PPO holds outreach concerts in Nueva Ecija and Dumaguete

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) is bringing the joy of live orchestral music to the communities of Nueva Ecija and Dumaguete with its upcoming outreach concerts in the regions. These events aim to bring PPO’s brand of music to different regions, broadening its audience reach and making world-class orchestral music accessible outside the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Complex.

Under the baton of Resident Conductor Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, the orchestra will present a vibrant program, with each concert highlighting a distinct theme. In Nueva Ecija, audiences will be swept into the festive spirit of the Christmas season through the PPO’s lively performances. Dubbed Himig ng Pasko, Alay sa Inyo, the PPO Nueva Ecija concert will feature home-grown performing groups such as the Voices of the City of Muñoz and the CLSU Maestro Singers with opera singer Gerphil Flores and soloist Giancarlo Gonzales. The concert will begin at 6:00pm on November 26 at the Science City Gymnasium in the Science City of Muñoz.

Flores is an award-winning classical crossover singer known for her captivating vocal artistry. She completed her Bachelor of Music, major in Voice, Cum Laude, at the University of the Philippines College of Music, and later continued her academic pursuits with studies in Art History at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She rose to international prominence as the 2nd runner-up on Asia’s Got Talent, and in 2015 received the Aliw Awards’ “Entertainer of the Year.” Since then, she has performed in numerous solo and collaborative concerts across Asia and North America.

Gonzales, the assistant principal cellist of the PPO, recently completed his Artist Diploma in Cello Performance at Texas Christian University (TCU), where he studied under Dr. Juliette Herlin and served as Principal Cellist of the TCU Symphony Orchestra, performing with the ensemble when it won First Place in the university division of The American Prize for Orchestral Performance. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Memphis, In the Philippines, he has trained under respected mentors including Amador Tamayo and Herminia Ilano. A NAMCYA prizewinner and former member of the Asian Youth Orchestra, Gonzales has performed across Asia and appeared with major Philippine ensembles, including the PPO’s historic 2016 Carnegie Hall concert.

Following their performance in Nueva Ecija, the PPO will continue its outreach tour in Negros Oriental with a series of concerts at Silliman University, titled LEGACY: Music for Silliman’s Bicentennial, on December 11 at 7pm and December 12 at 2pm and 7pm. The Dumaguete program will serve as a tribute to the legacy of Dr. Horace Silliman, an American philanthropist and industrialist who played a pivotal role in the founding of Silliman Institute, now Silliman University, on his birth anniversary.

Soprano Katrina Saga, with local talents soloists James Alkene Lamuna, Julia Faith Joaquin, and Joven Edward Aquisap will perform alongside the national orchestra.

Saga is a distinguished soprano and vocal specialist, a graduate of Silliman University’s College of Performing and Visual Arts, and an alumna of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, celebrated for her exceptional technique and artistry. Aquisap is PPO’s viola player and holds a Master of Music in Viola Performance and Chamber Music from the University of South Florida. Lamuna is a tenor with extensive performance experience in Dumeguete City, while Joaquin, a singing champion from Bohol, has gained national recognition as a finalist on It’s Showtime: Tawag ng Tanghalan.

Established in 1973, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is the country’s leading orchestra, celebrated for its artistic excellence and commitment to fostering Filipino musical talent. Through concerts, outreach programs, and education initiatives, the PPO brings orchestral music to audiences nationwide.

The concert in Nueva Ecija is free and open to the public. Reserve your tickets for the Dumaguete concert through cac@su.edu.ph.

Follow the CCP and PPO official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates.

Manila Symphony Orchestra's 100th Anniversary Concert program announced

As the holiday season fast approaches, so does the Manila Symphony Orchestra's grand centennial celebration. As the countdown continues for this momentous occasion, the orchestra recently announced the program for The MSO 100th Anniversary Concert happening on January 22, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Darrell Ang

The centennial concert begins with Ludwig van Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b, a throwback to exactly a hundred years ago, January 22, 1926, at the MSO's inaugural concert at the Manila Grand Opera House under the baton of founder Alexander Lippay. For the anniversary concert, conducting will be Singaporean Darrell Ang, a frequent collaborator of the MSO. Leonore Overture No. 3 is one of his most dramatic orchestral works, embodying themes of struggle, freedom, and triumph. Originally written for his only opera, Fidelio, the overture transforms the story’s emotional journey from darkness and conflict to light and redemption into a powerful symphonic form. 

Muyu Liu

Following the overture is another Beethoven gem, the Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 with the returning Muyu Liu as the featured soloist. Also known as the Emperor Concerto, this work stands as his last completed piano concerto and one of the most majestic works in the repertoire. Written between 1809 and 1811 during Vienna’s turbulent wartime, the concerto opens with three commanding chords that set a heroic tone before the piano enters in a bold and unprecedented way. Its grand orchestration, virtuosic solo writing, and dialogue between piano and orchestra reveal Beethoven’s mature mastery.

