Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. headlines PPO concert "Fantasy"

Violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's Artist-in-Residence and current Concertmaster has been impressing audiences with his featured solos in Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life), Op. 40 and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34 during the last couple of season concerts of the PPO.

Saraza Jr. was originally scheduled to close out the PPO's 40th concert season in April but it seems that the previous season still has a hold on the current one as there has been a switch with him now being the featured soloist for the upcoming concert, billed as Fantasy, happening on December 6, 2024, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Diomedes Saraza, Jr.

While the rest of the program remains unchanged, with Maestro Grzegorz Nowak leading the orchestra with Gioachino Rossini's William Tell Overture and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, the concerto with Saraza Jr. will now be Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47.

Previously scheduled soloist, violinist Andrea Obiso will now close out the season while Saraza Jr. is still slated to perform Dmitri Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 in a special concert outside of the season.

What is more remarkable is that just a day before, on December 5, 2024, 4:30 PM, Saraza Jr. joins pianist Victor Asuncion and cellist John Henry Crawford in a performance of Brahms and Mendelssohn Piano Trios at the Corazon Aquino Hall at St. Scholastica's College, Manila.

Reprinted below is the press release for the upcoming PPO season concert.

PPO's Concert III: Fantasy explores depths of human emotions

Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr takes music lovers on a journey of imagination with the third installment of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO)’s 40th concert season, slated on December 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

With his 1972 French violin by Eugene Guinot and Rene Morel (given by Standard Insurance), Saraza Jr. will captivate with his exceptional skill and artistry on the violin as he effortlessly meets the virtuosic demands of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto op.47, D minor.

One of the most challenging in the repertoire in the classic music scene, Sibelius concerto premiered in 1904, with violin teacher Victor Novàček as soloist. With lukewarm reception during its premiere, Sibelius rewrote the concerto in 1905, with Berlin concertmaster Karl Halir playing the revised piece.

Music history has revealed that the concerto was initially created for violinist Willy Burmester, who was then the concertmaster in Helsingfors. After Sibelius passed him over during its two premieres, Burmester never touched the work for the rest of his life.

For the PPO Concert III, Saraza will be performing with the PPO and taking the audiences on a profound journey through the emotional spectrum of life, under the baton of acclaimed music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Currently the PPO’s guest concertmaster and artist-in-residence, Saraza received both his undergraduate and master’s degrees in music from The Juilliard School as a full tuition scholar. He studied under the tutelage of Juilliard's Dean Emeritus-violinist Stephen Clapp, American violinist-pedagogue Lewis Kaplan, and Taiwanese-American violinist Joseph Lin (the first violinist of the Juilliard String Quartet from 2011 to 2018).

He also finished his master’s in musical arts from Yale University, under Prof. Hyo Kang. During his time in Yale, Saraza was awarded the Brodus Erle Prize 2016 for best violinist of the school year and the Alumni Association Prize 2017 for important community initiatives that he led.

Since winning the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in the Philippines in 2002 at age 12, Saraza has been performing and giving solo recitals both in the Philippines and abroad. He has won international competitions, including New York’s Friday-Woodmere Young Artist Competition and Associated Music Teacher’s League Competition.

He has performed solo internationally with the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, as well as locally with the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the PPO. He has collaborated as soloist with prominent conductors, namely Darrell Ang, Olivier Ochanine, David Bernard, Gerard Salonga, Yoshikazu Fukumura, Joshua Kangmin Tan, and Haoran Li.

Saraza served as concertmaster of MSO and Yale Philharmonia, as well as an associate and assistant concertmaster of The Juilliard Orchestra and Juilliard Lab Orchestra. He was also an educator at St. Scholastica’s College Manila and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra.

Saraza has finished his USA recital tour and album recording with Music Foundation founder and Steinway artist Victor Asuncion.

Completing the program for the Concert III: Fantasy, the PPO will perform Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 5, op. 64, E minor.

