After the big switch, show of strength, PPO announces "Versatile" 41st concert season

The Cultural Center of the Philippines has unveiled the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 41st Concert Season slated for September 2025 up to April 2026.

The upcoming season, billed as Versatile, will be PPO's music director/principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak's third, following the 39th (Switch) and 40th (Forte) seasons. Under the leadership of Nowak, the PPO embarked on a successful UK tour in May 2025.

Season highlights include guest artists namely pianists Andre Gugnin, Szymon Nehring, and Junhee Kim, violinist Bartek Nizioł, cellist Tomasz Strahl, and soprano Katerina Mina. This season also sees pianist Mark Bebbington and soprano Andion Fernandez make return engagements with the PPO.

PPO Concertmaster Diomedes Saraza Jr. will also take to the stage for his much anticipated performance of the Shostakovich violin concerto. Lastly, world premiere performances or works by composers Jeffrey Ching and Jerry Dadap are included the season program.

Below is the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 41st Concert Season Versatile in detail.

Concert I: Ouverture

September 12, 2025

Metropolitan Theater

Andrey Gugnin, piano

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Antonín Dvořák Carnival Op. 92, B. 169

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

Concert II: Le Retour

September 19, 2025

Samsung Performing Arts Theater

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Waltz from Swan Lake Suite

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Concert III: Concerto

October 17, 2025

Metropolitan Theater

Tomasz Strahl, cello

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Jeffrey Ching Creation Fugue and Arctic Chase from Frankenstein (World Premiere)

Robert Schumann Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129

Witold Lutosławski Concerto for Orchestra

Concert IV: Virtuoso

November 14, 2025

Samsung Performing Arts Theater

Mark Bebbington, piano

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Overture from Don Giovanni

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 ‘Emperor’

Modest Mussorgsky (arr. Sergei Gorchakov) Pictures at an Exhibition

Concert V: Preludi

January 16, 2026

Venue: TBA

Andion Fernandez, soprano

Szymon Nehring, piano

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Jeffrey Ching Fenghuang Singing

Frédéric Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11

Franz Liszt Les Préludes S.97

Concert VI: Romanza

February 13, 2026

Venue: TBA

Bartek Nizioł, violin

Junhee Kim, piano

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/Jeffrey Ching Concerto for Violin and Piano in D major, K.Anh.56/315f (World Premiere of Mozart’s unfinished concerto completed by Jeffrey Ching)

Henryk Wieniawski Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Maurice Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2

Concert VII: Opera

March 13, 2026

Metropolitan Theater

Katerina Mina, soprano

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Giuseppe Verdi

 La forza del destino

   Overture

   Pace, pace mio Dio

Umberto Giordano La Mamma Morta from Andrea Chénier

Giacomo Puccini

 Adagietto in F major

 Vissi d'arte from Tosca

Stephan Hodel Angel of Fire

Jerry Dadap Symphony No. 5 The Wrath of Prakṛti (nature) & Ragatmika-Bhakti (devotion) (World Premiere)

Concert VIII: Coda

April 17, 2026

Metropolitan Theater

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Dmitri Shostakovich

 Festive Overture Op. 96

 Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77

 Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

Tickets for each concert are priced at P3,000, P2,500, P2,000, P1,500, P800, and P500. Subscription packages (regular and junior) are also available.

In addition to the subscription concert series, the PPO will also have a couple of special concerts as listed below.

The Pianist's Pianist: Cecile Licad in Concert

September 24, 2025

Metropolitan Theater

Ceciile Licad, pianist

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Gioachino Rossini Overture from L’Italiana in Algeri

Frédéric Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Overture from Die Zauberflöte

Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

Joyuex Noël

December 5, 2025

Samsung Performing Arts Theater

Katarzyna Dondalska, soprano

Choir, TBA

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Johann Strauss II

 Die Fledermaus

  Overture

  Mein Herr Marquis

 Annen-Polka, Op. 117

Carl Millöcker Ach, wir armen Primadonnen from Der arme Jonathan

Johann Strauss II Overture from Der Zigeunerbaron

Jacques Offenbach Les oiseaux dans la charmille from Les contes d’Hoffmann

Johann Strauss II Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214

Arthur Sullivan Poor Wandering One from The Pirates of Penzance

Johann Strauss II Unter Donner und Blitz Polka, Op. 324

Krzesimir Dębski Song of Helena from With Fire and Swod

George Frideric Händel

 Messiah

  For unto us a child is born

  Hallelujah

Johann Strauss II An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314

Carl Orff

 Carmina Burana

  Dulcissime

  Final Chorus

More information and updates on PPO’s 41st concert season Versatile can be found at the CCP’s official website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Cecile Licad holds solo piano concert at Gallery MiraNila on October 1

