CCP's The Met: LIVE in HD screens Aida starring Angel Blue

Grammy Award winning soprano star Angel Blue's much awaited Metropolitan Opera debut in Aida finally hits the local screens as the Cultural Center of the Philippines' The Met: LIVE in HD presents this opera by Giuseppe Verdi this May 6, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 cinemas in Glorietta, Makati.

Starring alongside Angel Blue are tenor Piotr Beczała as her lover Radamès and mezzo soprano Judit Kutasi as Aida’s rival, Princess Amneris.

Multiple Grammy Award winner Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts this new production directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer.

Reprinted below is the press release.

CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD screens the visual spectacle of Verdi’s Aida this May

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 explores the grandeur of Egypt in its fourth installment with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida this May 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Thrust into an empire war between Ethiopia and Egypt, Verdi’s Aida narrates a romance while unearthing faded scenery with historic monuments and animated projections under the direction of Tony-winner Michael Mayer.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was obsessed with ancient Egypt. I loved the visuals and the symbolism. I loved the pomp, the pyramids, the mummies, the hieroglyphics,” said director Mayer, who also created The Met stagings of Verdi’s Rigoletto and La Traviata. “I even managed to get a sarcophagus and a Cleopatra dancer into my Rigoletto. So right away, I was excited about getting to work on a new Aida.”

Verdi’s Aida is a visual spectacle of forbidden love. Aida, enslaved by Egyptian Princess Amneris, captures the heart of Commander Radamès. But unbeknownst to Radamès, Aida is the daughter of his enemy, King Amonasro of Ethiopia. At its core, this majestic opera expounds on the titular character’s dilemma of choosing between love and loyalty to her country.

In Mayer’s reinterpretation, Grammy-winner Angel Blue breathes life into Aida while tenor Piotr Beczała is the valiant Radamès. Judit Kutasi embodies Aida’s rival, Princess Amneris, following her debut in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino in 2024 at The Met. Music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, 2025 Grammy-nominee for Best Opera Recording, takes the podium for Mayer’s staging of the gilded tombs of Egypt.

Aida is only one of Verdi’s 26 operas that impacted Italy’s cultural and political landscape. From an antiquity he discovered, French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette envisioned a love story set in ancient Egypt. Verdi wrote Aida following this proposal. Riding Europe’s fascination for all things foreign and exotic, multi-talented revolutionary Antonio Ghislanzoni developed it into a libretto in 1870.

Catch Verdi’s iconic drama on the fourth installment of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD - Season 10 this May 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at Glorietta 4, Cinema 1 in Makati City. Presented by the CCP in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc., and Ayala Malls Cinemas, Mayer’s state-of-the-art take on Aida will be showcased in high-definition video and excellent Dolby Surround Sound.

Keeping true to its commitment to developing the nation’s appreciation for all art forms, CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD shares the beauty of mounting operas through screening The Met’s stagings in Philippine cinemas. This project also invites Filipino audiences to welcome world-class artistic experiences.

Regular tickets of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350.00. To avail of the special discounted price of Php100.00, students and young professionals only need to present a valid ID. Visit the venue’s ticket booth to purchase tickets or book them online via www.sureseats.com.

For updates on the latest screenings of CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD, visit the official Facebook page of the CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media or the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). You may also follow the CCP’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more information on current and future events.

Honoring the life and legacy of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor with a necrological service

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) join the nation in commemorating the life and remarkable contributions of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, belovedly known as Nora Aunor, in a necrological service on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

Arrival honors will begin at 8:30 AM, followed by a tribute program at 9:00 AM. The state funeral rites will continue at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

The National Artist, who passed away on April 16, 2025 at 71, was a distinguished film, television, and theater actor, a renowned singer, and a film producer. Her career began in amateur singing competitions, eventually gaining attention when she won the television talent show Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967. Her successful stint in the popular television show along with her appearance in Darigold Jamboree, led to her phenomenal rise earning the iconic title of the Philippine film industry’s “Superstar.”

Among her acclaimed films are Bona (1980), which was the closing film of Cinemalaya 2024, as well as Himala (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), and The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995) - all were featured at the CCP Cine Icons program.

She was conferred the Order of National Artist (Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) by the Office of the President in 2022. The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.

The public is invited to attend the necrological service. Limited seats are available. The registration link will be released on Monday through the official social media pages of the CCP and NCCA.

For those unable to attend in person but who wish to pay their respects, the necrological service will be livestreamed on both the CCP and NCCA Facebook pages.

For inquiries, please call NCCA at 09209480385 or CCP at 09617466602.

Instituto Cervantes’ Día del Libro: Celebrating the Passion for Books at Ayala Triangle on April 26

To celebrate the World Book Day, on Saturday April 26, 2025, from 9 am to 11 pm, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, together with the Embassy of Spain, and the collaboration of Ayala Land and Make it Makati, invite visitors to the Ayala Triangle Gardens for the iconic Día del Libro, an exciting whole-day event jam-packed with a variety of activities that promote the joy of reading.

