Manila Symphony Orchestra inches forward to 100 years

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Several years ago as I was reading James A. Grymes' Violins of Hope, a book that told the stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, I encountered the name Herbert Zipper in one of the earliest chapters. The chapter detailed Zipper and his other inmates' experience in Dachau, one of the earliest concentration camps established by the Nazis. While detained inside, Zipper did the unthinkable and formed a clandestine orchestra. Despite being forbidden, Zipper and his fourteen-piece orchestra continued to play in secret, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of music to spark hope even in the darkest of times. Zipper got transferred to Buchenwald when Dachau became too crowded, but then got eventually released and was able to return to Vienna. The chapter last mentioned Zipper as one of the fortunate ones who were able depart from Vienna just before the Nazis put a stop on Jewish emigration.

Herbert Zipper's name definitely rang a bell for although it was no longer mentioned in Violins of Hope, he eventually ended up in the Philippines in 1939 taking over conducting duties of the Manila Symphony Orchestra soon after the death of its founder Alexander Lippay. He might have escaped the Nazis but Zipper had to contend with the Japanese invaders during World War II.

One could just imagine that all that Zipper had experienced played a crucial role in mounting the historic post-liberation concerts especially the one at the ruins of the Sta. Cruz Church that has now gained legendary status. And according to the Academy Award Nominated short documentary Never Give Up: The 20th Century Odyssey of Herbert Zipper directed by Terry Sanders, a war correspondent who was at the concert later wrote that "The Eroica has been performed by many greater orchestras but never with greater feeling."

It's this intertwining of music and world history that makes the Manila Symphony Orchestra so fascinating. The MSO's storied past comes to the forefront as the orchestra inches closer to its centennial year. In line with this, the MSO has launched its 2025-2026 concert series, offering an exciting season that is a hundred years in the making.

Sara Gonzales performs
with Jeffrey Solares conducting

Commemorating the Past

The MSO honors the past with their season opener commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the post-liberation concerts of 1945-1946, a prolific time for the orchestra performing over 150 concerts soon after World War II. To be performed in this concert, billed as Music for Peace, are Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178, "From the New World" aka New World Symphony and Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61. The Dvořák symphony was one of the pieces performed by the MSO at the first post-liberation concert at the Sta. Cruz Church ruins mentioned earlier. The Beethoven violin concerto was also performed by the MSO during this time with then 18-year old Basilio Manalo as the soloist. Manalo later on spearheaded the 2001 reorganization of the MSO.

Music for Peace, the MSO 2025-2026 concert series opener happens on May 24, 2025, 7:30 PM at the Aliw Theater located at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. Emanuel John "EJ" Villarin is the guest soloist performing the Beethoven violin concerto while MSO Music Director/Principal Conductor Marlon Chen conducts.

Spotlighting the Future

Along with EJ Villarin, a few of MSO's scholars will get their share on the spotlight this season namely violinist Monica Bacus, and cellist Damodar Das Castillo. Bacus will perform Chen Gang and He Zhanhao's Butterfly Lovers Concerto, one of the most classical music pieces to come out from China, while Das Castillo will take on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33. Aside from these promising soloists, the season will also feature a yet to be announced children's choir.

Forging Links

Over the years, the MSO has featured numerous conductors and guest soloists from all around the world and this season is no exception. The Embassies of Brazil and the People's Republic of China will co-present concerts this season. The Braziilian Guitar and Cello concert will show that there is more to Brazilian music than samba and bossa nova. This concert will also feature Brazilian guest artists namely cellist Fabio Presgrave and guitarist Fabio Zanon. On the other hand, the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao headlines the concert bearing the same name. A yet unannounced Chinese guest conductor will be leading the MSO.

Other notable foreign guests appearing this season include Hungarian cellist Zoltán Onczay, American conductor Angel Velez, Chinese pianist Muyu Liu, and the Los Angeles Film Composers Intensive (LAFCI). Frequent MSO collaborators Alexander Vikulov from Russia and Darrell Ang from Singapore will conduct concerts this season as well.

Championing the Filipino

The season will also feature the works of Jeffrey Ching and Conrado del Rosario, both of whom were born in the Philippines and later on had further studies in Europe. Del Rosario's works can be characterized as sweeping and cinematic while Ching's avant-garde compositions challenge both the listener and the performer. One performer who has tackled Ching's demanding works with flying marks is soprano Stefanie Quintin-Avila who incidentally is also among the artists making an appearance this season.

