The MSO Centennial Season Concert II – From Mozart to Mahler

Presented by the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc. and Standard Insurance; co-presented by EastWest Bank in partnership with the Austrian Embassy and University of Santo Tomas

Led by Venezuelan conductor Joshua Dos Santos, the Manila Symphony Orchestra continues its Centennial Season with a program that moves from the refined discipline of Classical style to the emotional breadth of the late Romantic symphony.

Manila Symphony Orchestra

The evening opens with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante in E-flat, K. 364 for violin and viola, a work celebrated for its technical precision. The piece features rising Filipino artists Emanuel John Villarin (violin) and Christian Wrona (viola), whose musical dialogue reflects the expressive restraints of Mozart’s music.

The program culminates in Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, a work that demands expressive depth. Expansive in scale and rich in emotional contrasts, Mahler’s symphony transforms simple melodies, challenging both the orchestra and the audience with its intensity. The MSO will be joined by selected members of the UST Symphony Orchestra in a side-by-side performance to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the UST Conservatory of Music, as many past and current MSO musicians have been connected to UST as students and faculty members.

From Classical to Romantic, From Mozart to Mahler highlights the versatility of the Manila Symphony Orchestra and its scholars as they continue their journey through the 100th season.

Joshua Dos Santos, guest conductor

Joshua is an internationally celebrated conductor whose career has spanned Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Trained in Venezuela's legendary El Sistema, he began music at age seven and made his conducting debut at sixteen under the mentorship of Maestro José Antonio Abreu. Appointed associate conductor of the Simon Bolivar Chamber Orchestra in 2023 he has earned major acclaim from around the world.

Emanuel John Villarin, violin

EJ is an award-winning violinist and Hanns Eisler scholar. An student at the Universität für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and first prize winner of the New York Young Performers Prize (2021) and NAMCYA (2020), he is an acclaimed Filipino violinist and MSJO-Standard Insurance scholar, performing on a master-crafted Gencer Cerit Eskisehir violin.

Christian Wrona, viola

Christian is a Filipino-Canadian violist and Hanns Eisler scholar. Currently studying at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, Christian is an Asian Youth Orchestra alumnus, mentored by renowned artists including Tabea Zimmermann and Kim Kashkashian.

UST Symphony Orchestra

The University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra (USTSO), established in 1927, is a distinguished ensemble within the UST Conservatory of Music. It holds the unique distinction of being the only all-student symphony orchestra in the Philippines. Under the baton of Assoc. Prof. Herminigildo Ranera, the orchestra has showcased a diverse repertoire, ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary works.

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• P3000 Orchestra Sides
• P2000 Balcony Center
• P1500 Balcony Sides

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