From fiction to non-fiction, poetry to prose, thousands of books will be up for grabs at the Ayala Triangle. The Día del Libro will feature Manila’s top bookstores and publishing houses, that will be selling a wide array of books at a 20% discount. Following the tradition in Spain, each book purchase will come with a free rose. Apart from the book market, visitors to the Día del Libro will get to join poetry recitals, free Spanish classes, book presentations, book signings, street art, games, exhibits, storytelling sessions, Spanish food, fun activities for the children, as well as a very authentic Flamenco show. Check out the complete program at https://manila.cervantes.es/es/cultura_espanol/calendario_dia_libro_2025.htm.

Among the activities of Día del Libro 2025, a classic stands out: Escribo el Quijote. Like every year, to commemorate the Day of Miguel de Cervantes, Instituto Cervantes is challenging visitors to join a Quixotic attempt: to handwrite the classic novel Don Quixote de La Mancha --an initiative which Instituto Cervantes started just a decade ago. The final hand-written book will be deposited in the Library of Instituto Cervantes. The activity will begin at 9:00 am. No prior registration will be required. Participants in the handwriting chain will receive a rose.

Día del Libro will officially open at 9:00 am with a special inauguration led by H. E. Miguel Utray, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, marking the official opening of this year’s celebration. Following the inauguration, slam poet Toni Panagu will take the stage for a moving spoken word poetry performance, setting a reflective and inspiring tone for the day’s festivities.

At 9:30 am, Vibal Group will present the workshop “Amor: Writing the New Adult Romance”, conducted by author Mina V. Esguerra. In it, Esguerra will discuss her career as a popular writer of romance stories a and her tips on how to write romance novels.

On Día del Libro, children will take center stage. They will get to enjoy a story telling at 10:15 am. The story, “El cartero simpático”, is about a mailman who delivers letters to famous characters such as Cinderella, the Three Bears, and the Big Bad Wolf.

From 11am, Spanish language learners will have the chance to take part in an Universitarian Yincana specially designed for university students across Manila. This event will include activities such as dance, live music, quizzes, poetry creation, and more. Thanks to the collaboration of local university departments, this initiative seeks to go beyond fun and entertainment — aiming to build a strong, engaged community of university students who are learning Spanish in the city. Participants will not only practice their language skills in a playful context but also connect with fellow learners from other campuses.

Through the Poetry Recital, Instituto Cervantes is inviting poetry lovers to recite verses written in Spanish. The recital will be compiled in a video that will be posted in Instituto Cervantes Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/InstitutoCervantesManila. Interested poetry aficionados must sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/cgZtbYb7C5

For those interested in art, Instituto Cervantes is presenting the space Dibujo Makati, where Urban Sketchers Manila will display their works on the Día del Libro and conduct a workshop on sketching.

At 1:00 pm, Instituto Cervantes will have “The Writing Revolution”, a workshop on the history of the written language, at the end of which participants will get to write their name on clay in cuneiform style, in hieroglyphics on papyrus, in Greek or Latin on parchment paper, and in baybayin on palm leaf.

As one of the perks of Día del Libro, Instituto Cervantes will offer a free Spanish class for beginners at 2pm.

As gastronomy is a key aspect of culture, visitors to Día del Libro will have the opportunity to learn how to cook paella, an internationally renowned culinary delight, with one of Manila's best chefs in Barcino's delicious demo: “How to Cook a Great Paella.” Savor the intensity of Spain's flavors and surprise your friends with a delicious paella.

Book lovers will also have the chance to attend book presentations organized by some publishers. In addition, thanks to the collaboration of publishing houses, visitors will have the opportunity to meet writers who will be signing their works. Authors like Ambeth Ocampo, Anthony Shieh, Kenneth Yu, Laurel Flores Fantauzzo, Ninotchka Rosca, and Yvette Tan will be signing at the booth of Anvil Publishing. Alice Sun-Cua will be signing at Sirena Books. Charlson Ong, Kannika Claudine Peña, Wilfredo Liangco and Sanny Villafranca will sign copies of his works at the Milflores Publishing booth. Ricky Lee, Derald Lico, Yvette Tan will be signing at FEU. Jonathan Best will be signing at Ortigas Foundation. Please check the schedule at https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila

Flamenco

At 7 pm, catch the special show Flamenco Pasión, a musical extravaganza featuring Flamenco legend Tito Losada, a gypsy guitarist of the purest flamenco, accompanied by singer Marta Heredia, and dancers Daniela Ramos, and Lucía González. Earlier in the day, Tito Losada will conduct a free Flamenco Guitar Masterclass addressed to Advanced Guitar players. Interested in joining the masterclass must sign up through this link: https://forms.office.com/e/qKUwWFPWNE

To cap off the evening, Instituto Cervantes will close Día del Libro 2025 with a live concert by the leading Filipino rock band Yah Bles, from 9:00pm.

