98.7 DZFE | The Master's Touch

Young musicians of the ensemble Pasipo have arranged a pageant of some of opera's colorful heroines. Ahead of the Cultural Arts Events Organizer concert 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑠 on May 3, sopranos Angeli Benipayo and Marielle Tuason, together with Pasipo's musical director, pianist Gabriel Ferros Paguirigan, join DZFE's Tiffany on MAESTRO FILIPINO.

The country's first symphonic rondalla, Kuwerdas Filipinas, and an international roster of eight composers meet on the uncharted frontier of literature newly written for the pioneering ensemble: A concert series, 𝐷𝑖𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑔: 𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑘𝑎 𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑎, 𝑀𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑘𝑎 𝑛𝑔 𝑃𝑎𝑔𝑘𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑎, recently marked the 20th anniversary of the Strings of Unity, the rondalla and plucked string festival out of which Kuwerdas Filipina...

"What is truth?" The urgency of the need to explore the question drove the creators of 𝑃𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑜 from idea to a full-fledged original musical of epic scope in just one year. Writer-director Eldrin Veloso, composer Yanni Robeniol and musical director Pauline Arejola explain why they staked everything on this ambitious musical, a first for all three in many ways, and why you should go see Pilat...

Mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa is one of five victors at this year's Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition, one of the most prestigious and influential singing competitions globally, distinguished by its scale, history, and career-launching potential on the landscape of international vocal contests. On this MAESTRO FILIPINO, Michelle joins DZFE's Tiffany to reflect on...

The UP Symphony Orchestra's commitment to new music and Filipino composers, generous initiatives such as its Repertory Reading events, make it one of our most vibrant local orchestras. Ahead of its April 11 concert "By Her Hand" featuring orchestral works by women, assistant conductor Noemi Binag and orchestra manager Bernice Go join DZFE's Tiffany for some very lively conversation...

The fight for the arts can be lonely, but it doesn't have to be. ACOPEI (the Association of Cultural Offices in Philippine Educational Institutions) was formed over a decade ago to bring together educators, culture workers, arts administrators, student artists — anyone at all advocating for the arts in an academic context — in collaborative synergy. Ahead of ACOPEI's 11th National Conferen...

In the wake of international successes and personal loss, he came to the Philippines for love and found a musical rebirth besides. Violinist Alessio Benvenuti's story is one for the books; hear it this MAESTRO FILIPINO with DZFE's Tiffany (Sat 1200h, replaying Sun 2400h & Thu 2000h) ahead of his performance with pianist Mariel Ilusorio in "Musica Sine Tempore", the inaugural co...

Pianist Rowena Arrieta vividly remembers her landmark win at the 1982 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, her student years at the Moscow State Conservatory under the tutelage of Russian National Artist Yevgeny Malinin, and the selfless guidance of teacher Carmencita Arambulo, that helped get her there. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, she joins DZFE’s Tiffany for an interview ahead of her solo stint...

The theatrical is as essential as the musical, and so this small opera company has set itself a goal of granting new audiences the opportunity to experience a fully-staged opera annually. In the wake of the Puccini centenary, Lyric Opera of the Philippines goes for big drama with 𝘛𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘢. DZFE's Tiffany is joined by the three singers taking on the main roles — soprano Ana Feleo, tenor Sherwin So...

Early music and the preservation of Philippine organ culture are one aspect of The International Bamboo Organ Festival; another is the broader advocacy for the pipe organ in liturgical music. Featuring in the culminating concert of the International Bamboo Organ Festival this year, "The Splendor of Choral Music" Singer Pauline Arejola and UP Los Baños Choral Ensemble join this MAESTRO FILI...

A landmark Philippine performance of Claudio Monteverdi's Vespers — with the Collegium Vocale Manila, Manila Baroque Ensemble and Belgian period ensemble InAlto — is at the center of the 50th International Bamboo Organ Festival. This MAESTRO FILIPINO, singers Karl San Jose and Rimher Manubay join DZFE's Tiffany in the first of two programs on this special iteration of the country's sol...

It may well be the most striking and adventurous concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 40th season, with a program consisting entirely of Philippine premieres, including the world debut of "Wings of Hope", commissioned from Polish-British composer Roxanna Panufnik. To realize its vision, the PPO moves to the Manila Metropolitan Theater. PPO Music Director Grzegorz Nowak gr...

It's been 50 years since Raul Sunico not only learned Sacramento's "Maharlika" concerto, but memorized it overnight, and so performed it for its first audience at Malacañang at two o'clock in the morning. Another incredible fact: The MSO and Jeffrey Solares will be performing with Dr Sunico for the first time at the February 6 concert. Lots to cover this MAESTRO FILIPINO with D...

History repeated itself for the Ligao National High School Voice and the St. Paul College Pasig High School Chorales—both winning in their respective categories at NAMCYA 2014, they did so again at NAMCYA 2024. Conductors Celger Venzon and Sheila Fetalvero tell us how that came about as the winning choirs wrap up the MAESTRO FILIPINO feature on last year’s National Music Competitions for Young Art...

First time’s a charm for our next batch of NAMCYA winners: violinist Gavril Tiburcio—first prize winner of the junior strings category—and pianists Daniel Asis and Zildjian Viray—who share the top spot in the junior piano category. All share how they learned about NAMCYA, and how they prepared for their maiden competition. DZFE’s Daniel is the host as MAESTRO FILIPINO continues the feature on the...

A new year brings a new set of winners for the National Music Competitions for Young Artists. On MAESTRO FILIPINO DZFE’s Daniel speaks with three plucked string musicians—Lance Capitan, senior guita, John Sacley, junior solo rondalla, and Nelson Espejo, conductor of the Plectra Corde Rondalla, senior rondalla—to inaugurate the three-part spotlight on the victors of NAMCYA 2024.

Violinist Aylen Pritchin reacquaints himself with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major for the next concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. In doing so, he intends to see the work in a new light—and invites the audience to do the same. Pritchin talks about the concerto’s complexities and more as he speaks with DZFE’s Daniel on today’s edition of MAESTRO FILIPINO.

A Christmas showcase concert has become something of a tradition for the Manila Symphony Junior and Children's Orchestras. This year, they mounted Children of Christmas for a particular cause: the MSO Academy and its teacher training program. Joining DZFE’s Daniel is MSO Foundation, Inc. Executive Director Jeffrey Solares, who discusses the importance of the Academy’s mission of teaching teach...

From a kundiman for orchestra to freshly-minted pieces for his specially-tuned bamboo ensemble—composer Conrado del Rosario III’s body of works is both rich and broad, built over several decades and three continents. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, del Rosario joins DZFE’s Daniel to look back on his years in music, and share some of his compositions.

Hearing impairment is no barrier to a life of music for Sharlene Morta, who actively performs as a pianist and Hearlife Verein artist. With Hearlife Verein program director Tosh Jacob-Soliven, Sharlene shares her journey and music, and talks about her mother’s book recounting her story, on today’s program of MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

Last year, cellist John-Henry Crawford became the first recipient of the American Recital Debut Award, founded by pianist Victor Asuncion. This week, he and Victor are in the country presenting masterclasses, and music from their album, Corazón: The Music of Latin America. They will also present a recital with violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., who also plays the solo in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in...

It is not often that Spanish-Filipino flutist Rafael Adobas Bayog visits the Philippines. And while he is here, he would be remiss if he did not give something to the community before flying back to Spain. On MAESTRO FILIPINO, he talks about his upcoming masterclasses and concert where he shares his award-winning expertise, and some of the music that has accompanied him throughout his career.

When she plays, cellist Sara Sant’Ambrogio not only pours out her heart and soul—she also invites her listeners to do the same. This month, she pours out her heart and soul in Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra season concert, Triumph. She tells us how she approaches that work on MAESTRO FILIPINO hosted by DZFE's Daniel.

Jeffrey Ching, composer-in-residence of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, takes us through the mists of time and legend in Before Brabant—an opera recounting the early years of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin. First staged in a concert performance ten years ago, the work comes to Manila with fuller orchestration, and accompanied by an animated film to capture the story’s magic and enchantment.

There is nothing like an in-person concert. That is why, after performing Nino Rota’s Trio online in 2020, clarinetist Jayson Rivera, cellist Gerry Gonzales, and pianist Dingdong Fiel rendered the work once more for Manila Pianos Artist Series, this time in front of a live audience. Shortly before their concert—which happened earlier this month—DZFE’s Daniel spent time with the trio to talk about...