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.

CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD presents Richard Strauss' Salome

The Cultural Center of the Philippines presents Richard Strauss' Salome, the latest installment of CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screening on August 12, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 at the Ayala Center in Makati.

This new production by Claus Guth, set during the Victorian era, stars soprano Elza van den Heever in the titular role, baritone Peter Mattei as Jochanaan, tenor Gerhard Siegel as King Herod, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as Herodias, and tenor Piotr Buszewski as Narraboth. Met Orchestra's Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

An advance warning though as this production of Salome contains adult themes and disturbing imagery.

Here is the press release for CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screening of Strauss' Salome

Salome’s dangerous obsession in CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD

The biblical tale of the wicked Salome takes center stage in the seventh installment of CCP (Cultural Center of the Philippines)’s The Met: LIVE in HD, screening on August 12, 2025, 5:30 pm, at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Composed by Richard Strauss, Salome intertwines the life of the young girl with her stepfather, King Herod, and the prophet Jochanaan. Enthralled by Jochanaan, Salome makes advances. He then rejects her and advises her to seek Christ instead. Blinded by anger, the girl seduces King Herod to get the prophet for herself.

Due to its scandalous tale of eroticism and indecency, Strauss’ Salome was banned in London until 1908. Its provocative number, Dance of the Seven Veils, paints the once innocent girl in a new light. The spoiled princess displays her sexual awakening as a terrifying force, enough to commit murder in the name of her desires. Highlighting Salome’s dangerous obsession with Jochanaan, the opera narrates her inevitable descent into madness and corruption.

Originally a French play by Oscar Wilde, Salome was translated into German by Strauss following Hedwig Lachmann’s libretto. Its unsettling dissonances and turbulent rhythms deny the audiences a gentle introduction, reeling them in with psychological precision. Meanwhile, the use of string, wind, and brass instruments perfectly balances the tale’s eerie atmosphere with the powerful vocals of each singer.

After two decades, the Metropolitan Opera brings Strauss’ Salome back with mezzo-soprano Elza van den Heever brilliantly portraying the unhinged heroine. Tenor Gerhard Siegel joins her as the corrupt King Herod, while celebrated baritone Peter Mattei is Jochanaan. The regality and dark themes of Salome shine with the orchestral performance under the baton of the Met Opera’s music conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Witness Salome’s tragedy on screen on August 12, 5:30 p.m., at Glorietta 4’s Cinema 1 in Makati City as the seventh installment of the CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD. The CCP, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas, showcases the beauty of operas in excellent Dolby Surround and High-Definition video.

While inspiring a deeper appreciation of all art forms, the country’s leading art institution keeps true to its commitment to providing world-class artistic experiences to Filipinos through The Met: LIVE in HD program. Aside from the performance itself, the opera program gives a glimpse into the nitty-gritty of mounting operas with exclusive interviews and footage.

Regular tickets for CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 screenings are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals can avail of the discounted price of Php100 upon presentation of a valid ID. You may purchase directly from the ticket booth at the venue or book tickets online via www.sureseats.com.

Get updates on CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD through the official Facebook pages of CCP and CCP Film, Broadcast, and New Media. For upcoming CCP shows and events, follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok. You may also check on the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for more information.