98.7 DZFE | The Master's Touch

Hearlife Verein has been helping deaf Filipino children, now for four years. The institution celebrates its anniversary with the charity concert, 4@24, featuring a quartet of sopranos, pianist Mary Anne Espina, and the String Fusion quartet. On CULTURE CAROUSEL, Irene Obligacion spends time with Nina Jacob-Soliven, program director of Hearlife Verein, sopranos Isabela Madero, Sherine Koa and Angel...

Marking the 300th year of its completion, Bach’s St. John Passion comes to the 49th International Bamboo Organ Festival in its full splendor. Tenor Karl San Jose and Festival Director Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng tell us more about this shorter, but more dramatic, Bach passion, and tenor Jan van Elsacker sheds light on the importance of his role as Evangelist. Catch their conversation with DZFE’s D...

What started out as a partnership between Adrik Cristobal and Monching Carpio has since grown into a full-fledged series, and the establishment of the PIMA Guitar Quartet, comprising guitarists Patrick Roxas, Iqui Vinculado, and, of course, Adrik and Monching. The group now celebrate their first anniversary with a concert this February. They join Irene Obligacion on CULTURE CAROUSEL to talk about...

Three hundred years ago, in 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach completed what is now considered one of his greatest works, the St. John Passion. A hundred years after that, in 1824, Diego Cera installed the metal trumpets of the Las Piñas bamboo organ, completing the construction of the venerable instrument. These are just two of the anniversaries that will be celebrated in the 49th International Bamboo...

What concert of Polish music is complete without Chopin? For the next season concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian pianist Roustem Saïtkoulov plays the solo in the Polish master's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Irene Obligacion speaks with Saïtkoulov on the next edition of CULTURE CAROUSEL.

Ensembles take to the spotlight as DZFE’s Daniel caps the NAMCYA@50 feature on MAESTRO FILIPINO. We hear performances from the De La Salle University Chorale and the Davao City National High School SPA Centennial Choir—winners of the two choir categories. Daniel also speaks with Avender Pong, Children’s Solo Rondalla winner, and Slavsky Ybañez, conductor of the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academ...

What do you do when you have an abundance of trombonists? Form a trombone choir, of course. The Thomasian Trombone Choir makes its debut in the concert, Fanfare, part of Manila Pianos Artists Series, which they will be telling us about on CULTURE CAROUSEL. Joining host Irene Obligacion are Thomasian Trombone Choir members, Lio Alumno, Vince Ignacio and Almira Cardeñas.

Familiar faces return to the broadcast as DZFE’s Daniel continues the MAESTRO FILIPINO spotlight on the National Music Competitions for Young Artists: joining us again are soprano Angeli Benipayo, clarinetist Franz Andra, and guitarist Bea Cena—winners of the Senior Voice, Open Woodwinds, and Junior Guitar categories

A teacher and performer for more than thirty years, over five continents and across various genres, Victora Rapanan brings her expertise to Makati for a masterclass. She talks about this and more as she spends time with Irene Obligacion on CULTURE CAROUSEL.

It’s time to meet the winners of last year’s NAMCYA! Our first batch of guests are no strangers to the competition: third time’s the charm for pianist Pauline Aguila; while it’s the fourth attempt that bagged gold for violinist Luigi Torres; for violist Minn Mendoza, it was not only her second try, but also her second win. They join DZFE’s Daniel to open the MAESTRO FILIPINO spotlight on the 50th...

What are orchestras looking for in a string player? What music will you play, and how should you play it? Violinist Marian Mayuga—violin fellow of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago—will share tips and insight on how to prepare for an orchestral audition in an upcoming webinar for the string sector of the Music Teachers Network Alliance Philippines. She tells us more about this on CULTURE CAROUSEL wit...

This February, Frederic Chopin will be at the center of pianist Jonathan Coo’s circle: his 11-year-old student, Franco Lim, will give a concert at the Liceo de Cagayan University highlighting the Polish master’s works, and Coo himself will plumb the depths of Chopin’s etudes in a series of hybrid workshops. With two more of his students—pianists Jovelyn Yu and Mariane Avendaño—they join DZFE’s Dan...

