Fukumura conducts Mozart and Brahms symphonies for PPO’s February concert

Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura

Major changes have come to the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s next concert happening on February 8, 2019 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) as Music Director/Principal Conductor now takes over conducting duties with a music lineup consisting of works by Carl Maria von Weber, Wofgang Amadeus Mozart, and Johannes Brahms.

When the 36th concert season was initially announced, the February concert originally featured Hungarian pianist and conductor Tamás Vásáry through the auspices of the Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines in what is geared to be a major music event for the year. But due to unforeseen circumstances, Vásáry is unable to perform in the country. That concert’s lineup would’ve included Frédéric Chopin’s Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-flat major, Op. 22, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K. 543, and Zoltán Kodály’s Variations on a Hungarian Folksong, "The Peacock".

The updated program retains the Mozart symphony while Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture to Der Freischütz, Op. 77, J. 277 and Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 replace the other pieces with Fukumura now leading the orchestra.

Interesting to note that this will be Fukumura’s second time to conduct Brahms second symphony with the PPO with the first happening way back in November 2012 during his first guest conducting stint with the orchestra..

I would've preferred to have Fukumura programmed the fourth instead since that remains the only symphony of Brahms that he has yet to conduct with the PPO. He was scheduled to conduct it back in March 2018 but wasn’t able to due to unforeseen circumstances. Time will tell if Fukumura will be able to complete the Brahms symphony cycle with the PPO. But for now, better enjoy what Fukumura has in store for February.