Manila Symphony Orchestra and MSO Chorale presented the Majesty of Christmas
December 5, 2024. An evening of yuletide music that resonated, reverberated, and enchanted the audience with the spirit of Christmas. Yes, the Christmas spirit filled the air with songs, melodies, and music, full of renewed hope, joy, and renewal.
The venue. St Micheal, the Archangel Church.
Under the baton of Maestro Marlon Chen, together with Solo Violinist Alessio Benvenuti, Tenor Soloist Malvin Macasaet, Baritenor Soloist Ruzzel Clemeno, Soprano Angeli Benipayo, and the 16-member MSO Chorale, a careful selection of yuletide music rang true, making you feel deeply why Christmas is a time when all that is good, true and beautiful can be celebrated.
The church was full of eager listeners, looking forward to an evening of music that a 98-year-old symphony orchestra and a seasoned, talented 16-member chorale can offer. The MSO is the first orchestra in the Philippines and the oldest in Asia.
The repertoire showcased classical and traditional Christmas music, which included Filipino classics:
It’s Christmas Time, A Medley for Orchestra arranged by Calvin Custer, One of his Best Arrangements
Four best-loved melodies — Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I’ll be Home for Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Silver Bells – captivated the audience and got the evening off on a major start.
The Four Seasons by Vivaldi (Winter)
Antonio Vivaldi, a baroque period health priest, composed The Four Seasons (Italian: Le quattro stagioni), a group of four violin concerti that gives musical expression to a season of the year. This being Christmas, Vivaldi’s Winter came next. Even when there is no winter here in the Philippines, it was Winter, thanks to Solo Violinist Alessio Benvenuti, an esteemed Italian violinist, pianist, composer, and conductor, who now resides in Manila with his family.
Highlights from “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel
Then, the “Messiah” came, the main course of the concert, a sacred oratorio in English that was first performed in Dublin in 1742. It became an instant hit and has remained as an enduring work through the centuries. It being a 3-hour work, the concert played highlights from the Messiah and performed it so masterfully that you could feel the depth and inner meaning that the Messiah wanted to express and convey.
Drawing from the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the work moved the audience with each piece they performed. Malvin Manaset, Tenor, Ruzzel Clemeno, Baritenor, Angeli Benipayo, Soprana, the MSO Chorus and Orchestra all came together to express the spirituality that Handel wanted to convey, in a heartfelt way that touched deeply.
After the overture Sinfonia, what struck me was the pieces that the concert highlighted were some songs seeking peace, that there was darkness and death but upon them the light shined, and he (Christ) was given his name as a prince of peace. In another song, “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men, Glory to God in the highest.” And then, he shall speak peace unto the heathen.
A moving experience such that the audience stood up when the most famous movement, the heart-stirring “Hallelujah” chorus was performed, just like the English King did when he first heard it performed.
A short intermission gave everyone a chance to breathe, walk a bit, and take in the feelings that were touched by the music. Then came…
Villancico for Nativity
It was a 19th – century Carol in Spanish written here in the Philippines. (A Villancico Para Natividad is a Spanish Christmas carol for the Nativity that began in the Middle Ages, and became popular from the 15th to 18th century . The term later became more commonly used to refer to Spanish Christmas carols.)
O Holy Night with Malvin Manaset, Tenor
A song originally in French, the title was Cantique de Noël, coming from a French poem and set to music by Adolphe Adam, a sacred song about the night of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Most everyone knows the melody and lyrics of this song that goes:
“O Holy Night” (English translation by John Sullivan Dwight, 1855)
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pinning,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
The song continues until…
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;
And in His name, all oppression shall cease.
Cantique de Jean Racine by Faure Composed When He Was Just 19 Years Old
It was another heartwarming song originally written in French. Lyrics in part, in English,
“O Christ, look with favor upon your faithful people
Now gathered here to praise you;
Receive their hymns offered to your immortal glory;
May they go forth filled with your gifts…”
The Bells of Christmas, Medley of Christmas Carols, and Holiday Songs Arranged by Bob Krogstand
Hearing several classic carols and holiday songs like Ding Dong! Merrily on High, The Bell Carol, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and Jingle Bells would put a smile on your face.
And, to hear The Bells on Christmas Day, a Christmas carol based on the poem “Christmas Bells” by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, words and music that are quite familiar…
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and mild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!
Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A sublime chant
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men!
It once again brought to the fore what Christmas can actually mean, a time to hope for “Peace on earth, goodwill to men!
Ode to Joy by Ludvig Van Beethoven from the 9th Symphony
As the evening of music and song was winding up, the audience was treated to a soul-stirring rendition of this famous melody. Once again, stirring up a Christmas season sentiment, a time to revisit the joys that life can bring during Christmas and day to day.
Kumukutikutitap by Ryan Cayabyab
A rousing rendition of Ryan Cayabyab’s popular composition “Kumukutikutitap” (meaning: Flickering, Glimmering, Sparkling). A highly popular song that practically every Filipino knows.
And I remember hearing the song, Ang Pasko ay Sumikap”. Select lyrics that go:
Ang Pasko ay sumapit
Tayo ay mangagsiawit
Ng magagandang himig
Dahil sa Diyos ay pag-ibig…
Bagong taon ay magbagong-buhay
Nang lumigaya ang ating bayan
Tayo’y magsikap
Upang makamtan natin ang kasaganahan…
Tayo ay magmahalan
Ating sundin ang gintong aral
At magbuhat ngayon
Kahit hindi pasko ay magbigayan.
In English:
Christmas has come
We will sing
Of beautiful tunes
Because God is love.
New year is a new life
When our people can be happy
Let’s work hard
So that we can get abundance…
Let us love each other
Let’s follow the golden lesson
And starting now
Even if it’s not Christmas, let’s give.
The Majesty of Christmas: A Yule Concert by The Manila Symphony Orchestra and the MSO Chorale
The intention was for the audience to feel deeply within the meaning of Christmas. And yes, you could say that their orchestral music and their voices rose high, for the occasion.
The December 5, 2024 Thursday Concert came after the performance the night before. Both events are part of their efforts to raise funds and engage the community as the orchestra moves ahead to its centennial anniversary in 2026. Funds raised through this concert will help sustain the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s mission to inspire and nurture future generations of musicians while bringing world -class performances and educational programs to the public.
To know more about the MSO and their schedule of upcoming concerts and events, visit their website: https://www.manilasymphony.com/