Christmas came early for soprano Lizzie Bett Estrada: about a year after she moved to London for college, she won first prize in the 28th Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary for Young Singers competition. She joins Irene Obligacion on CULTURE CAROUSEL to talk about that competition, and the experiences of her first year in the UK.

Composer Nilo Alcala was initially commissioned to write a finale piece for flutist Norman Menzales. Instead, what came out was dabda: a musical exploration of the stages of grief. Alcala walks us through that work on MAESTRO FILIPINO, where we also hear the premiere recording by Menzales and pianist Hae-Yun Jeun. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

For its next season concert, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra brings us “the last great Romantic of our age”: pianist Jerome Rose. How did he earn that title, and, after a decades-long career of recording and performing, what advice does he have for young musicians aspiring for the concert stage? Hear more from Rose as he speaks with Irene Obligacion on CULTURE CAROUSEL.

Organ recitals are a constant for Alejandro Consolacion II—before, during, and after the pandemic. As we bid farewell to the old year and greet the new one, we listen to music from one of Consolacion’s steadfast recitals, recorded last year at the Union Church of Manila, and featuring the unique combination of organ and cello. He tells DZFE’s Daniel more on the next program of MAESTRO FILIPINO.

Guitarist Raffy Lata has been living in the US for decades. Even so, he has contributed much to the Philippine classical guitar repertoire with his many online recordings. He tells us how he started on the guitar, and why he keeps on playing, on CULTURE CAROUSEL with Irene Obligacion.

For the first time since the pandemic, Pasipo returned to the stage in force, for Hodie—a Manila Pianos Artist Series Christmas concert featuring music by Bach, Vaughan Williams, and more. Pasipo president tenor Jose Javato and pianist Gabby Paguirigan talk about the history of this event, and its significance for the group, on MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.

Pianist Nikolay Khozyainov is the guest soloist in the next Philippine Philharmonic Concert, Russian Masters. How does he approach performing as both a pianist and a composer, and how is he preparing to meet his Filipino audience? He tells Irene Obligacion on CULTURE CAROUSEL.

Ten years after his last Philippine performance, Europe-based pianist Michael Cu comes home in more ways than one: he returns to Manila, and to the music of his formative years in the concert, Lisztomania. He joins Irene Obligacion on CULTURE CAROUSEL to share the story of this grand spectacle built on the music and philosophy of Franz Liszt.

DZFE's Daniel catches up with Kabataang Gitarista on MAESTRO FILIPINO. Seven years after their last DZFE recording, the group returns to the studio to share how its mission and members have grown over the years, and how, after all this time, its cause remains worth pursuing. Joining us in conversation are program director Menchi Mantaring, and guitarists Daryll Tiongson and Kyle Lorenzana.

Harpist Vien Ignacio returns to Manila Pianos Artist Series to perform some of her favorite works. She tells us more about the event, and how she balances music with her studies, on CULTURE CAROUSEL with Irene Obligacion.

The PIMA Guitar Quartet, with soprano Stefanie Quintin, presents some of our favorite Christmas tunes in Paskong Cuerdas. More than that, it also champions the cause of mental wellness with its partner organization, Family Wellness Center Foundation, and reaches out to a new crowd in Quezon City. We hear more from guitarist Adrik Cristobal, with Peter Sarmiento and Rechie Cristobal of FWC, as they...

NAMCYA winner and finalist, guitarist Agung Sicam embarked on his first international competition not too long ago when he joined the Asia International Guitar Festival earlier this year. He shares his experiences and music on CULTURE CAROUSEL with Irene Obligacion.

Mezzo-soprano Michelle Mariposa is certainly making the most of her time abroad: among other victories, she was recently declared on of the winners of the much-coveted Sullivan Award. She tells us more about that, and how she keeps up with the hectic pace of the competing ring—all on MAESTRO FILIPINO. DZFE’s Daniel is the host.