Jeffrey Solares conducts the MSO

Below is a rundown of the Manila Symphony Orchestra's 2025-2026 concert series.

Music for Peace

May 24, 2025

Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Emanuel John Villarin, violin

Marlon Chen, conductor

Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178, "From the New World"

Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

A Night in Hollywood

June 28, 2025

Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Zoltán Onczay, cello

Angel Velez, American guest conductor

New Works for Film by the Los Angeles Film Composers Intensive (LAFCI) Conducting Fellows

Brazilian Guitar and Cello

August 9, 2025

Venue: TBA

Fabio Presgrave, cello

Fabio Zanon, guitar

Stefanie Quintin-Avila, soprano

Marlon Chen, conductor

Music by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Jeffrey Ching

Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto

September 7, 2025

Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Monica Bacus, violin

Children’s Choir

Chinese guest conductor

Chen Gang, He Zhanhao Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto

Filipino Work for Children’s Choir and Orchestra

Dancing with Tchaikovsky

September 27, 2025

Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City

Damodar Das Castillo, cello

Alexander Vikulov, guest conductor

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Suite from the Ballet “Sleeping Beauty”

The MSO 100th Anniversary Concert

January 22, 2026

Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit Makati

Muyu Liu, piano

Darrell Ang, guest conductor

*Dates and venues may be subject to change

Tickets are now available at Ticketworld:

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20% for Senior Citizens, PWDs, Diplomats

Email: tickets@ticketworld.com.ph

Call: 0917-550-6997 or 0999-954-5922

50% for Students

Use the code: MUSICFORPEACESTUDENT50

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For inquiries regarding subscription packages for the Season 99 Concert Series, please check the website: www.manilasymphony.com or call Ms. Riva Ferrer, MSO Marketing Manager at +63917-8501774

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Russian violinist Aylen Pritchin joins PPO in January 'Europa' concert

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra ushers in the new year with a switch as Russian violinist Aylen Pritchin joins the orchestra's upcoming concert on January 17, 2025, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

With PPO Music Director and Principal Conductor Grzergorz Nowak leading at the podium, the concert now sees Pritchin, replacing the initially announced David Radzynski, take on the megapopular Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Other pieces to be performed are Zoltán Kodály's Dances of Galánta and Antonin Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88, B. 163 taking the audiences on a brief journey to Russia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic hence the concert being billed as Europa.

Aylen Pritchin

Aylen Pritchin is one of the most sought-after and versatile artists today. He performs repertoire spanning from early music to contemporary, playing on period and modern instruments.

He has recorded a handful of CDs and posted below is his latest release under Mirare with pianist Lukas Geniušas featuring the music of Claude Debussy, Reynaldo Hahn, and Igor Stravinsky.

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this post contains affiliate links. A small commission is earned when purchasing through these links with no additional cost to the consumer.

Aylen Prtichin, Lukas Geniušas

Debussy • Hahn • Stravinsky

https://amzn.to/3DH5EDF

Reprinted below is the Cultural Center of the Philippines' press release for the PPO's upcoming Europa concert.

PPO Concert IV: ‘Europa’ blends world-class Filipino talent with the elegance of Europe

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra—the country's leading music ensemble—kickstarts the new year with the fourth installment of its 40th concert season, dubbed “Europa,” on January 17, 7:30 pm, at CCP at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.

PPO’s Concert IV: ‘Europa’ features world-class violinist Aylen Pritchin. He performs the elegant and diverse sounds of European classical music, playing works by master composers Zoltan Kodály, Peter Tchaikovsky, and Antonin Dvořák. Among the world’s most sought-after violinists, Pritchin is known for his versatility in contemporary music performances of both period and modern instruments.

Under the baton of PPO music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the concert will open with Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, bringing audiences on a melodic journey to Hungary. A homage to the composer's hometown, the 1993 folk-inspired masterpiece Dances of Galánta allowed Kodály to display his extensive skills as an ethnographer and musical pedagogue through its spiritual tunes.

Pritchin will also perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto No. 1. This masterpiece successfully held Tchaikovsky’s burning love for Russia through its majestic Canzonetta. When Tchaikovsky finished composing the piece, it was to be performed first by Leopold Auer and Karl Davydov in a concert at the Russian Musical Society in St. Petersburg in 1879. But the performance didn't push through after the musicians declared it too difficult to play. For years after its composition, the concerto gained a reputation as unplayable (following failed attempts by Iosif Kotek and Emile Sauret) until violinist Leopold Damrosch successfully performed it in a New York concert in 1879.