Premiered in Paris on August 3, 1829, the William Tell Overture is part of Gioachino Rossini’s opera Guillaume Tell, which was adapted from Friedrich Schiller’s 1804 drama inspired by the legendary 14th-century Swiss patriot William Tell. In pop culture, this piece is best known for its thrilling final three minutes, which became iconic as the theme music for The Lone Ranger, the masked avenger of the Wild West.

Meanwhile, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, is often interpreted as a reflection of the composer’s personal struggles and doubts. First performed in 1888, with Tchaikovsky conducting, the symphony is known for its sweeping melodies, dramatic contrasts, and rich orchestration. Over the years, this masterpiece has remained a favorite in concert halls.

The PPO Concert III: Fantasy is scheduled for December 6, 7:30 p.m., at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Secure your seats at the CCP Box Office at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez and/or via TicketWorld. For inquiries, call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880 or email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Electrifying Diomedes Saraza, Jr in Met solo debut with the PPO

Conductor Haoran Li and violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr.

Diomedes Saraza, Jr. has been one of the most visible and active concert violinists in the country. For his latest outing, he made his Metropolitan Theater debut as a soloist at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's latest subscription concert series.

Performing Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47, the same piece he played with the PPO at their historic Carnegie Hall concert back in 2016, Dio had this air of reliability and security. There was this sense of ease that he could do no wrong and all that was left was for the aduience to enjoy the masterfully played Sibelius concerto to the fullest. Conductor Haoran Li provided great support to Dio, ensuring that both soloist and the PPO remain on the same page, so to speak.

After several enthusiastic curtain calls, Dio provided more fireworks with the crowd pleasing Niccolò Paganini's Caprice No. 5 in A Minor, Op. 1 for his encore.

Conductor Haoran Li and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

Haoran Li, the fifth and final conductor shortlisted for the position of PPO's Music Director/Principal Conductor brought sensitivity and subdued elegance by the way he weaved the overall arc in Antonino Buenaventura's By the Hillside. While there might be a sense of déjà vu with yet another Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky at the Met, the theater's much improved acoustics meant that the colors and textures of each section are more vivid and clear compared to when this piece was heard last November.

While Dio provided the flashiness, Li was more reserved ending the concert with Sergei Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Op. 34 for the orchestra's encore.

Now that all five finalists's respective concerts are done, the wait begins for the announcement on who the next PPO Music Director/Principal Conductor will be.

Conductor Haoran Li, violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. at PPO's February concert at the Met

Chinese conductor Haoran Li, the fifth finalist shortlisted for the position of Principal Conductor and Music Director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra takes to the podium at the PPO's sixth concert of its 38th season on February 24, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

Featured soloist in this concert is violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., the current concertmaster of the Manila Symphony Orchestra.

The evening's program includes Antonino Buenaventura's By the Hillside, Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, and Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 with Saraza Jr. as the soloist.

Li was the assistant conductor of China Philharmonic Orchestra from 2019 to 2020, and the National Center for the Performing Arts Beijing, China in 2018. For the 2022-2023 season, he led concerts with La Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Romanian Radio National Orchestra, Lasi Philharmonic Orchestra, Banatul Philharmonic Orchestra of Timioara, Beijing Symphony Orchestra, and the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra.

Teenagers take center stage at upcoming MSO concert

The youth take center stage at Manila Symphony Orchestra's upcoming season gala concert this October 6, 2019, 6:00 PM at the Hyundai Hall, Areté located at the Ateneo de Manila University campus.

Billed as Sibelius & Beethoven's 5th, the third concert of the season sees the 19 year old Finnish-Filipino prodigy Tarmo Peltokoski make his Philippine debut conducting the MSO works by Jean Sibelius and Ludwig van Beethoven. Peltokoski is a protégé of the legendary Finnish conducting legend Jorma Panula.

Also featured in this concert is another teenager, 15 year old violinist Jeanne Rafaella Marquez, first prize winner at the 2018 National Music Competitions for Young Artists, performing Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47.

