Wednesday, September 27, 2023

7th Cine Argentino: Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Argentina's return to democracy


In line with the 75th Anniversary of Philippine-Argentine relations, the Embassy of Argentina, the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Shangri-La Plaza Mall present the 7th Cine Argentino happening this September 28-30 at the Red Carpet at the Shang.

As Argentina also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the country's return to democracy after the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, the films this year are snapshots of this time in Argentinean history.

Here are the films of the 7th Cine Argentino, Argentine film festival.

El Exilio de Gardel/The Exile of Gardel (1985)


Director: Fernando E. Solanas
Cast: Marie Laforêt, Miguel Ángel Solá, Ana María Picchio, Philippe Leotard, and Lautaro Murúa

1980 in Paris, Maria lives in exile with his mother, a famous Argentine actress. With a group of friends, Maria decides to tell the story of her uprooting, and if the tragis desolation of the adults around her. The exiles of the "first generation", her parents, try to stage a "tranguedia" (tango-tragedy-comedy) called "El Exilio de Gardel" (Gardel's Exile) which makes the spectator wonder what is really their home country.

Un Lugar en el Mundo/A Place in the World (1992)


Director: Adolfo Aristarain
Cast: Federico Luppi, Cecilia Roth, and José Sacristán

Mario and Ana, in voluntary exile from Buenos Aires, live in a remote Argentine valley with their 12-year old son Ernesto. Mario runs a school and a wool cooperative. Ana, a doctor, heads a clinic with Nelda, a progressive nun. Into this idealistic family comes Hans, a jaded Spanish geologic engineer surveying the land for the local patron, to see if it can be dammed for a hydro-electric power, which would drive the peasants from the land into the cities.

Made in Argentina (1987)


Director: Juan José Jusid
Cast: Luis Brandoni, Marta Bianchi, Leonor Manso, Patricio Contreras, Hugo Arana, and Frank Vincent

Osvaldo and Mabel, and Argentine couple exiled for political reasons in the United States, travel to their country of origin after ten years to reconnect with their family and friends, including Maria's brother and his wife. Mabel offers her brother the possibility of working in New York with the aim of improving their economic situation, but his wife is opposed.

Sur/The South (1988)


Director: Fernando “Pino” Solanas
Cast: Susú Pecoraro, Miguel Ángel Solá, Philippe Léotard, and Lito Cruz

With the end of the military regime, Floral is released from prison and is on his way to reunite with his wife. Afraid of being reunited with his family, he walks through the city. By everything has changed, both his partner and the country.

The schedule of film screenings are as follows:

September 28, 2023
3:00 PM Made in Argentina
6:00 PM Un Lugar en el mundo

September 29, 2023
3:00 PM El Exilio de Gardel
6:00 PM Sur

September 30, 2023
3:00 PM El Exilio de Gardel
6:00 PM Made in Argentina

Film screenings will be at the Cinema 3, Red Carpet at the Shang and are for free, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 7th Cine Argentino is presented by the Embassy of Argentina, Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Shangri-La Plaza Mall, with the support of the Directores Argentinos Cinematográfico, an association of over 2,000 Argentine filmmakers dedicated to preserving the country's cinematic heritage.

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Legendary pianist Krystian Zimerman headlines Grzegorz Nowak, PPO's 39th concert season


The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's upcoming 39th concert season is billed as Switch, as it will be the inaugural season of newly appointed music director and principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak after a yearlong search. This season also sees the concert venue switch from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Metropolitan Theater to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Grzegorz Nowak

But at the recent press conference held at the Ascott Hotel in BGC, the switch may not just be about the changes but may also be about turning the switch on Maestro Nowak's grand plans for the PPO. And it couldn't get any grander than THE Krystian Zimerman being part of the upcoming season.

Krystian Zimmerman
Photo © Bartek Barczyk

Zimerman, the 1st Prize winner at the IX International Chopin Piano Competition in 1975, is the featured soloist at the February 2024 concert. Two more special performances could see Zimerman either lead and/or perform with a chamber ensemble made up of PPO musicians. Nowak said that Zimerman has worked with him more than any other conductor.

Nowak also detailed that some of his plans as the PPO 's music director is to commission new works by Filipino composers. He wants the orchestra to have a composer in residence per year whose works will be promoted and performed in the season. As a supporter of new works, he also mentioned the possibility of having a modern music festival in here.

PPO Director Eugene delos Santos, CCP President Nikki Junia, and Grzegorz Nowak

As for his plans for the PPO, Nowak aims to make the orchestra as a team. He saw the PPO's potential when they kept on responding well as he continued to demand more from them during his first stint with the orchestra.

Notable also is Nowak's penchant for anecdotes and stories from his decades of experience working with big name artists. One memorable story he told was having to stay late at night hand writing a score for a concert with Kathleen Battle whom he described as capricious.

PPO Woodwind Quintet

Here is the 39th season program of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. All concerts will be conducted by Grzegorz Nowak. Performances will now start at 7:30 PM and will be held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. As always, the program and performers are subject to change.

Concert I: Roman Carnival
September 15, 2023, 7:30 PM

Mark Bebbington

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Mark Bebbington, piano

Hector Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9
Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Ottorino Respighi Pini di Roma, P141

Concert II: Italian Night
October 13, 2023, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Filipino Work
Antonin Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"

Concert III: Russian Masters
November 17, 2023, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Nikolay Khozyainov, piano

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24
Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Sergei Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64

Concert IV: Ode to Joy
December 8, 2023, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Raul Sunico, piano

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

Concert V: Fate
January 12, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Jerome Rose, piano

Commissioned Filipino Work
Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 on F minor, Op. 36

Concert VI: Piano Rapture
February 9, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Krystian Zimerman, piano

Stanisław Moniuszko Bajka (The Fairy Tale) Overture
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27

Special performances by Krystian Zimerman
February 14, 2024
February 16, 2024

Concert VII: Don Pasquale
March 8, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Gaetano Donizetti Don Pasquale (semi-staged performance)

Concert VIII: Fête Française
April 19, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Diomedes Saraza, Jr., violin

Commissioned Filipino Work
Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
Maurice Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Suites 1 & 2

Updated tickets prices for concerts at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater are as follows:
P3000 Orchestra Center
P2000 Orchestra Side
P2500 Loge Center
P1500 Loge Side
P800 Balcony

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 39th Concert Season Switch is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and is made possible by partners SSI Group, Inc., TBWA\SMP, Ascott Bonifacio Global City, and Lyf Malate Manila.