Improved Metropolitan Theater acoustics at PPO concert

Conductor Shizuo Kuwahara and pianist Albert Tiu

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra greeted 2023 with the resumption of its subscription concert series at the Metropolitan Theater, the orchestra's home for the foreseeable future while the Cultural Center of the Philippines' main building is undergoing major rehabilitation.

The orchestra's performance at the Met back in November exposed the theater's lackluster acoustics that had the PPO and CCP regulars wondering if these deficiencies would be remedied by the next concert at the venue. Thankfully, ceiling panels were installed and this made a significant improvement with the sound.

Led by Shizuo Kuwahara, the fourth of the five shortlisted conductors gunning for the position of the orchestra's next music director/principal conductor, the PPO were in top form making the audience enjoy the mostly Russian program that contain easily recognizable melodies and tunes.

With the theater's acoustics now less of a concern, the music was able to shine. Kuwahara highlighted the contrasts of tempo and rhythm in Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor. This made the piece's most popular melody, mostly known in the mainstream as Strangers in Paradise, a lot sweeter.

Pianist Albert Tiu, conductor Shizuo Kuwahara,
and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

In Igor Sravinsky's Firebird Suite, hearing muted strings as intended was a delight since the November concert sounded as if the strings were muted during the entire concert due to the Met's poor acoustics. Finally, there was now a sense of dynamic range that one struggled to hear back then at the previous Met performance.

Earlier in the week, there were hushed talks about pianist Albert Tiu who was the featured soloist at the concert. A couple of days before, Tiu had a scare when he fell off stage after a run through with the orchestra. Good thing that he wasn't hurt that bad and was still able to squeeze in a masterclass within the week. Tiu showed what a trooper he is as he practically didn't miss a beat in the rhythmically charged Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat Major, Op. 10 on the night of the concert.

Although there was a significant improvement with the Met's acoustics, it is still far from perfect. The depth of sound is still a bit off and the clapping from Antonino Buenaventura's Mindanao Sketches sounded as if the hands were gloved. But this is already nitpicking and not that much of a deal breaker.

Overall, the Kuwahara led PPO showed an invigorated unit showing none of the fatigue from the orchestra's Dinagyang Festival series of performances a couple of weeks prior. And so far in the series, this has been the most satisfying concerto with both the orchestra and soloist in equal footing.

Pianist Albert Tiu, conductor Shizuo Kuwahara in PPO January concert at the Met

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes back pianist Albert Tiu in the fifth concert of its 38th season on January 27, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

The concert also sees Japanese-American conductor Shizuo Kuwahara leading the orchestra. He is the fourth of the five conductors shortlisted gunning for the position of the PPO Music Director/Principal Conductor. Kuwahara is the First Prize winner of the Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in Frankfurt, Germany and principal guest conductor of The Mariinsky Theatre, Russia.

Tiu, recently promoted to Head of Piano Studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, last performed with the PPO back in the the orchestra's opening concert of its 32nd season back in 2014.

The evening's program will include Antonino Buenaventura's Mindanao Sketches, Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10, Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, and Igor Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919).

Rach 2 opens PPO’s 32nd Concert Season

Pianist Albert Tiu

September 12, 2014, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Sergei Rachmaninoff Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op. 35

Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

The popular Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 lead an all Russian lineup at the opening concert of the PPO’s 32^nd concert season dubbed as Sound Kaleidoscopes happening this September 12, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Singapore based pianist Albert Tiu is the guest soloist for this concert to be conducted by Olivier Ochanine, the orchestra’s principal conductor and music director.

In an e-mail interview, I was able to ask pianist Albert Tiu a few questions about Sergei Rachmaninoff’s ever popular Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18.

RAd: Rach 2 is regarded as one of the most popular piano concertos out there. What is it about this concerto that made it very popular and the favorite among many people.

Albert Tiu: Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto, or Rach 2, is extremely popular with everyone from musicians to music lovers to people who may not normally like classical music, because of its beautiful melodies and lush harmonies. Every moment in this concerto is absolutely appealing and easy to listen to, and every passage is pianistically fulfilling and well-written.

RAd: There's a fascinating story on how Rach 2 was composed right after Rachmaninoff suffered from a nervous breakdown. How on earth do you think he was able to compose this beauty after being in such a rut?

Albert Tiu: The dedicatee of the Concerto is Dr. Nikolai Dahl, the physician who used hypnotherapy to cure Rachmaninov of his depression. Even the best artists go through low points, so a little encouragement on self-belief obviously did wonders for Rachmaninov.