Whether you're a lifelong reader or just discovering the joy of books, the Día del Libro 2025 at the Instituto Cervantes de Manila is a day to celebrate the power of words to connect us with each other and to the world around us.

Día del Libro 2025 is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Make it Makati, the PTC Group, Acciona, Vibal Foundation, NCCA, NBDB, Fundador, Terry Selection, Barcino, Las Flores, and the embassies of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panamá, and Venezuela, the Conservatory of Music of the University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo University Press, FEU Publishing House, Milflores, Anvil, Ortigas Foundation, The Indie Publishers Collab PH, Biblio, Circle of Chabacano Dreams, Fundación Santiago, Everything’s Fine, Kahel Press, Komiket, Señor Papa, Urban Sketchers Manila, Romanceclass Books, Tawid Publications, Sirena Books, Piefke, Abiva, Avenida Books, and the best Manila bookstores.

Admission to all Día del Libro activities is FREE on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis.

For more information about Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Día del Libro 2025, visit the pages https://manila.cervantes.es/es/cultura_espanol/calendario_dia_libro_2025.htm or www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.

FEU Bamboo Band holds "Ascend" concert on April 26

As temperature's rise this summer, the Far Eastern University Bamboo Band (FBB) invites everyone to soar higher with their upcoming concert ASCEND: Reaching New Heights in Music happening on April 26, 2025, 6:00 PM at the FEU Auditorium.

The FEU Bamboo Band, headed by Norberto Cads, Jr., is one of the performing groups under the Far Eastern University Center for the Arts (FCA). Using a variety of instruments made out of bamboo, the group performs various genres of music which will be on full display at the upcoming concert that will also feature special performances by other FCA groups namely the FEU Chorale and the FEU Drum and Bugle Corps (DBC), and guest artists like saxophonist Mr. Marlexis Del Mundo, flutist John Erin Gonzaga and bugle player Mr. Jhon Mark Isla.

FEU Bamboo Band

ASCEND is open to the public and admission is for free.

Reprinted below is the press release for ASCEND.

The Far Eastern University Center for the Arts (FCA) presents the Far Eastern University Bamboo Band (FBB) in “ASCEND: Reaching New Heights in Music”, a special concert on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the historic FEU Auditorium.

This year’s performance helps celebrate FEU’s 97th founding anniversary and the 76th year of

the FEU Auditorium — a dual celebration of legacy and artistic excellence.

In honor of these milestones, the FEU Bamboo Band returns to the historic stage with ASCEND, a concert that highlights the limitless potential of bamboo music through a captivating blend of sound, culture, and creativity.

Following the emotional depth of last year’s kundiman-themed concert Ang Tangi Kong Ikaw, the FBB now invites audiences on an expansive musical journey.

ASCEND features a richly curated repertoire combining cherished Filipino classics with powerful international pieces — demonstrating how bamboo instruments and Filipino musicality can transcend genres and cultures.

Leading this project is Mr. Norberto Cads, Jr., an accomplished bamboo musician, key member of Banda Kawayan Pilipinas and artistic director of the FBB. Under his guidance, the FBB continues to blend tradition and modernity.

The FEU Bamboo Band is composed of dedicated student artists from across a wide range of

disciplines including Nursing, Medical Technology, Psychology, HRM, Tourism, Architecture, Marketing, Business, and Accountancy.

Despite not being music majors, these students devote over 12 hours each week to practice, fueled by passion and a shared love for music.

The evening will also feature special performances by the FEU Chorale, the FEU Drum and Bugle Corps (DBC), and guest artists: Mr. Marlexis Del Mundo on the Saxophone and Mr. John Erin Gonzaga on the flute, both former FBB members; and Mr. Jhon Mark Isla on trumpet – a proud FEU alumnus from the Institute of Arts & Sciences Class of 2018, former member of the FEU DBC, and the current Section Head at the FEU Center for the Arts.

Each artist brings a distinctive voice to the stage, promising a night of rich musical tapestry.

The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Far Eastern University Bamboo Band or Far Eastern University Center for the Arts on Facebook.

You may also drop by the FCA office from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, or call (02)8849-4145 ext. 310.

Come and ASCEND —a celebration of music without borders.

Italian violinist Andrea Obiso headlines PPO season finale concert

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra would like to inform our audience that, due to unforeseen health issues, violinist Andrea Obiso will be unable to join us for PPO Concert VII: Finale on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 PM, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. We wish him a swift recovery and thank you for your kind understanding.