Other pieces to be performed in the concert are Sibelius' Lemminkäinen's Return, Op. 22/4 and Ludwig van Beethoven's extremely popular Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra to make US debut at Carnegie Hall

June 18, 2016, 8:00 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage

Carnegie Hall

57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, NY

Featuring:

Cecile Licad, piano

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Dmitri Shostakovich

     Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96

Jean Sibelius     

     Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Sergei Rachmaninoff     

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

Redentor Romero

     Philippine Portraits

In the 33 years that the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra has been in existence, it is quite remarkable to find out that the country’s leading orchestra has never performed in US soil. But come June 18, 2016, all that will change as the PPO makes its US debut at the Carnegie Hall nonetheless. Leading the orchestra in this historic concert is Olivier Ochanine, the PPO’s former music director/principal conductor, who has worked for more than three years to make this project come to fruition.

The evening boasts a formidable program including two major concertos that will feature pianist Cecile Licad and violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr., two of the Philippines’ top caliber artists. Licad will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 while Saraza will tackle Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47. Other pieces to be performed are Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96 and Redentor Romero’s Philippine Portraits.

Licad has performed the Rach 2 with the PPO and Ochanine earlier this year at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater that also saw her perform Tchaik 1 at the same concert. Saraza, on the other hand, had his solo violin concert with pianist Greg Zuniega at the CCP Little Theater just a few weeks prior to that of Licad’s concert.

The PPO’s Carnegie Hall concert/US debut is made possible with the support of Philippine Airlines (the official carrier of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra), Smart Infinity, Rustan’s Commercial Corporation, One Meralco Foundation, with the support of PLDT Smart Foundation, Federal Land, Inc., and Metrobank Card Corporation.

Proceeds from the concert will go to a housing project of the Philippine Disaster Relief Corporation, Inc. in Tacloban for typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) victims.

Ticket prices:

$130

$110

$85

$70

$60

$50

$40

$35

$30

$25

$22.50

For inquiries:

CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800

Past and present members of UST Symphony Orchestra perform in Reunion concert

March 15, 2015, 6:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

Cultural Center of the Philippines

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

UST Symphony Orchestra,

Herminigildo Ranera, conductor

Programme:

Dmitri Shostakovich

     Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

     Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

Gioachino Rossini

     William Tell Overture

Jean Sibelius

     Finlandia, Op. 26

Astor Piazzolla

     Libertango

The UST Symphony Orchestra and the USTSO Alumni join forces in Reunion happening on March 15, 2015, 6:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). This concert, conducted by Herminigildo Ranera, kicks off the USTSO’s 2015 performance season.

Concert lineup for this evening includes Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia, Op. 26, and Ástor Piazzolla’s Libertango.

The USTSO was established in 1927 by Dr. Manuel Casas who was a faculty member of UST Medicine and Surgery. After several public performances, the group disbanded in 1931 but was re-established in 1961 by Antonio Buenaventura, a National Artist for Music. Later on, besides performing in the city, the group went on a concert tour in neighboring provinces.

At present, the orchestra has 70 student-members and 15 UST faculty and staff. USTSO regularly performs at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and helps with its outreach program.

Ticket prices:

P800 Orchestra Center

P700 Orchestra Side

P600 Balcony I Center

P500 Balcony I Side

P400 Balcony II Center

P300 Balcony II Side
-50% student discount

-20% senior citizen discount

+applicable service charges

For inquiries:

UST Conservatory of Music 731-4022

CCP Box Office 832-3704

TicketWorld 891-9999

Mozart, Haydn, Sibelius and four PPO musicians take spotlight in Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's November concert

November 14, 2014, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Reynato Resurrecion Jr., oboe

Ariel Sta. Ana, clarinet

Adolfo Mendoza, bassoon

Jay-ar Mesa, horn

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon, K. 297b

Franz Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 97 in C major, Hob. I/97

Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's upcoming concert delivers four times the fun as they highlight four of their own this November 14, 2014, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). Featured soloists in this concert are PPO members namely oboist Reynato Resurrecion Jr., clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana, bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza, and horn player Jay-ar Mesa.

The quartet will be featured soloists in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major for Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon, K. 297b, a controversial piece since it’s still debated upon if it’s really by Mozart or not. The orchestra, to be conducted by their principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine will also perform Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 97 in C major, Hob. I/97 and Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43.

Oboist Reynato Resurreccion Jr.

Reynato Resurreccion Jr. is an Assistant Principal oboist of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. He won several prizes from the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), twice for solo instrument, and first prize for chamber music category with the UST Woodwind Quintet. He graduated from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of the late Professors Ludovico Mendoza and Mariano Mendoza. He also studied under Professor Tsuji Isao, a Principal Oboist of the Yumiuri Symphony Orchestra, in Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan where he obtained his Masteral Degree Major in oboe performance. While in Japan, he was a member of the Elisabeth University Orchestra and Symphony band, a member of the International Music Friendship Club, and was one of the twelve winners in the Asian Music Student's Competition held in Tokyo. In August of 1996, he was chosen to participate to the Asian Youth Orchestra's concert tour in Asia as an English Horn player. He was also the Principal Oboist of the Philippine Youth Orchestra and the UST Symphony Orchestra. At present, he is a faculty member of the UST Conservatory of Music and an active member of the Clarion Chamber Ensemble.

Clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana

Ariel Sta. Ana is a two-time winner of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), first taking the second prize in 1998 and winning first prize in 1992. He received his musical training at the UST Conservatory of Music under Prof. Dalmacio Cruz and at the Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima, Japan earning his Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance in 1996, with Prof. Tadayoshi Takeda as his mentor. In 1999, he received his second Master of Music degree from the Elisabeth University of Music in Orchestra Conducting under the tutelage of Prof. Kazukiyo Inoue. He was a member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra in 1988 and was a concertmaster of the ASEAN Youth Symphonic Band held in Singapore in 1992.  In Japan, he has been a member of the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra for two years. He was also one of the founding members of the Hiroshima International Music Friendship Club and performs regularly with the International Music Festival in Hiroshima, Japan. Ariel is the principal clarinet player of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and the coordinator of the Woodwind Department of the UST Conservatory of Music.

Bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza

Adolfo Mendoza finished his Bachelor of Music in Bassoon performance at the University of Santo Tomas’ Conservatory of Music under Prof Romeo Verayo and Prof Arnaldo Custodio. He studied with the NHK principal bassoonist Prof. Koji Okazaki at the Elisabeth University of Music in Hiroshima Japan for his Master's Degree. He was also a full scholar at the Hongkong Academy for performing arts under Prof Kam Sui, principal bassoonist of the Hongkong Philharmonic Orchestra. He won second place at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) Solo Bassoon Category C in 1992. He was also member of the UST Woodwind Quintet, which won the first prize in the NAMCYA Chamber Music Category in 1993. He was an active member and the principal bassoonist of the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Symphonic Band and the UST Woodwind Quintet. He was also a winner of the International Students Music Competition for solo instrument in Tokyo, Japan. Mendoza joined the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in 1996 which performed in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and in the United States of America. He was also a member of the AYO Woodwind Quintet which performed at the White House in Washington, D.C. He was the bassoonist for the musical "Miss Saigon" for its Manila run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines from September 2000 - March 2001 and in Hong Kong and Singapore from March to August 2001. He was featured in the CCP's Filipino Artists Series in September 2002 with Mary Ann Espina, and as soloist of the PPO in the same year. He was the featured artist at the 9th San Agustin International Music Festival with Spanish Organist Miguel Gonzales in 2007.

Horn player Jay-ar Mesa

Jay-ar Mesa took up Creative and Performing Musical Arts Major in French horn in the University of the Philippines, Diliman under the tutelage of Leopoldo Lopez. In 2002, he started playing for Banda 99 in Binangonan, Rizal under the baton of Victor Bolante, where he became a conductor in 2008. He also became a member of the University of the Philippines (UP) Symphonic Band in 2005, principal player of the UP Symphony Orchestra in 2006, and assistant principal French horn player of the Manila Symphony Orchestra in St. Scholastica’s College, Manila from 2006 to 2008. He has been chosen as a delegate and principal French horn player in the Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble (SAYOWE) from 2006 to 2010, in the Asian Youth Orchestra in 2012, and in the Myanmar Symphony Orchestra in 2013. Currently, he is a member of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.