RAd: The first two movements of the concerto has the pianist playing almost a subordinate, accompanying role to the orchestra. How would you approach these two movements when you go on stage to play this concerto?

Albert Tiu: It is a fallacy to think of the soloist as being the focus of the concerto the whole time. A concerto is just a larger version of a chamber work, with a high concentration of the work on the soloist, whatever the instrument. And in chamber music, the parts are intertwined and seamlessly interchanged from instrument to instrument, much like a conversation between people.

In the first movement, after the introductory chords, the piano proceeds to accompany the orchestra with arpeggios, as if to give the pianist a chance to warm up. The piano assumes various roles - play the solo part in the 2^nd theme, provide filigree passages, and play a counter-melody to the main theme in the big return. Eventually, the piano does take over the melody. The same thing happens in the 2^nd movement. All these are a testament to Rachmaninov's creative prowess, because the way he transforms the way the thematic material is presented is clever, instead of just a simple copy and paste.

I hope that this information about Rach 2, courtesy of Albert Tiu will make for a more rewarding viewing and listening experience come PPO’s Opening Night: Tiu Plays Rach 2. The concert will also include Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Op. 35 and Rachmaninoff’s orchestration of his Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14.

Ticket prices:

P1500 Orchestra Center

P1200 Orchestra Side

P800 Extreme Orchestra Side

P500 Balcony I Center

P400 Balcony I Side

P300 Balcony II

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Marketing Department 832-1125 local 1806

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999

Pianist Albert Tiu channels the four elements in MCO Foundation's 2014 Season opener

June 6, 2014, 7:00 PM

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Programme:

Franz Liszt Waldesrauschen from Two Concert Études, S. 145

Sergei Rachmaninoff Lilacs, Op. 21, No. 5

Roger Quilter arranged by Stephen Hough The Fuschia Tree

Leopold Godowsky The Gardens of Buitenzorg from Java Suite

Claude Debussy Les collines d’Anacapri from Préludes Book I

Franz Liszt Transcendental Étude No. 11 in D flat, Harmonies du Soir, S.139

Claude Debussy Le vent dans la plaine from Préludes Book I

Charles Griffes The Night Winds from Three Tone-Pictures, Op. 5

Jacques Ibert Le vent dans les ruines

Olivier Messiaen Prélude No. 8 Un reflet dans le vent

Claude Debussy Reflets dan l’eau from Images 1, L. 110

Federico Mompou Paisajes II. El Lago

Luciano Berio Wasserklavier

Franz Liszt Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este from Années de pèlerinage III, S.163

Maurice Ravel Jeux d’eau

Richard Wagner transcribed by Louis Brassin Magic Fire Music from Die Walküre

Claude Debussy Feux d’artifice from Préludes Book II

Erik Satie Sports et divertissements No. 20 Feu d'artifice 

Alexander Scriabin Vers la flame, Op. 72

Manuel de Falla Ritual Fire Dance

The MCO Foundation’s 2014 Season, in celebration of their 29^th year opens with a performance by pianist Albert Tiu in a concert entitled Four Classical Elements – Earth, Wind, Fire and Water happening on June 6, 2014, 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum in Makati.

Tiu will present an adventurous concert representing the four elements namely air, wind, water and fire through the works of Franz Liszt, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Roger Quilter, Leopold Godowsky, Claude Debussy, Charles Griffes, Jacques Ibert, Olivier Messiaen, Federico Mompo, Luciano Berio, Maurice Ravel, Richard Wagner, Erik Satie, Alexander Scriabin and Manuel de Falla.

One of the most highly respected Filipino pianists today, Albert Tiu is a winner of numerous high profile piano competitions including the Honens (Calgary), the Paloma O’Shea (Santander), Maj Lind (Helsinski) and UNISA (Pretoria). He was the first Filipino to be invited to perform with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic in Moscow.  Some of the orchestras he has performed with were the Hamburg Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony, Northern Sinfonia, and Baden Baden Philharmonic. He has performed in major music halls including Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in New York, Finlandia Hall in Helsinski,  Hamburg Musikhalle, Lincoln Center Tully Hall, Great Philharmonic Hall in Moscow; and his performances have been broadcast on WQXR New York, CBC Canada, BBC, ABC Australia. Albert Tiu along with cellist Li-Wei Qin has also released recordings of Beethoven and Rachmaninoff cello sonatas under Decca Classics label.

The Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit institution first established in 1985 dedicated to the promotion of classical music and the cultural arts. Four Classical Elements – Earth, Wind, Fire and Water is made possible in partnership with Ayala Museum, Lyric Piano, BusinessWorld, HerWord, and HighLife. Proceeds from this concert will benefit a church-based foundation for abandoned and abused children.

Four Classical Elements – Earth, Wind, Fire and Water is the MCO Foundation’s first Great Performance Series for their 2014 Concert Season. The series continue with Mostly Mozart 2014 this July 11, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Tektite Tower Auditorium. This concert will feature Singaporean conductor Darrell Ang, tenor Arthur Espiritu, pianist Christine Coyiuto and the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Then it’s the young ones’ turn for the Young Artists Series. This year’s line up includes Filipino-American violinist Bradley Bascon on July 28, 2014, soprano Stephanie Aguilar on August 20, 2014, pianist Gabriel Allan Paguirigan on September 17, 2014 and clarinetist Andrew Constantino on October 8, 2014. All performances will be held at the Ayala Museum at 7:00 PM.

Ticket prices:

P2000 Orchestra Premier

P1000 Orchestra

P800 Regular

For inquiries:

MCO Foundation 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053

CAEO 782-7164, (0918) 347-3027

TicketWorld 891-9999

MCO Foundation Great Performances Series 2013: Albert Tiu and Marcel Luxen

Pianist Albert Tiu and clarinetist Marcel Luxen

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Marcel Luxen, clarinet

Programme:

Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 for Clarinet and Piano

Johannes Brahms Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120

Carl Maria von Weber Grand Duo Concertant in E flat major, Op. 48

Johannes Brahms Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 120

The MCO Foundation opened its Great Performances Series 2013 with an intimate night of chamber music featuring pianist Albert Tiu and Belgian clarinetist Marcel Luxen at the Ayala Museum. It’s not very often that a foreign clarinetist gets to play in here so I made sure to see this performance. I am very interested to hear clarinet performances since I do own a clarinet although I play it badly. Fortunately, the Luxen played the clarinet magnificently that night.

The duo started with Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 for Clarinet and Piano. The uncooperative weather almost made me arrive late but I managed to make it just in the nick of time, and this short, lyrical three-movement piece helped me settle into the night quickly. I found the piece very uplifting giving no hint whatsoever to the upcoming madness that would plague Schumann later in his life. The piano part in this piece was relegated more to a supporting role unlike the Gran Duo Concertant in E flat major, Op. 48 by Carl Maria von Weber which started the second half of the concert. In this piece, the pianist was equal in spotlight and virtuosity giving Albert Tiu moments to shine. Both halves of the concert concluded with the clarinet sonatas by Johannes Brahms. The Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120 ended the first half while No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 120 rounded up the concert entirely. Both of these sonatas were among Brahms’ latter works after he came out of retirement. These two pieces are very somber in nature, autumnal and very introspective which is very fitting for an intimate night of chamber music. I’ve always associated the clarinet as a very jolly sounding music instrument and I am glad that I was able to hear a different and more serious side to it courtesy of Marcel Luxen and Albert Tiu.

Marcel Luxen, RAd and Albert Tiu

The Masterclass

The following day, Albert Tiu and Marcel Luxen both conducted masterclasses at the Amorsolo Room of the Ayala Museum. I’ve seen Albert Tiu perform numerous times before buta this was just the first time I’ve seen him conduct a masterclass. It was very interesting how he gave particular attention to harmonies and cadences in the pieces played by the participants. Knowing cadences, their character and their place in the music can aid a pianist in giving the  piece a more distinct shape and defined arc. I reckoned that some of the participants felt some pressure to brush up on their music theory after the masterclass. During the second session, I tried listening to Marcel Luxen as he instructed the participants but it was difficult for me to hear what he was saying. I only soaked in the sound coming from the clarinets (his and those of the participants) which were a lot better than the sound that would normally come out from mine. It made me accept once again that I am just resigned to listen to the clarinet and not play it.