In his place, violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., PPO concertmaster and artist-in-residence, will perform as soloist, playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. The concert will also feature Concerto for Orchestra, a commissioned work by composer Jeffrey Ching, and Georges Bizet's Carmen Suite no.1, conducted by Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Please stay tuned for further updates. We appreciate your continued support. and look forward to seeing you at the finale of the PPO’s 40th concert season.

Originally scheduled for the December concert, Andrea Obiso finally makes his much awaited Philippine debut as he wraps up the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 40th concert season on April 11, 2025m 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Billed as Finale, the season ending concert sees Obiso take on Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 with a 1741 crafted Joseph Guarneri del Gesù violin.

The concert also marks the debut of Jeffrey Ching's Concerto for Orchestra. This newly commissioned work by the PPO's first ever composer-in-residence is dedicated to Ching's friend and colleague, the late Brazilian cellist Matias de Oliveira Pinto. A frequent collaborator, of Ching, de Oliveira Pinto had performed in the Philippines a handful of times.

Those who felt upset that Georges Bizet's Carmen Suite No. 1 got scrapped at last month's concert need to fret no more, as this piece eventually closes out the PPO's 40th concert season that has seen its share of switches (as well as some remarkable fortes).

Andrea Obiso

But the closing of the 40th season doesn't mean that the PPO and music director/principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak can rest on their laurels just yet. Already on the horizon is the orchestra's upcoming UK tour that will be preceded by a send off concert happening just a couple of weeks later.

Reprinted below is the press release for the PPO's Concert VII: Finale.

A Jeffrey Ching classic and soloist Andrea Obiso in PPO Concert VII: FINALE

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) masterfully closes its 40th concert season, dubbed Forte, featuring internationally acclaimed soloist Andrea Obiso and a new concerto from Jeffrey Ching, on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.

PPO Concert VII: Finale will be an evening of compelling orchestral works under the baton of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Another classic from PPO’s first composer-in-residence Jeffrey Ching

The PPO Concert VII: Finale commences with composer Jeffrey Ching’s “Concerto for Orchestra,” a newly commissioned work by the orchestra. At the invitation of Maestro Nowak, Ching became the PPO’s first composer-in-residence.

Studying music, Sinology, and Philosophy at Harvard, Cambridge, and London, Ching was the composer-in-residence at the Tongyeong International Music Festival (2010), the Singapore International Festival of Music (2016), and the Mendigorría International Music Festival in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2023.

One of his operas, “Before Brabant,” was first staged at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2013. Under the direction of multi-nominated Alberto Rodriguez, it received premier animation and lighting effects. It was showcased at the CCP Children’s Biennale in Manila in November 2024.

Armed by his fondness for historical narratives, Ching wrote over 300 compositions. In 2010, his opera “Das Waisenkind” won the Theater Erfurt Audience Prize in Germany. It was also nominated for the Kyoto Prize as it blended Eastern and Western traditions through music.

Renowned soloist Andrea Obiso graces PPO Concert VII: Finale

Italian violinist Andrea Obiso joins PPO Concert VII: Finale for a night of dreamy melodies. Since 2020, he has served as Concertmaster of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He has also performed with top orchestras, including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the Bayerische Rundfunk Symphonie Orchester.

Obiso toured extensively across Europe, Asia, and the USA as a distinguished soloist. With technical skills helmed by masters Boris Belkin and Midori Goto, his repertoire spans over 30 violin concertos.

Playing a Joseph Guarneri del Gesù violin crafted in 1741, Obiso carries 284 years of musical history with him in each performance.

For PPO Concert VII: Finale, Obiso interprets Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Violin Concerto No. 3”. Saint-Saëns was already 45 years old when he finished writing the composition. Integrating virtuosity in three parts, he demonstrated refined musicality in the piece. The violin is immediately put into action with his luminous writing. Slowly, Violin Concerto No. 3 ascends to a solo recitative, perfectly sustaining the orchestra’s momentum.

The staccato rhythm of Saint-Saëns’ piece continues PPO Concert VII: Finale with Spanish flavor through Georges Bizet’s “Carmen Suite”. Derived from Bizet’s operatic masterpiece of the same title, the atmospheric composition includes five instrumental sections describing a gypsy woman and her fiery love for freedom. Bizet’s Carmen Suite closes the curtains of PPO Concert VII: Finale with its score bursting with passion.

PPO Concert VII: Finale marks a remarkable beginning for the orchestra. The momentous closing of the orchestra’s 40th season brings another milestone as PPO gears for a nine-concert tour in the United Kingdom in May.

Join the PPO for a night of soaring melodies on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City. Now available at TicketWorld, tickets are priced at Php 3,000, Php 2,500, Php 2,000, and Php 1,500. Enjoy up to 20 percent discount as a PPO Subscriber. For more information, email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880.

Follow the CCP and PPO’s official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for updates on the orchestra’s future concerts and performances. For more information on world-class masterclasses, workshops, performances, and other events, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).