The PPO’s Concert IV: Europa concludes with Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, an inspiring composition celebrating the beauty of nature. The surroundings of Dvořák’s country house in Vyoská inspired his masterpiece in 1889. In merely 18 days, he completed the symphony’s sketch and finished its scoring in Prague. With its striking and colorful thematic ideas with varying Czech flavors, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 premiered in 1890 as part of his induction into the Czech Academy of Science, Literature, and the Arts.

Through PPO’s 39th Concert Season, dubbed "Forte," the CCP continues to honor its commitment to showcasing and promoting world-class Filipino artistry while providing unique cultural experiences to its audiences. The concert season runs until April 2025.

Tickets for PPO concerts are priced at Php 3,000, Php 2,500, Php 2,000, and Php 1,500, available at TicketWorld. Be a PPO subscriber and enjoy up to 25 percent discount. To purchase a PPO’s 40th concert season subscription and other inquiries, email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880.

For more updates on PPO’s future performances, follow the CCP and PPO’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts. You may also visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph for news on future concerts, masterclasses, workshops, and other events.

Cellist Damodar Das Castillo excites in Strings of Gold series opener

Mariel Ilusorio and Damodar Das Castillo

With a remarkable combination of youthful vigor and artistic maturity, cellist Damodar Das Castillo continues to excite as he and the ever reliable pianist Mariel Ilusorio officially christened the MiraNila Heritage House and Library as Metro Manila's newest classical music performance venue.

The concert also served as the unveiling of the newly restored Steinway 1904 grand piano.  With its dark brown finish and various ornate accents like the rococo-styled feet, the rare piano is a welcome change to the dominant stark black concert grand pianos that have dominated the scene for decades. 

But the audience had to wait a bit to hear the piano as the program began with a solo by Damodar performing the Prelude from Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Right off the bat, Damodar, exuded a level of confidence and security that is beyond his 17 years.

And when joined by the seasoned Ilusorio in Frédéric Chopin's Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 65, he held is own and the two played as equals as if longtime collaborators. The meaty Chopin sonata could've served as the concert finale piece but this just wrapped up the first half.

The second half was a mixed selection of pieces starting with Faye Miravite's Transcendence that uniquely incorporates Damodar's meditative chants. This was followed by Nicanor Abelardo's Cavatina, Henry Mancini's Moon River, and Richard Rodgers' Edelweiss, a trio of pleasant tunes. The familiarity of the latter two pieces unfortunately prompted some audience members to hum along with a few doing so severely off key.

To close out the program, Damodar performed the first movement of Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191. With such aplomb, Ilusorio showcased the newly restored Steinway's brilliance effectively, laying aside whatever misgiving an audience member who longed for an actual orchestra might've had. The longing would've been for the complete concerto being performed instead.

Post performance Q&A

The MiraNila audience couldn't get enough of the duo and they were rewarded with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Pezzo capriccioso, Op. 62 and Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe from The Mission as encores that kept the mix of standard classical repertoire with the more recent, crowd-pleasing music presented in the concert.

The high ceiling of MiraNila house provided natural amplification and reverb, but making it very unforgiving even with the slightest intonation error. Thankfully, Damodar was very secure with his cello, showing no signs of hesitation. The only hesitation he had was during the post-performance Q&A section wherein he responded with just brief words compared to the more Ilusorio who gave eloquent answers as well as annotations throughout the evening.

The MiraNila Heritage House's inaugural Strings of Gold concert once again proved that Damodar Das Castillo is one of the country's most exciting young artists who has the potential to be a headliner on the international stage. And that Mariel Ilusorio remains one of the most reliable pianists who let her collaborators be at ease and truly shine on stage as well.

Soprano Mheco Manlangit, tenor Radnel Ofalsa, conductor Herminigildo Ranera at PPO season finale

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's Metamorphosis finally nears its completion with its season finale happening on April 28, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

Conducting the season ending concert is the PPO's Resident and Associate Conductor Herminigildo Ranera whose composition, Lola Basyang Miniature Suite, makes its world premiere on this night.

Two of the country's most promising singers, soprano Mheco Joy Manlangit and tenor Radnel Del Rio Ofalsa, will be the concert's featured soloists performing various arias including L'espoir renaît dans mon âme from Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orphée et Eurydice, Prendi, per me sei libero from Gaetano Donizetti’s L'elisir d’amore, Si, ritrovarla io giuro from Gioacchino Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Je dis que rien ne m’epouvante from Georges Bizet’s Carmen, and Quoi! vous m'aimez? from Donizetti’s La fille du regiment.