Philippine Madrigal Singers

A couple of works by MSO Trustee and National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, Misa 2000 and Te Deum, comprise the other half of the program. The performance of these pieces will feature the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers under choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio. Cayabyab's Misa 2000 is a visionary and profoundly moving sacred work that unites Western liturgical form with Filipino musical identity. Written for dance and recognized by the Onassis International Cultural Competition, it combines chorus, orchestra, and indigenous instruments in a vibrant tapestry of sound and spirit.

Mark Anthony Carpio

On the other hand, Te Deum is a grand choral-orchestral work that radiates joy, gratitude, and praise. Setting the traditional Latin hymn to music, Cayabyab infuses the composition with his signature rhythmic vitality and harmonic richness, blending classical structure with contemporary sensibility. Celebratory and uplifting, Te Deum reflects both the universality of faith and the Filipino spirit of thanksgiving, a fitting conclusion to the Manila Symphony Orchestra’s centennial concert.

Along with the announcement of the upcoming centennial concert program comes the much awaited lineup of the MSO Season 100 for 2026-2027.

Concert I: Centennial Opening: The Sleeping Beauty

March 13-15, 2026

Aliw Theater

Concert II: Centennial Rising Stars of the Philippines

May 30, 2026

Proscenium Theatre

Concert III: Symphony of a Nation: 100 Years of Music, 80 Years of FilAm Friendship

July 4, 2026

Manila Metropolitan Theater

Concert IV: Legacies in Song: MSO’s 100 Years and the Voice of Conching Rosal

August 29, 2026

FEU Auditorium

Concert V: Centennial Finale Gala: Philippine Master Composers, Past, Present, and Future

October 2026

Hyundai Hall, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University

Concert VI: MSO 100 Centennial Finale

January 2027

Venue TBA

*program, artists, date, and venue subject to change

Tickets for The MSO 100th Anniversary Concert are currently available via Ticketworld. Prices are as follows:

Price Zone 1: P5,000

Price Zone 2: P4,700

Price Zone 3: P4,500

Price Zone 4: P4,000

Price Zone 5: P3,000

Price Zone 6: P2,000

Price Zone 7: P1,800

Special offers include 50% discount for students and 20% discount for senior citizens and PWDs. There is also a 20% Early Bird Discount Code: MSO100EB20 that remains valid untiil December 1, 2025 11:59PM.

World-class artists set the stage for Intramuros Evenings: La Voix Humaine this November 12

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Intramuros Evenings: Francis Poulenc’s ‘La Voix Humaine,’ originally scheduled for November 12 (Wednesday), has been rescheduled to November 13 (Thursday), 7:00 PM, at the Centro de Turismo, Intramuros, Manila.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Intramuros Administration (IA) team up for another night of artistic bliss for the third installation of Intramuros Evenings, featuring Francis Poulenc’s Aubade Concerto and La Voix Humaine (The Human Voice) on November 12, 2025, 7 p.m. at Centro de Turismo in Intramuros, Manila.

Intramuros Evenings: La Voix Humaine begins with Poulenc’s Aubade. Originally conceived as a ballet, the piece is now performed as a chamber concerto for piano and 18 instruments. This blend of 18th-century neoclassicism and 20th-century French style will be headlined by world-renowned pianist and former CCP President Raul Sunico, with the University of Santo Tomas Symphony Orchestra (USTSO) providing music accompaniment.

Following Aubade is La Voix Humaine, a one-act monodrama revolving around Elle, who exchanges goodbyes with her lover through a series of fragmented phone calls. Under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, Filipina soprano Armela Fortuna breathes life into the protagonist as she sings with USTSO’s resonating harmonies.

A powerful collaboration for a one-night-only show

Harnessing the power of the arts to surpass cultural barriers, Intramuros Evenings: La Voix Humaine is brought to life with the brilliant collaboration of Gawad CCP Para sa Sining awardees.

2020 Gawad CCP awardee Nonon Padilla directs, while 2024 Gawad CCP awardee Gino Gonzales takes the helm of production design, and Gawad CCP and current CCP Trustee Monino Duque, for lighting design.

Gonzales is known for repurposing local materials in his set designs. Duque, on the other hand, will decorate the historic walls of Intramuros with his expertise.

Works of the late projection and video designer GA Fallarme will also illuminate the special production of Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine.

Meanwhile, world-renowned Filipino fashion designer Josie Natori lends her elegance and sensuality to the costume design of the production. With generosity and creative touch, Natori dresses the soprano performer, transforming the stage into a gallery of elegance where music and fashion intertwine.

Behind the stage of Intramuros Evenings

Behind the scenes, the collaborative work of renowned theater practitioners will mount Intramuros Evenings: La Voix Humaine. The collective efforts of production manager Nikki Garde-Torres, assistant production manager Myka Cheong, and technical director Louie Alcoran maintain the seamless flow and integration of music and visual art. Stage managers Nenen Espina, Pearl Boronilla, Raine, and June Niel Belisario also safeguard the artistic vision of the performance.

Intramuros Evenings: La Voix Humaine comes after Tanghalang Pilipino Inc.’s devised production of Ganito Na Kami Noon, Paano Na Ngayon? and Serenata ng Banda last July and September 2025, respectively.

Transforming the Walled City into a cultural hub, the longstanding partnership between the CCP and the IA reaffirms the goal of both institutions to further immerse the Filipino community in opera and theater.

With La Voix Humaine as the third of four productions planned for the year, Intramuros Evenings remains committed to showcasing the voices, instruments, and designs of formidable Filipino artists, while promoting and pursuing classic and modern arts.

Witness a raw staging of heartbreak in Intramuros Evenings: La Voix Humaine, on November 12, 2025, 7 p.m. at the Centro de Turismo, Intramuros, Manila. The event is free and open to the public, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on CCP’s events, visit its official website (https://culturalcenter.gov.ph/). You may also follow CCP’s official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for updates on future events, productions, and workshops.

Triumph, thanksgiving and Mark Bebbington's return at PPO's November concert

After joining the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in its successful UK tour back in May, British pianist Mark Bebbington returns once again to the Philippines to grace the PPO's upcoming concert this November 14, 2025, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Billed as Triumph and Thanksgiving, the fourth concert of the 41st season sees Bebbington perform Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 73 which is also known as the Emperor Concerto.

Another highlight of the concert is Sergei Gorchakov's arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Hearing the Gorchakov version this time is a welcome change from the wildly popular and most performed arrangement by Maurice Ravel of the Mussorgsky solo piano suite. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Don Giovanni Overture serves as the concert opener.

Mark Bebbington

This upcoming PPO concert marks Bebbington's third time to perform in the country. His first being the opening concert of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak's inaugural season with the PPO back in September 2023 and the second being the send-off concert just in April of this year right before the UK Tour.

Reprinted below is the press release for the concert.

Triumph, Thanksgiving, and timeless classics in PPO Concert IV this November

After a series of performances showcasing technical mastery and global artistry, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) continues its 41st season with CONCERT IV: TRIUMPH AND THANKSGIVING on November 14, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.

With the passionate Maestro Grzegorz Nowak at the helm, PPO’s Concert IV promises an evening of sweeping emotions and classical brilliance, highlighting the timeless works of master composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Modest Mussorgsky.

A timeless repertoire for the world-class orchestra

The November concert opens with the drama of Mozart’s Don Giovanni Overture, one of the composer’s most celebrated operas. The opera follows the legendary character Don Juan as he seduces women while roaming around Spain with his trusted servant Leporello. Their daring escapades are set to Mozart’s enthralling music.

As it balances sharp wit with the impending consequences of Don Juan’s actions, Don Giovanni Overture displays Mozart’s ingenious ability to weave contrasting elements into one captivating piece.

The program continues with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 73. Titled Emperor, this monumental piece embodies the German composer’s interpretation of heroism, as seen through his student and patron Archduke Rudolf. Composed in 1809 when Vienna was under siege by the French, the “Emperor” ultimately shows the triumph of the human soul.

PPO’s Concert IV: Triumph and Thanksgiving concludes the night with Sergej Gorchakov’s orchestral arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The composition vividly takes its listeners on a walk through a gallery, inviting them to reflect on the works of Viktor Hartmann. The Russian painter and architect who had died young was a dear friend to Mussorgsky.

Originally written as a piano suite, Gorchakov’s lush orchestration beautifully transforms Pictures at an Exhibition into a gallery of sound.

Bringing classical elegance to life on the piano

Coming back to the country to bring to life the classic masterpieces, internationally recognized pianist Mark Bebbington will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 73.

A certified champion of British music, Bebbington has emerged as one of Britain’s innovative pianists. He had also toured with the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, and Royal Philharmonic orchestras. His prowess in performances and recordings promises to illuminate Mozart and Beethoven’s majestic passages.

Carrying musical sensitivity, Bebbington previously joined the PPO in its nine-concert tour across the United Kingdom. He was declared a “hidden gem” by the orchestra’s concertmaster and artist-in-residence violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr.

Offering gratitude with melodies

In revisiting a classical repertoire, the PPO underscores its own evolution as a dynamic and world-class ensemble in its 41st concert season. The fourth installment bears the theme “Triumph and Thanksgiving,” reflecting the celebration of artistic excellence and appreciation.

Through Concert IV, the PPO also offers heartfelt gratitude to its audiences who continue to support the orchestra’s mission of bringing classical music closer to every Filipino. Slated on November 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, expect an evening of enchanting melodies with the nation’s premier orchestra.

Tickets for PPO concerts are priced at Php3,000, Php2,500, Php2,000, and Php1,500, available at TicketWorld. For an exclusive 20 percent discount, be a PPO subscriber. Email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880 to purchase a PPO’s 41st concert season subscription.

For more updates on the PPO and its upcoming performances, visit the CCP’s website (https://culturalcenter.gov.ph/). You may also follow the CCP’s official pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more information.