98.7 DZFE | The Master's Touch

"Omnia tempus habent" — "In everything there is a season" (Ecc. 3:1)... and for every season, a wise word masterfully set, in the canon of pedagogue, composer and conductor 𝐄𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐧. From Singapore Bible College, Eudy joins this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany for a meander through 𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒔, an anthology of his choral music recently recorded by the Philippine Madrig...

𝐉𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, who continues his close association with the PPO, takes DZFE's Tiffany through the three works making their debut their season, dwelling particularly on his second 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑒 (premiering January 2027) and the mischievous 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐻𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒 𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 15 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠, 𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑎 𝑜𝑛 𝐺-𝐶 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑜𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑂𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎.

The UST Conservatory of Music staging of 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧'𝐬 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄 enchanted audiences in February and returns to the stage September 12-20. Cast members 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗡𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗼 (Lieutenant Joseph Cable), 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘀 (Liat), 𝗥𝗼𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝘁 (Luther Billis), and 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘇𝗼𝗻 (Captain George Brackett) join this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany to share the magic of the musical, Paolo O&#...

In the past we’ve tapped the vibrant spring of new music coming out of the Manila Composers Lab in visits here from the Ripieno Ensemble, the performing arm of the MCL headed by AJ Villanueva. Manila Composers Lab founding director, the composer 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐞𝐬 and two of his proteges—𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚 and 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨—join DZFE’s Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPINO to reveal the "osmotic" creative...

There's a reason many of our competing choirs step out onto world stages with an Alcala composition in their arsenal. This MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany, 𝐍𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐚 joins the show to share some of his latest creations in winning performances. [*Complete program. Music features with composer’s permission.] 

Having concluded graduate studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞 "𝐉𝐌" 𝐄𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐣𝐨𝐬𝐞 is off next to pursue a Master of Music in Historical Performance at The Juilliard School. This MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany, JM reveals the allure of specializing in early music, and we hear performances from his July recital in Manila, 𝑆𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝐹𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑠, as well as hi...

The UP Clarinet Ensemble unveiled an unexpectedly kaleidoscopic sound world in Double Pentagon Concerts ' Chamber Music Concert No. 5 last April. Music from that concert and conversation with two members — Christian Suarez and Kurt Manimtim — will put a smile on your face, guaranteed, this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany. [*program segment. Music features with permission.]   

Discipline? Overrated. Passion leads. Grand Winner of last year's Steinway Youth Piano Competition (Philippines) Matthew Lim follows its call in a July recital centered on Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1, ahead of his departure for university studies in Hong Kong. Matty plays Chopin and shares perspectives on his musical journey so far, this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany. [*progra...

Guitarist Monching Carpio interfaces with legends, playing historic guitars once owned by Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, Celin Romero and Francisco Tarrega. That's this week on MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany. [*program segment. Music features with permission.] 𝐹𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑃𝑖𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 (full performance): https://youtu.be/1RzjF7CfYG4?si=iQ3DnpS3U32JvOl9 

Eighty years ago, when the Philippines gained independence from the United States, the Manila Symphony Orchestra was there to perform. The third concert of the MSO's centennial season, 𝑳𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 on July 4 marks the event with a Filipino and American program of spirit and new hope, including a Buenaventura work from the landmark 1946 program and a revival of Lucio San Pedro's 𝑉𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑟...

Go behind the scenes with the 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 on this week's MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany. The OFY gears up for 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 on August 16. In addition to studio playing from OFY scholars Matias and Andrea Mercurio, this episode unpacks the dynamic ecosystem of the ensemble through conversations with maestro Gerard Salonga, guest soloist Daniel Asi...

Filipino flutist Joshua Agapito, Japanese pianist Mariko Okeda and Korean pianist Sunny Joo demonstrate that it is never too late to begin — or begin again. They join DZFE's Tiffany this MAESTRO FILIPINO for cross-cultural conversation and scintillating excerpts from their May chamber music concert for  Double Pentagon Concerts , 𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔. (*Music excerpts feature with permission. For c...

Church organist, pianist and composer before his teens, a holder of degrees in music and philosophy, Rodolfo Cornejo was a man of rare genius, says violinist Gina Medina, yet has slipped into near obscurity. The Filipino String Teachers Association brings his name and music to new ears with an album of chamber works, center of which is a jewel of his output, the Violin Sonata. This MAESTRO FILIPIN...