Other music to be performed at the concert includes Dmitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Op. 96 and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178, From the New World.

This concert caps the PPO's 38th performance season dubbed Metamorphosis that saw five conductors take to the podium in their quest to become the PPO's next Principal Conductor and Music Director.

David Gómez-Ramírez mesmerizes at PPO season opener

Conductor David Gómez-Ramírez and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra opened its 38th season with flair as Spanish conductor David Gómez-Ramírez sets the tone for the season and also the standard for the rest the shortlisted conductors gunning for the position of PPO's Music Director/Principal Conductor

The concert had a mesmerizing start with Redentor Romero's Philippine Portraits handled deftly and reverently by Gómez.

He also led the orchestra to a very confident showing of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 bringing much needed optimism and cheer to an audience who had waited for more than two years for the resumption of the PPO's season. While the Dvořák symphony is an often played, repertoire staple, Gómez delivered a magnificent display of colors and textures that made this piece sound fresh and exciting.

By the time of the encore, Gómez both had the orchestra and the audience at the palm of his hands via a masterful rendition of the Intermedio from La Boda de Luis Alonso by Gerónimo Giménez.

The only blemish in what might have been a flawless outing was the performance of Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102 by Dmitri Shostakovich with Clement Acevedo as the piano soloist. At times, the orchestra was not in sync with Acevedo despite the pianist opting for a more relaxed and less frantic pace with this concerto. The orchestra's unfamiliarity with this piece was apparent by how tentative they were, lacking the cheekiness and playfulness that this defines this concerto. Thankfully, the sublime second movement showcased what a capable pianist Acevedo is which was also evident with his encore, a nostalgic take on Evocación from Iberia Book 1 by Isaac Albéniz.

Despite the misstep with the concerto, the PPO still had a promising start to the season. Display materials at the venue also made it known that the PPO's final two concerts of the season will be conducted by Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng on March 17, 2023 and Associate Conductor Herminigildo Ranera on April 28, 2023.

PPO's 38th concert season features music director/principal conductor hopefuls

After a couple of years of online and outreach performances, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra finally announced the return of their concert season, entitled Metamorphosis, to be held this September 2022-April 2023 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo and also at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

The PPO's 38th Concert season will also feature five of the shortlisted conductors who are up in the running to be the orchestra's next Principal Conductor/Music Director.

David Gómez-Ramírez

Opening the season on September 16 is Spanish conductor David Gómez-Ramírez. Last seen with the PPO as guest conductor back in 2018, he has worked with many professional orchestras around the world. He has been chief conductor of the Sagunto Symphony Orchestra, and guest conductor in important orchestras as València, Seville, Madrid, Oviedo and outside of Spain, in France, Portugal, United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia, Romania, Italy, and Vietnam.

Grzegorz Nowak

On October 7, the PPO welcomes Grzegorz Nowak, for the second concert of the season. Nowak, the permanent Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London, UK, was also the Music Director of the Polish National Opera, Warsaw, Poland from 2017-2020 and other orchestras in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. He has conducted orchestral music recorded in over 80 CDs that have received awards and 5-star ratings.

Noam Zur

Noam Zur leads the orchestra as they perform at the Manila Metropolitan Theater stage on November 11. Since 2017, he was the principal conductor and artistic director of the State Symphony Orchestra of Salta, Argentina. He has over 20 years of professional and conducting experience during which he developed an expansive repertoire in opera, ballet and symphony. He is also a composer and arranger, having recorded his own works in Funkhausorchester des WDR Köln in August 2016 which he conducted as well.

Mark Anthony Carpio

Philippine Madrigal Singers choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio conducts the PPO on December 16, which will be the last to be held at the CCP before the major rehabilitation of the main building starting in January 2023. Personally handpicked by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion to succeed her as choirmaster of the Madz, Carpio is one of the most respected figures in choral music and a sought after choral clinician who has given extensive and in-depth workshops all nationally and internationally.

Shizuo Kuwahara

Japanese-American Maestro Shizuo Kuwahara conducts the PPO January 27, 2023. Kuwahara is the First Prize winner of the prestigious Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in Frankfurt, Germany and Principal Guest Conductor of The Mariinsky Theatre, Russia. Kuwahara has led performances throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia. He was also an Assistant and Cover Conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony and Orchestra de Paris.

Haoran Li

On February 24, 2023, the PPO will be under the baton of Haoran Li. He was Assistant Conductor of China Philharmonic Orchestra from 2019-2020 and the National Center for the Performing Arts Beijing, China in 2018.

The conductors and programs for the March 17 and April 28, 2023 concerts have yet to be announced.

The September, October, and December concerts will be held at the CCP while the November and performances in 2023 will be at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

Pianist Clement Acevedo joins PPO 38th concert season opener

Pianist Clement Acevedo joins conductor David Gómez-Ramírez at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 38th Concert Season opener this September 16, 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).

Program for the evening includes Redentor Romero's Philippine Portraits, Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102 with Acevedo as the featured pianist, and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88.

Clement Acevedo

Clement Acevedo is an award winning pianist who has performed in prestigious competitions such as the Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition in Westport, Connecticut, and the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), where he entered semifinalists in both 2004 and 2009. He won the Amati Award at the 2003 Amati Music Festival in Catskills, New York. Also, he has won in concerto contests hosted by the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation (MCO), James Madison University (JMU), and the UP College of Music, as well as the Rachmaninoff Piano Competition.

He performed with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Herminigildo Ranera, the James Madison University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Robert McCashin, and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra under the baton of composer/conductor Josefino Chino Toledo at the Merkin Hall in New York City, the Taichung National Theater in Taiwan, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

He has recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor at the UP College of Music and Dance, to teach beginning the Academic Year 2022-23.

Jazzing up the mazurka with Artur Dutkiewicz

Jazz pianist Artur Dutkiewicz

Polish jazz pianist Artur Dutkiewicz brought his own brand of jazz to the Philippine shores through a series of performances and an improvisation workshop during a recent visit in the country.

The highlight of his trip was a solo piano concert held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. At the concert, billed as Impromazurka, Dutkiewicz, known as the "Ambassador of Polish Jazz", was at his element jazzing up not just classical music but the Polish folk dance mazurka.

Artur Dutkiewicz and
Embassy of Poland's Chargé d'affaires
Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz

Dutkiewicz gave new life to the popular second movement theme of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World", Op. 95, B. 178 and Ignacy Jan Paderewski's Nocturne in B flat major, Op. 16 No. 4 and Minuet in G, Op. 14, No. 1. After the opening measures that established these pieces, he then jazzed up the chords and developed these themes through jazz improvisations taking the audience to a ride of different moods and vibes before settling back to the piece's familiar arrangements.

Artur Dutkiewicz

This was the same when he performed his own compositions of mazurkas, a Polish folk dance in triple meter with the accent uncharacteristically falling on the second or third beat, fused with rhythms from various places that he has traveled to.

Jaroslaw Szczepankiewicz and Artur Dutkiewicz

Speaking of travels, the concert also marked the Philippine premiere of Alexander Tansman's Les Iles Philippines, the sixth piece of Le Tour du Monde en Miniature. It was written in 1933 by Tansman after a concert world tour that included the Philippines in the early 1930s. The piece characterized by idyllic folk themes recalled Tansman's impression of the country while he was here. Dutkiewicz's performance of this piece at the concert had him expanding the work with his signature jazz improv touches. 

With a program that was made up of mostly Dutkiewicz's work and improvisations, it was not easy to figure out the character of the pieces especially when he segued from one to another further blurring the lines. By the second half, I decided just to get myself lost to the music and allowed myself to be brought to whatever place his music took me.

Dutkiewicz's concert and subsequent workshop not only brought the Polish jazz to the Philippine shores but also reintroduced Poland to the country through the Embassy of Poland headed by Jarosław Szczepankiewicz.

Polish jazz pianist, composer Artur Dutkiewicz to hold concert, workshop at the CCP

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland present Polish jazz pianist and composer Artur Dutkiewicz in a solo concert on November 12, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater).

The concert, billed as Impromazurka, will feature music by Antonín Dvořák, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Alexandre Tansman, and Dutkiewicz own improvisations on the mazurka.

The morning after, on November 13, 2019, 10:00 AM, Dutkiewicz will conduct a piano improvisation workshop to be held also at the CCP's Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

Ticket prices for the concert are at P1000 and P800 with 50% discount for students and 20% discount for senior citizens. There will be an admission fee of P100 for observers at the workshop.

Artur Dutkiewicz,called as the Ambassador of Polish Jazz, studied composition and arrangement where he graduated from the Jazz Department at the Academy of Music in Katowice (Poland), receiving a diploma with distinction. He was a finalist of the Thelonious Monk Competition in Washington, USA.

Dutkiewicz has taken part in dozens of renowned jazz and music festivals around the world including the Hague’s Northsea Jazz Festival, Warsaw’s  Jamboree, Hamburg’s Campnagel Theater, Bern’s Festival Kleiner Bunchen, Nuremberg’s Jazz Ost West, Cannes’ MIDEM, Milan’s Music Oggi, Paris’ Festival D`Europe Centrale, Budapest’s Sziget Festival, Havana’s Jazz Plaza Festival, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival, Duesseldorf’s Jazz Rally, Berlin’s World Culture Festival, Milan’s  Notturni in Palestro Festival, Beijing’s BJ Ninegates Jazz Festival, Helsinki’s Kontu Festival, and Melbourne’s International Jazz Festival.

He has released several albums as a solo artist, (Mazurki) and as the leader of the Artur Dutkiewicz Trio (Prana, Traveller). For the readers' listening pleasure, here is Prana, a recent Artur Dutkiewicz Trio release with Dutkiewicz alongside bassist Michał Barański bass and drummer Łukasz Żyta.

Pianist Noriko Ogawa, PPO deliver explosive season opener

Pianist Noriko Ogawa and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

The brave souls who were not cowed by an earthquake scare earlier in the afternoon and yet still trooped over to the Cultural Center of the Philippines for the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s 37th concert season opener were rewarded with a memorable performance of that evening’s guest artist, Japanese pianist Noriko Ogawa.

Ogawa’s confident take on Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 went beyond the energetic, bravura pounding of the keys. The clarity she gave each note highlighted the concerto’s sharp contours and sudden turns without making the piece a blurry, pyrotechnic mess. With her and the PPO under the baton of music director/principal director Yoshikazu Fukumura working in faultless tandem, never did it cross my mind that pianist and orchestra would engage on a frantic chase with this piece.

Pianist Noriko Ogawa

Thankfully, this didn’t matter with her encore which was a concise, 5 minute, solo piano version of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue that further showed her impeccable weaving and shaping of this popular tune heard without an orchestra accompanying her.

Conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Ogawa’s spectacular performance somehow threatened to make the second half of the concert featuring Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70, B. 141 a bit anticlimactic. But Fukumura masterfully brought out the flavors, contrasts, and the tragic overtones in this piece making this symphony worthy of being programmed. The subdued end to the first and second movements in this symphony gave an eerie feel which was in direct contrast to how explosive the Prokofiev concerto ended.

I can’t help but commend horn player Atusko Tashiro, whose presence always gives me confidence, security and peace of mind, which she proved once again during the second movement.

Aside from a slightly tentative opening piece of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture to Don Giovanni, K. 527 and piano tuning issues that rankled keen listeners during the Prokofiev, it was still a promising start to the season considering that there had been doubts on whether the concert would still happen considering the earthquake and evacuations that happened hours before.

Guitarist Noli Aurillo joins MSO's Rush Hour Concert at Ayala Museum

The Manila Symphony Orchestra and the Ayala Museum welcome guitarist Noli Aurillo for their latest Rush Hour Concerts offering happening on April 26, 2019, 6:30 PM at the Ayala Museum.

The concert, billed as Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue, sees acoustic guitar expressionist Noli Aurillo teaming up with the MSO for a night of music featuring the works of George Gershwin, Antonin Dvořák, Georges Bizet, Freddie Mercury and his band, Queen.

NAMCYA winner Joshua Ethan Dakanay in ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra concert

Barely a couple of weeks after the educational Evening with Beethoven, the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra presents its latest installment of their Classical Concert Series happening this April 26, 2019, 6:45 PM at the ABS-CBN's Studio 4.

For this evening, the orchestra, along with conductor Joshua Dos Santos, welcomes Joshua Ethan Dakanay as their guest soloist.

Dakanay won the 1st Prize at the 2018 National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) Junior Strings Category. He will be the featured soloist at Camille Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33.

Also part of the evening's program are Claude Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune/Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, B. 178, "From the New World".

Admission to the concert is free. Seats are limited so do contact Joji Cardones at (02) 415-2272 extension 2407 or (0998) 969-7329 to ensure one's seat.