Rustan’s First Lady Nedy Tantoco hosted at the Instituto Cervantes, and the welcome remarks of its director Jose “Pepe” Rodriguez, the meeting quickly went into the heart of the matter.

Ready-to-be-retired instruments were shown by Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra members, most of which instruments had been acquired when the PPO was established way back in 1973. Said bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza: “Parts of my bassoon are glued together by epoxy.” Renato Lucas, leading cellist and PPO principal cellist, said that although string instruments improve with age, his cello needs a new bow. His bow has lost its elasticity and he has difficulty bowing for solo passages. Most instruments are not available locally; further, their maintenance — which is very expensive — is of utmost importance. Principal trombone player Cornelio Ramos performs on an overused, “absolutely bad” instrument.

One wonders how marvels of sound can emanate from such worn-out instruments and for how much longer? Nedy Tantoco, CCP trustee, has raised funds through several concerts, but the need for 1) new instruments and 2) regular repairs is pressing and incessant: the first requires P28 million; the second, P1 million annually for the PPO’s continuing quest for excellence in performance.

Funds will be raised partially by a benefit PPO concert under visiting Spanish conductor Bernardo Adam Ferrero on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. at the CCP. “La Musica Española” will consist of Ruperto Chapi’s El Tambor de Granaderos (Preludio), Moreno Torroba’s Jardines de Granada, Salvador Giner’s La Primavera (Spring) and Geronimo Gimenez’s La Boda de Luis Alonso.

Ferrero, a multi-awarded conductor-pianist-composer, will end the concert with his own composition El 9 d’Octubre Poema sinfonico (Symphonic Poem).

Born in Valencia, Ferrero studied Piano, composition and orchestra conducting in the conservatories of Valencia, Madrid, Paris, Rome and Italy. In N.Y., he was granted the Order of Merit for his contribution to the world of music. In Cuba’s International Music Festival, he was awarded the Golden Baton, and in Chicago’s International Mid-West Festival, the Medal of Honor for having directed the choral group “Mare Nostrum”. He received the Egrem of America award for his Tribute to Joaquin Sorolla.

King Juan Carlos of Spain conferred on him the Real Orden de San Hermenegildo. Ferrero currently directs Madrid’s Real Camerata Española and the Orquesta de Camara. His musical productions have been released in Europe, South America, and UK and the US.

On Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m., the eminent NY-based Paul Zukofsky will guest conduct the Manila Symphony Orchestra in Jose Maceda’s “Siasid” and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E Flat Major at the Philamlife Theater.

Zukofsky has more than 400 recordings as conductor and solo violinist. He has won prizes in the Paganini, Thibaud and Enesco International Competitions, has been awarded the Jascha Heifetz and the National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, and nominated for three Grammy Awards.

He was conductor at the Juilliard School from 1984 to 1992, and founded Iceland’s Youth Symphony Orchestra.