98.7 DZFE | The Master's Touch

The current season of Mariel Ilusorio's Sunshine Classics International Series culminates in grand style — with 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐷𝑢𝑒𝑡, spotlighting works for harp and piano. Mariel's duet partner is the young harp luminary, Vien Ignacio. In the run-up to the sold-out concert, Mariel looks back over the season and we catch up with Vien, just back from Germany and (amazingly) her first in-person le...

Jonathan Velasco has been making things happen on the choral scene for decades. In the wake of the recent national convention of the Philippine Choral Directors Association and its affectionate recognition of his contributions with a lifetime achievement award, Sir Jojo muses on his choral roots, Philippine choral sound, and much more, in an interview with DZFE’s Tiffany.   #classicalmusic #maestr...

Job Polvoriza's steps are set toward Germany, where he will embark on further studies in baroque cello—a pioneering decision for a musician from our country, where historically informed performance is a path still barely trodden several decades into the movement. Meet the Baguio cellist, and the baroque cello, on this week's MAESTRO FILIPINO.   #classicalmusic #maestrofilipino #dzfe #Maste...

What goes on in musical studies and what advantages do our musicians gain from pursuing them abroad? Jenna Salliman — a science high school product and Statistics degree holder with undergraduate and master's degrees in music — fell in love with the process and is looking to take her commitment further in doctoral studies. She lifts the lid on the craft in an interview with DZFE’s Tiffany. #cl...

Well-established and loved as a pianist, pedagogue, composer and arranger, Sir Agot has managed to evade much of the limelight that is due him. But on October 16, he makes a rare appearance as a soloist playing a full concert of his own music. 𝑬𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑬𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒐 is a benefit concert for cancer-stricken missionaries of the Translators Association of the Philippines. Augusto Espino and TAP Executiv...

Behind some of the most remarkable Filipino violinists of the last few decades is the violinist, conductor and teacher Basilio Manalo. Ahead of his centenary in 2027, the Filipino String Teachers Association is mounting a tribute concert set for October 21 at the Metropolitan Theater. Two familiar violinists in the leadership of FSTA, Gina Medina and Bernice Go, join DZFE's Tiffany this MAESTR...

There's no reason to be scared of classical music, and this duo has set out to prove it with a debut offering of Paganini sonatas and other beguiling fare. Violinist Alessio Benvenuti and guitarist Iqui Vinculado, each a familiar figure with a following, are a new violin-and-guitar tandem. They join this MAESTRO FILIPINO to deliver a mini sampling of music from their August debut and to chat w...

"𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑚𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔." This Reformation Month, Dr Mikel Del Rosario joins DZFE's Tiffany to explore the historicity of Jesus' divine claims— the subject of his new book, 𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝑱𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒚 𝑯𝒆 𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝑮𝒐𝒅? Dr Mikel Del Rosario is professor of Bible and theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and host of The Apologetics Guy...

The UP Symphony Orchestra opens a new academic year with 𝑻𝒖𝒏𝒐𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝑲𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒚 on October 3, bringing together an evocative program with visual art for a charitable cause. Orchestra manager Bernice Go and assistant conductor Noemi Binag join DZFE's Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPINO to muse on the connections between music and image, the orchestra's commitment to new music, and the projects laid out for...

From meme to mortality to music-making: The award-winning male choir ALERON joins DZFE's Tiffany this MAESTRO FILIPINO (Sat 1200, Sun 2400, Thu 2000) to talk about the craft of "giving voice to the human experience" — in particular, for the group's largest project yet, the Oct 3 & 4 concert 𝑨𝒔 𝑰𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒔 and upcoming workshops to be led by German conductor Jan Schumacher. Guests ar...

There's electricity in the orchestra as the PPO ushers in its 41st season, titled 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑒. Joining this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany is the artist who has been a major contributor to that, violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr, recently appointed concertmaster of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. 

In a feat of artistic derring do, the vocal ensemble PASIPO launches its most ambitious project yet — a full staging of Mozart's 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑖̀ 𝑓𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑡𝑒. Studio performances and an interview grant us a glimpse of the upcoming performances, set to unfold September 6, 10, 12 & 13. PASIPO joins DZFE's Tiffany this MAESTRO FILIPINO.