Afterwards, I had the pleasure of joining Albert and Marcel, along with the MCO Foundation, for dinner. I was a bit hesitant at first to ask them questions but I managed to throw in a few after a bottle of beer. It led to a very fascinating discussion with topics ranging from PSY’s Gangnam Style, Luxen’s dislike of Pierre Boulez’ music, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Nodame Cantabile and how classical music can survive and contemporary music can break through in this era with the internet being a major factor in our daily lives. Luxen summed it up by saying that he doesn’t know if there will be a new orchestral work that will take the music world by storm just like the old days. The future of music is still one great unknown and we'll only see it as it happens.

I thought that watching the concert by Albert Tiu and Marcel Luxen would just be enough but I’ve had the opportunity to hang out with them and know more about their thoughts and opinions regarding various topics in and out of music. Thanks to MCO Foundation for the opportunity. Do watch out for the next Great Performances Series 2013 this July 27, 2013 at the Ayala Museum featuring pianist Claudia Yang.

Text by RAd

Photos by Ruth Medel

Pianist Albert Tiu and clarinetist Marcel Luxen open MCO Foundation’s Great Performances Series 2013

June 1, 2013, 7:00 PM

Ayala Museum

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Marcel Luxen, clarinet

Programme:

Johannes Brahms

     Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 1 in F minor, Op. 120

     Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 120

Robert Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 for Clarinet and Piano

Carl Maria von Weber Grand Duo Concertant in E flat major, Op. 48

The MCO Foundation, now on its 28^th Season, opens its Great Performances Series 2013 with pianist Albert Tiu and clarinetist Marcel Luxen performing this June 1, 2013, 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum.

Pianist Albert Tiu

Albert Tiu returns to the country for this engagement following his performance with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra as a late replacement last February. If I’m not mistaken, this will be Marcel Luxen’s first trip to the country. Hailing from Belgium, Luxen is a prize winner at the Masterplayers International Music Competition, Lugano and the Brussels International Clarinet Competition. He has already played at Musikverein, Concertgebouw, Salle Pleyel, Royal Albert Hall, Suntory Hall, Palais des Beaux-Arts, and Avery Fisher Hall. Additionally, he has been featured as soloist with the Belgium Radio Television Orchestra, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Camerata Leodiensis, Euregio Orchester, and the Orchestre de Chambre de Wallonie. He has also worked with renowned conductors and musicians such as Claudio Abbado, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Leonard Bernstein, Daniel Blumenthal, Maurice Bourgue, Antal Dorati, Lorin Maazel, Qin Li-Wei, and Ronald van Spaendonck.

This concert by Albert Tiu and Marcel Luxen will feature both of Johannes Brahms’s Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 and Carl Maria von Weber’s Grand Duo Concertant in E flat major, Op. 48.

Ticket prices:

P1000 Center

P600 Side

For inquiries:

MCOF 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053

COEA 782-7164, (0918) 347-3027

TicketWorld 891-9999

Tiu and Luxen to hold masterclasses at the Ayala Museum

Clarinetist Marcel Luxen

June 2, 2013, 10:30 AM Piano masterclass

June 2, 2013, 2:00 PM Clarinet masterclass

Ayala Museum

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

The day after the concert, Albert Tiu and Marcel Luxen will conduct masterclasses as well. Albert Tiu’s piano masterclass starts at 10:30 AM while Marcel Luxen’s clarinet masterclass starts at 2:00 PM. Both masterclasses will run for three hours and will be held at the Ayala Museum also.

Interested participants for the masterclass must inform the MCO Foundation before May 15, 2013 by contacting 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053 or sending an e-mail to josephuy2004@yahoo.com. The general public is welcome to observe the masterclass for free.

The concert and the masterclass are made possible with our co-presentor the Ayala Museum with partners Lyric Piano and Organ, BusinessWorld, Highlife, HerWord.com, Titiana Wines Cellar and DZFE.FM The Masters' Touch.

Ticket price:

Free admission for observers

For inquiries:

MCO Foundation 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053, josephuy2004@yahoo.com

PPO VI: Shakespearean Delights

Pianist Albert Tiu

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Otto Nicolai Overture from The Merry Wives of Windsor

Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Felix Mendelssohn Suite to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

William Walton Suite from Henry V

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra went to poet and playwright and considered as one of the most important writers in the English language, William Shakespeare for their latest performance of their 30^th Concert Season Milestones held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). This concert, entitled Shakespearean Delights, featured various works for orchestra based on Shakespeare but with a notable exception.

Initial announcements regarding this concert had soprano Hyunah Yu scheduled to perform various vocal selections very likely taken from operas based on Shakespeare’s works. But a medical complication forced her to cancel her appearance. Pianist Albert Tiu was announced as the replacement soloist and that meant that he had to play whatever piece he could whip up at such a short notice. So his Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 had to join in the other Shakespeare themed music lined up in the programme like Otto Nicolai’s Overture from The Merry Wives of Windsor, Felix Mendelssohn’s Suite to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and William Walton’s Suite from Henry V. I am not a huge fan of Shakespeare’s works but I think that music is one way for me to spark a newfound interest in them and that was how I approached this concert.

The concert started with Nicolai’s Overture from The Merry Wives of Windsor. This is the best known work for German composer, conductor and the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and it was a pleasant tune to listen to, starting quietly and then developing into a lively, dance like rhythm which was aptly conducted by PPO principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine. It nicely set up the upcoming piano concerto which was the main highlight of the concert for me.

If I had only one word to describe Albert Tiu’s performance of Grieg’s piano concerto, then it would be crisp. His rendition was everything that I expected a Grieg piano concerto to be. He didn’t go radical with this piece that could’ve ruffled the feathers of purists. And after the contemporary music that I’ve heard during the Japan-Philippines Friendship Contemporary Music Festival, it was nice to go back to familiar territory no matter how often played this certain concerto is. Albert Tiu then played a very interesting and an unusual encore which was a nifty arrangement of Hey Jude by The Beatles. I guess it ties up neatly with the Shakespeare theme since The Beatles has had the same cultural impact worldwide although it happened centuries later.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

With the concerto already out of the way, it was time for me to enjoy, relax and listen without any pressure to the remaining Shakespeare themed pieces that made up the second half. Felix Mendelssohn’s Suite to A Midsummer Night’s Dream transported me to a realm of fantasy where faeries exist. But what clearly remained in my head and for many others in the audience was the bridal march. It is not just a bridal march but it is THE bridal march, the most popular tune associated with weddings alongside the Bridal Chorus from Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin. I noticed a few people getting a bit surprised once they heard the very familiar tune. The final piece of music that the PPO performed was William Walton’s Suite from Henry V, a fairly recent piece considering that it’s actually a film score. This piece was more successful in transporting me back to medieval times and vividly painting a picture of battles, the sorrowful aftermath and just the sheer majesty of those times when kings and knights abound. And with the massive popularity of the novels like The Lord of the Rings and A Game of Thrones along with their film and television adaptation as well as their soundtracks, this suite served as a reminder that Shakespeare and Walton did it before. And it was only fitting to pay tribute to these earlier works.

It’s no longer surprising that I am now interested in reading and hopefully seeing the film Henry V, the one featuring the Walton’s soundtrack because of this concert. So I guess that this concert gave me hope that one day, I would truly appreciate Shakespeare’s works in general aside from the only that I liked which was Macbeth.

Pianist Albert Tiu joins Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s Shakespearean Delights concert

Pianist Albert Tiu

February 22, 2013, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Albert Tiu, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Otto Nicolai Overture from The Merry Wives of Windsor

Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

Felix Mendelssohn Suite to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

William Walton Suite from Henry V

Pianist Albert Tiu now joins the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in its upcoming concert happening this February 22, 2013, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Billed as Shakespearean Delights, this is the orchestra’s sixth concert for their 30^th Concert Season entitled Milestones.

As the concert’s title denotes, this evening will feature music connected with the works of William Shakespeare like Otto Nicolai’s Overture to The Merry Wives of Windsor, Felix Mendelssohn’s Suite to A Midsummer Night’s Dream and William Walton’s Suite from Henry V. Pianist Albert Tiu, on the other hand, will be the featured soloist in the performance of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Albert Tiu’s inclusion to the concert was a fairly recent development as the previously announced guest, soprano Hyunah Yu, had to cancel due to medical reasons. I can only imagine how disappointing this news was for those who were looking forward to her performance. I was relieved nonetheless to hear that this concert will now feature a piano concerto which has yet to be a part of this current concert season. Albert Tiu’s last performance with the PPO was back in January 2010 when he played Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 under the baton of Maestro Oscar Yatco. If I remember things correctly, he was last seen performing in the country when he and cellist Qin Li-Wei had a concert at the Philam Life Auditorium and promoted their CD of Beethoven cello sonatas back in October 2010.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

Ticket prices:

P1000 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

P500 Balcony I Center

P350 Balcony I Side

P200 Balcony II

-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Marketing Department 832-1125 local 1806

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999