Whenever world-renowned pianist Cecile Licad performs piano concertos with an orchestra, the final note is always greeted by deafening applause by a dazzled and enthralled audience. The combination of a large theater packed to the brim, a full symphony orchestra, technically demanding pieces, and Licad's larger than life stage presence all add up to a grand experience.

The above paragraph is mainly why the switch to a solo concert, with Licad and just a piano, at an intimate venue surrounded by the garden of an historic heritage house, make Cecile Licad Up Close, happening on October 1, 2025, 6:30 PM at the Gallery MiraNila, a must see.

Presented by the MiraNila Heritage House & Library in partnership with the Erehwon Center for the Arts and the P. Ilusorio Foundation and in collaboration with Gallery MiraNila by The Blue Leaf, Cecile Licad Up Close sees Licad performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 Quasi una fantasia or more popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata, Robert Schumman's Carnaval, Op. 9, Franz Liszt's St. Francis of Paola Walking on the Waves, a handful of Scott Joplin's ragtime pieces namely The Entertainer, Rose Leaf Rag, Stoptime Rag, and Easy Winters, and Frédéric Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23.

A recipient of the Leventritt Gold Medal, Grand Prix du Disque, and Pamana ng Pilipino Award, Ms. Licad has also worked with esteemed orchestras and distinguished conductors, including the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy, the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Claudio Abbado, as well as Sir Georg Solti, the National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich, the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa, the London Symphony Orchestra under Kurt Masur, the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Andre Previn, and the Russian Academy State Orchestra (Moscow) under People’s Artist of Russia Mark Gorenstein.

Cecile Licad
Photo ©Patrick Diokno

She continues to captivate audiences at the Carnegie Hall and, most recently, on tour with famed Wynton Marsalis and his brass band playing alongside Louis, a modern silent film based on the early years of the legendary trumpetist Louis Armstrong.

The Gallery MiraNila concert offers a rare opportunity to hear this most decorated of Filipino classical artists in the intimate setting of the hall.

Tickets for her one-night-only solo concert in Metro Manila are priced at P3,500 (premium) and P3,000 (regular).

For tickets, text Bern at 0906-547-8268 or email miranilaheritage@gmail.com.

Apart from the concert, guests can avail of pre-concert cocktails and post-concert dinners on offer. The pre-concert sunset cocktail hour from 5:00-6:00 PM, serving cocktails and charcuterie with panoramic sunset views is priced at P1,000 per guest. While the post-concert dinner, a curated late dinner under the stars by Bizu on the rooftop cost P2,000 per guest.

Spots can be booked at: https://bit.ly/3JvaG9q

Other guests can avail of the Bizu pasta station and light snacks for sale during the intermission and after the concert.

MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy Bagong Lipunan Crame, Q.C. Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House Events.

Cecile Licad Up Close is presented by the Benitez-Tirona MiraNila Foundation in partnership with the Erehwon Center for the Arts, P. Ilusorio Foundation, and Gallery MiraNila by The Blue Leaf.

Zarzuela > Sarswela, A Musical Bridge Between Spain and the Philippines

On August 26, Instituto Cervantes, the Embassy of Spain, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), and Teatro de la Zarzuela will present Zarzuela-Sarswela, a concert featuring a selection of pieces from classic Spanish zarzuelas alongside works from Philippine sarswelas. The recital, the culmination of the zarzuela workshop led by Spanish pianist Ramón Grau, will take place at the Education Auditorium (4F Albertus Magnus Building), UST. Admission is free, and early registration is encouraged at https://forms.office.com/e/gqQYWUHzSb.

This concert marks the grand finale of Zarzuela Viva, a month-long celebration of the shared cultural heritage between Spain and the Philippines, featuring weekly zarzuela screenings, an immersive workshop, and this closing recital.