Tenor Arthur Espiritu's cherished memories in the realm of art song include singing Beethoven for Ernst Haefliger, and coaching with Mitsuko Uchida and Ken Noda. He plumbs these experiences and more to lead a comprehensive four-day art song workshop together with longtime collaborator, pianist Najib Ismail, September 1-4, and culminating in a concert September 5. Join DZFE's Tiffany this M...

Guitar ensembles from all over the country converge at the first Kaliwa’t Kanang Kalabitan (“3Ks”) Guitar Ensemble Festival at St Scholastica’s College August 29 to 31. Festival co-director Monching Carpio hopes to draw both the classical guitar curious and the enthusiast, further strengthening the dynamism the guitar community has cultivated in recent years. Join DZFE’s Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPIN...

As a child growing up in humble circumstances, Emmanuel Aller never imagined he would find his voice and his life in the wonderful world of classical music. Join DZFE's Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPINO to meet this promising tenor, fresh off a successful debut recital of Italian music. * Music featured courtesy of Sy-Facunda Production.

Pianist and pedagogue Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz returns to MAESTRO FILIPINO ahead of the inaugural concert of The Opus 88 — a multi-faceted piano initiative headquartered in the South Metro. He tells DZFE's Tiffany about 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 this August 9 and 16 — and the X-factor shared by each of the pianists contributing to a program of Classical era and turn-of-the-20th-century masters.  M...

Formed over a decade earlier by music-loving Japanese expats, the Manila Chamber Music Ensemble stepped out into new territory last year with a public concert ushering in an exciting era of engagement with local audiences and Filipino artists. The ensemble's violist Hideki Nagae and pianist Mariko Okeda are joined by clarinetist Herald Sison in a trio offering of Mozart, Bruch and Glinka this...

Technology might spell the difference between organists surviving and thriving. AJ Consolacion II joins this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany as he shares music from his second Hauptwerk Organ Concert, a beautiful program of English organ music.  MAESTRO FILIPINO is DZFE's program on the Philippine classical music scene. (For a broadcast schedule, visit dzfe.febc.ph.) Music on the prog...

A late bloomer by his own admission, Rimher Manubay closed a decade of studies in choral conducting by mounting and conducting the Asian premiere of Eric Whitacre's 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑉𝑒𝑖𝑙. Moreover, he is the newly-appointed Secretary General of the Philippine Choral Directors Association. Rimher joins Tiffany this MAESTRO FILIPINO as we take in excerpts from the stirring Whitacre debut.   MAESTRO FI...

Who doesn't love a good comeback story? Guitarist Bernardo Soler sold his guitar, thinking it the end of a glorious dream. Never did he imagine he would return to classical guitar some three decades later. Join DZFE's Tiffany on this week’s MAESTRO FILIPINO to hear more from Soler, in an interview and a couple of pieces captured in-studio. 

The last time Male ENsemble Philippines featured on DZFE in 2023, the ensemble had no idea they would be taking home laurels from their first international competition just months later. We have them back as they prepare to set off on tour this year — and just in time (as of the first airing of this program) for their send-off concert, 𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗨𝗦, happening tonight. MEn's Ily Maniano, Tomas...

One does not become a musician to be comfortable. Pianist Brian Berino is at a crossroads. He joins this week’s MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE’s Tiffany (Sat 1200h, Sun 2400h, Thu 2000) to deliver a studio recital — Bach, Granados, Scriabin, Chopin — and to muse on the path ahead.

This National Heritage Month, Rachelle Gerodias-Park is Sylvia La Torre in a new concert tribute to the legend of stage, studio, airwaves and screen — 𝑰𝒃𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒈, 𝑴𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒍 𝑲𝒊𝒕𝒂! Rachelle and baritone Byeong-In Park join DZFE's Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPINO for studio performances of music associated with La Torre, and to discuss the big question that set the tribute in motion. 

The Manila Symphony Orchestra begins on the road to its centenary year with 𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑒, 80 years after the orchestra mounted a landmark series of concerts in post-liberation Manila.  Classical music was not mainstream them; neither is it today, says the MSO's Executive Director Jeffrey Solares, but it continues to have a vital part to play, and the long history of the orchestra shines a h...

With 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝑾𝒂𝒔 𝑺𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈, the debut album of the Aleron Early Music Ensemble, the all-male choral ensemble ALERON begins realizing a long-held dream to create recordings completely devoted to early music. Manager Kevin Maske and resident conductor Karl San Jose talk motivation, music, sound-creation and how the album is not actually about sleep — this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany.