PPO goes strong in 40th concert season, legendary violinist Shlomo Mintz opens season

The time for switching is a thing of the past as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, the resident orchestra of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, goes strong in its 40th concert season under the leadership of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the PPO's music director and principal conductor,

Grzegorz Nowak

With the theme of Forte, this concert season sees seven concerts (a noticeable reduction from the eight concerts in previous years) highlighted by the guesting of the legendary Shlomo Mintz, the much delayed reuniting of Rowena Arrieta with the PPO, a special concert commemorating the Liberation of Manila during World War II, the world premiere performances of commissioned works by the this season's Composer-in-Residence Jeffrey Ching, and the introduction of Diomedes Saraza, Jr. as the new PPO Concertmaster and Artist-in-Residence, just to name a few.

Shlomo Mintz

Speaking of Mintz, the Russian-born, Israeli violinist and conductor opens the season with a performance of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26. Noteworthy that his first album ever, released by Deutsche Grammophon, included the Bruch violin concerto as well as the Mendelssohn. To be conducted by Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the season opener will also include the world premiere of Fiesta Contrapuntistica by Jeffrey Ching, who is the PPO's 40th Season Conductor-in-Residence. Richard Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 wraps up the concert.

Jeffrey Ching

Here is the complete program lineup for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 40th Concert Season Forte. Please note that the program and guest performers are subject to change.

Concert I: Fiesta!

September 27, 2024, 7:30 PM

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Shlomo Mintz, violin

Jeffrey Ching Fiesta Contrapuntistica

Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26

Richard Strauss Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40

Concert II: Triumph

November 15, 2024, 7:30 PM

Sara Sant'Ambrogio

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Sara Sant’ Ambrogio, cello

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34

Edward Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

Robert Schumann Symphony No. 2, Op. 61

Concert III: Fantasy

December 6, 2024, 7:30 PM

Andrea Obiso

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Andrea Obiso, violin

Gioacchino Rossini William Tell Overture

Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

Concert IV: Europa

January 17, 2025, 7:30 PM

David Radzynski

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

David Radzynski, violin

Zoltán Kodály Dances of Galánta

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

Antonin Dvořák Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, B. 163

Concert V: Hope

February 14, 2025, 7:30 PM

Metropolitan Theater

Konrad Binienda

Malgorzata Trojanowska

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Konrad Binienda, piano

Malgorzata Trojanowska, soprano

Richard Addinsell Warsaw Concerto

Andrzej Panufnik Tragic Overture

Roxanna Panufnik Wings of Hope (commissioned work)

Frédéric Chopin (arr. Konrad Binienda) Allegro de concert, Op. 46

Henryk Górecki Symphony No. 3, Op. 36 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs'

Concert VI: Homecoming

March 14, 2025, 7:30 PM

Rowena Arrieta

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Rowena Arrieta, piano

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis Miške (In The Forest)
Franz Liszt Totentanz S.126
Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

Concert VII: Finale

April 11, 2025, 7:30 PM

Diomedes Saraza, Jr.

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Diomedes Saraza, Jr., violin

Jeffrey Ching Commissioned Work

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

Witold Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra

All performances will be at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater except for Concert V: Hope which will be held at the Metropolitan Theater.

Tickets are priced at P3,000, P2,500, P2,000, P1,500, P800, and P500. Subscription packages, including for students and young adults (Junior PPO Subscribers), are also available.