The zarzuela, one of the most treasured art forms in the Spanish-speaking world, was also among the most popular cultural expressions in the Philippines for decades. As Alexandra Chua, Dean of the UST Conservatory of Music, observes: “In the Philippine context, the sarswela is not merely a borrowed tradition, but a powerful symbol of Filipino transcultural identity and creativity. Embedded within it are distinctly Filipino stories and narratives that reflect local experiences, struggles, and aspirations. Through the reimagining of inherited forms, the sarswela becomes a dynamic expression of Filipino agency and cultural voice.”

The festival opened on August 1 at Instituto Cervantes with Tiempo de Zarzuela by Cristina Otero Roth. On August 7, audiences enjoyed La del manojo de rosas by Pablo Sorozábal, staged by Teatro de la Zarzuela. Upcoming screenings include El barberillo de Lavapiés by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri (August 14) and El sobre verde by Jacinto Guerrero (August 28), both at 3:00 p.m. in the Central Laboratory Auditorium, UST.

Zarzuela Workshop

Ramón Grau

From August 18 to 22, Ramón Grau—principal pianist at Madrid’s Teatro de la Zarzuela since 2016—will lead an intensive workshop at the UST Conservatory of Music for advanced music students. Grau has composed for films such as El Fantasma de la Sauna and Calcinación, and for the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, which will premiere his piano concerto Estigio in December 2025.

Grand Finale Concert

On August 26, Ramón Grau and the workshop participants will perform Zarzuela-Sarswela, featuring selections from El barberillo de Lavapiés and La del manojo de rosas, alongside iconic pieces from the Filipino sarswela tradition.

This concert brings to a close a cultural program that highlights the enduring legacy of the zarzuela—a genre that has left an indelible mark on the history of Philippine theater. In the words of writer Nick Joaquin: “Certainly, in no other art form, whether in English, Spanish, or Tagalog, has the Filipino shown himself so much at home; and in no other, since then, has he been able to establish such close rapport with the people.”

Zarzuela Viva is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, the Conservatory of Music of UST, Teatro de la Zarzuela, and the Intramuros Administration.

For more information about Zarzuela Viva, visit www.manila.cervantes.es or follow Instituto Cervantes on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila/

Embassy of Brazil in Manila and DFA present “Strings of Brazil” at Ayala Museum

The Embassy of Brazil in Manila, in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), presents Strings of Brazil – A Duet of Harmony with Fabio Presgrave and Fabio Zanon on August 12, 2025, 6:00 PM at the Ayala Museum. This special cultural diplomacy event brings together two of Brazil’s most celebrated classical musicians for an evening that highlights the enduring friendship between Brazil and the Philippines.

This event is made possible through the partnership between the Embassy of Brazil in Manila - via the Instituto Guimarães Rosa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil - and the DFA, especially its Offices of Cultural Diplomacy and American Affairs. The venue was generously sponsored by the Bistro Group, which will open its new restaurant “Fogo de Chão” - a renowned Brazilian steakhouse - on August 18 at Glorietta 4, Makati. The world-renowned Filipino composer Jeffrey Ching also played a decisive role in making the recital possible.

The concert follows the Fabios’ successful performance with the Manila Symphony Orchestra last Saturday and will feature a repertoire of both Brazilian and Philippine compositions, showcasing the shared warmth and cultural richness of the two nations.

Speaking about the evening’s repertoire, Ambassador Gilberto Moura emphasized:

“The Philippines has a rich and sophisticated classical music tradition, shaped by centuries of diverse influences. Brazilian classical music, likewise, is born of a cultural mosaic — European heritage, African rhythms, and indigenous traditions. When these traditions meet, they find a natural harmony, much like the friendship between our two nations.”

The performance of guitar and cello pieces serves as a symbolic dialogue between cultures, with the Ambassador noting that “music transcends borders, dissolves distances, and, in these challenging times, offers the world joy, affection, and hope.”

The recital also marks the beginning of the countdown to the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the Philippines in 2026. The Embassy will host more cultural activities in the lead-up to this milestone celebration.

About the Performers

Fabio Zanon is one of Brazil’s most acclaimed guitarists, internationally recognized for his performances and recordings. Fabio Presgrave is a celebrated cellist known for his versatility and collaborations with major orchestras worldwide.