By Ellfian Rahim
As the reverberations of “Merdeka!” died down in 1957, then Radio Malaya’s (the direct precursor to present day national broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia – RTM) own music visionary Alfonso Soliano decided that the time was ripe for the brand-spanking new Federation of Malaya to have its own orchestra.
And definitely not just a dance orchestra, mind you…
He felt that the new nation was in need of a proper symphony orchestra, with trumpets and clarinets and a large string section and a harp, befitting a nation about to take its place on the international stage. Even back then, the talented pianist and conductor was already known for blending Western arrangement styles with traditional Malay music. Thus, he took it upon himself to lay the foundations for the young Malaya’s own national orchestra.
“So, perhaps there’s no better way to introduce my father’s musical legacy to a newer, wider audience than to share his music through the brilliance of the current Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). This is perhaps a the dream collaboration that we’ve all been waiting for,” she said at the press conference announcing the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra concert honouring the late Alfonso Soliano entitled A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano, set to take place on Sept 2, 8 pm at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in KLCC.
A Family Affair
“Of course, we, the Solianos, will also be joining the MPO for the concert. I will be in charge of vocals, Don Alfonso Soliano will be on bass, while Condrado Soliano will be alternating between the flugelhorn and the trumpet. We obviously have a wealth of material to choose from but timeless compositions like Ku Kan Kembali, Airmata Berderai, Rindulah Rindu, Ku Puja Alam, Kasih Sayang, Blues for Bangkok, East to West and Pacita Blues are definitely set for the night!
Meanwhile, MPO’s conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose also had more wonderful things to say about Soliano’s musical brilliance and influence on Malaysian big band music.
“If you think about it, much of what we hear in Malaysian symphonic music today has its roots in the foundation laid by Alfonso Soliano. Undoubtedly, he played a pivotal role in bringing local musicians together to create music of world-class standard, and that legacy continues to shape our symphonic tradition even today.”
At The Baton
Ahmad Muriz then said that audiences will definitely witness a fine balance between faithful renditions of Soliano’s original compositions, alongside fresh interpretations by the MPO.
“We’ll be keeping many pieces true to their original form, while others have been reimagined by us to better suit an orchestral setting. We have definitely jazzed up some songs and also rearranged others as symphonic pieces.”
Ahmad Muriz goes on to say that he was also especially excited about some of these reimagined compositions. “Just watch out for our rendition of Dawn to Darkness, Tunas Kasih and some awesome songs from the unforgettable Tiga Trombone album.”
Regular seats for A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano are priced from RM249 to RM399, while suite seating are also available at RM499 from the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas box office in KLCC, or online.
