TO emulate the internationally renowned
Vienna New Year Concert, Mandarin Oriental, Manila restages the
performance at a black-tie affair at 7 p.m. on February 25 at
the hotel’s ballroom.
Featuring the Philippine Philharmonic
Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of guest Austrian conductor Dr.
Ernest Hoetzl and pianist Rudolf Golez, it recreates the iconic
concert of classic music that has been held each year since 1939
in Vienna, Austria.
Broadcasted around the world from the Wiener
Muskverein to 44 countries, it features masterpieces from the
Strauss family with occasional works from other famous composers
that include waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, and marches, among
others.
Incorporated in the program are: the overture
of "Abduction from the Seraglio" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart;
Franz Lehar’s "Gold and Silver Waltz"; Robert Stolz’ "UNO
March"; and the "Vienna Blood Waltz", "Toy Train", "Egyptian
March", "Perpetuum Mobile", and the signature "Blue Danube
Waltz" and "Radeztky March" from the Strauss family.
Hoetzl, who has directed various philharmonic
and symphony orchestras in many parts of the world, has
performed with the PPO at various events. Often called Austria’s
Ambassador of Music, the professor at the University of Graz,
regularly works with more than 20 orchestras all over the world.
Golez, whose diverse training helped him to
develop the German and French styles of Pianism, plays Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 28 in D, K.382 (Concert
Rondo) and Frederic Chopin’s Grand Polonaise Brillante and
Andante Spianato, Opus 22. He was awarded the sole prize winner
of the Chopin competition in Kuala Lumpur and is presently vice
president of cultural affairs at the Liceo de Cagayan
University.
"We hope to share with lovers of classical
music in Manila the delighting experience that this awesome
Austrian tradition has brought throughout the world, and take
the extra effort to ensure authenticity, including recreating to
an extent the Musikverein," says Helmut Gaisberger, Mandarin
Oriental, Manila general manager who first presented the Vienna
New Year Concert at the hotel in 1999.
A recipient of various awards from Vienna —
the Silver Star of Merit of the Republic of Austria, the Golden
Cross of Vienna, and also the Golden Award of Merit for Overseas
Austrians - Gaisberger has been credited for spearheading a
number of classical presentations locally, including the Opera
Ball, various operettas, piano and symphonic tributes to Mozart
and Strauss.Proceeds of the event go to the GeoChris Foundation,
Inc.
Tickets are available at the Mandarin Oriental’s lobby shop.
Following the performance, concert goers have the option to take
dinner atThe Tivoli, which will offer a three-course dinner
menu.