Pianist Raki Gendrano speaks of the Mozart piano sonatas with fond familiarity, as he would of good friends he would like us all to meet. He joins DZFE's Tiffany this MAESTRO FILIPINO; and we hear an excerpt from the inaugural cycle of the four-concert series spanning the complete Mozart piano sonatas. (*Program segment. Music features with permission.)  

In between operatic productions in Europe, tenor Arthur Espiritu comes home to Manila, not just to spend time with family, but to bequeath some of the immense riches of his own experiences and career. Following a successful Lied workshop, he and pianist Najib Ismail are set to invest weeks training a cohort of singers in the operatic craft. More in his conversation with DZFE's Tiffany on today...

Begun in 2020, Philippine-based classical music platform  Veniccio.com  is an Urtext distributor, music school, ticketing platform and concert presenter. Recently, it birthed a classical music news site,  TheClaron.com.  Founder Marco Balbin won't rest until the Philippines appears on the international classical music radar. Marco joins DZFE's Tiffany for a MAESTRO FILIPINO interview.  

A quartet of double basses is a rare sight, but 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒐 𝑲𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒐 aims to begin changing that. The UST Conservatory alums— Rei Benedict Francia, John Cerwin Salaguinto, Mark Aaron Salcedo and Dulcisimo Singagote Terrado Jr— join DZFE's Tiffany in a lively interview this MAESTRO FILIPINO, and we hear their performances of music written for and transcribed for their prodigious instrument, captured in...

Oliver Salonga is a pianist who is seldom alone on stage. The Nirvana Ensemble and Aeolus Trio are just a couple of a small legion of groups with which Oliver makes exuberant music. Ahead of two chamber music concerts in May presented by the Nirvana Ensemble and Manila Pianos Artist Series (of which he is artistic director), he joins DZFE's Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPINO to talk chamber music, wi...

A chamber music series has sprung up and is thriving in the old sacristy of San Bartolome Church in Malabon. As is the case for 𝐾𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐷𝑎𝑟𝑘 at Sine Pop in Cubao, the Malabon series is drawing in a new community for chamber music, or, as producer of both series Franz Ramirez puts it, "music for friends". Franz joins DZFE's Tiffany this MAESTRO FILIPINO, and we hear a performance...

For love of the art and a school of singing that takes us back to the age of mid 20th century opera giants: Milan-based soprano Christiana Serafin de Ocampo talks about the path to mastery this MAESTRO FILIPINO ahead of 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒂 𝑽𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓! — a heroic program of Wagner, Verdi, Puccini and Massenet, to be performed together with Dr Peter Porticos as pianist, on April 19. DZFE's Tiffany presents. 

As night falls over a small sanctuary in the heart of Cubao, the songs of Nicanor Abelardo are spun out to an audience transfixed, many of whom are encountering this music for the first time. In this program excerpt, DZFE's Tiffany hears from soprano Stefanie Quintin-Avila, tenor Ervin Lumauag and pianist Agot Espino this MAESTRO FILIPINO on the unexpected magic of the Sine Pop chamber music s...

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra has been putting its composer-in residence to serious work! Following a string of debuts including the cinematic premiere of his 80-minute 𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑦𝑚𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑦 and ahead of yet another first outing in the last concert of the season come April 17, DZFE's Tiffany catches up with Jeffrey Ching on MAESTRO FILIPINO. The composer teases for 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒊 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏...

Countertenor Paul Ryan Arcolas is prepared to display the versatility and range of what is arguably the most otherworldly of voice types. This MAESTRO FILIPINO, he joins DZFE's Tiffany ahead of 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, a jewel box of a program opening the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation's 2026 Young Artists Series on March 28. Meet Ryan in conversation and song in this program excerpt....

Amidst the festive bustle of December, baritone Belford King Mabunga stepped before an intimate crowd and delivered Gustav Mahler's five-song contemplation on the nuances of grief — the 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑟 or 𝑆𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛. DZFE's Tiffany interviews the thoughtful, self-described "old soul", a singer, church musician and athlete, and we hear the third of the 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜...

This February 25, Thomas Tallis' iconic 40-part motet 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒖𝒎 unfurls in the spaces of the San Ezekiel Moreno Oratory in a much-anticipated lecture-performance featuring the Collegium Vocale Manila and the ALERON male choir under the baton of Dr Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng. Join this conversation with Aleron's Karl San Jose, Kevin Maske and Rimher Manubay on MAESTRO FILIPINO, the second...