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

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra Kapamilya Concert: Intro to the Classics

Gerard Salonga conducts the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven Overture from Egmont, Op. 84

Lucio San Pedro Ang Buwan sa Kabundukan

Jean Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op. 35

A few months ago, a violinist from the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra told me that she was having a blast getting to play popular tunes and accompanying local singers. I asked her afterwards how the orchestra will maintain its technical sharpness considering that most popular fare are considered just a walk in the park when played by classically trained musicians like her. She responded that they would still perform the standard classical repertoire not only to keep them on their toes technically but to also highlight the diversity of their orchestra.

Now having a string of successful and high profile performances under its belt, the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra felt that its time to show their audience what classical music is all about. And this they just did when the orchestra had its second Kapamilya Concert at the Dolphy Theater dubbed as Intro to the Classics. This concert was intended for ABS-CBN employees only but Gerard Salonga, the orchestra’s music director and conductor, along with Mickey Muñoz, the orchestra’s executive director, invited me to watch this concert. I didn’t pass the chance since I really wanted to witness how the newbie audience would react to an orchestra playing a classical repertoire.

Thankfully, Gerard prepared a very accessible and entertaining programme for that night. The concert started with Ludwig van Beethoven’s Overture from Egmont, Op. 84, a short yet lively piece that showcases the grandeur of an orchestra. Next performed was Lucio San Pedro’s Ang Buwan sa Kabundukan, a programmatic piece that attempts to describe through music the moon over the hills. While it contains traces of an introspective nocturne, it did have a section wherein the night gives way to some merrymaking.

Assistant Concertmaster Jonathan Livioco plays Sibelius

Then, the audience was introduced to the concept of a concerto. For this one, Assistant Concertmaster Jonathan Livioco was the soloist in Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47. Unfortunately for me, only the first two movements were played. The last piece that the orchestra played was Scheherazade by Nikolai-Rimsky Korsakov, a popular orchestra piece that can be a very good introduction to this kind of music for casual audiences. Again, I found it unfortunate that the orchestra only played the last movement of this piece. But I had to understand that I wasn’t the intended audience for this concert. After the concert, Gerard and I discussed how the audience responded positively with the pieces that they performed. And we both feel that they’re now ready to experience a whole symphony/concerto in next editions of the Kapamilya Concert.

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra repeats John Williams concert

February 23, 2013, 7:30 PM

Meralco Theater

Ortigas Avenue

Pasig City

Featuring:

ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra

Gerard Salonga, conductor

Jose Mari Chan and Karylle

During the Kapamilya Concert: Intro to the Classics, Gerard Salonga jokingly said that since the audience was at their behavior, he would reward them with an encore: music from Jurassic Park, a snippet/teaser of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra’s Magic of John Williams concert. Gerard also took this chance to remind everyone that due to popular demand, they will be repeating their successful The Magic of John Williams concert happening this February 24, 2013, 7:30 PM at the Meralco Theater.

Those who missed it for the first time (and those who want to see it again), here’s another chance to experience the splendor of John Williams’ music played live by an orchestra. In case people still don’t know, John Williams, one of the most popular composers right now, is the man responsible for the memorable music featured in films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jurassic Park, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Schindler’s List, Jaws, Indiana Jones,  Star Wars, Harry Potter and Superman.

Crooner Jose Mari Chan and the ever versatile Karylle join the orchestra as the special guests for this concert. Karylle was the one who was initially announced in the lineup of the first concert but it was Nikki Gil who eventually got to perform there. If the programme remains the same, then it will be very interesting to hear Karylle’s take.

One of the memorable moments of the past concert was the participation of the 501^st Legion. The last concert had a surprise with the 501^st Legion joining the orchestra onstage with a Stormtrooper playing the bass drum to boot during the Star Wars Suite. And now, they will be joined by Hogwarts Philippines which makes me think if the Harry Potter section will be made more prominent this time around.

I highly advise everyone watching to have their cameras ready for not only is photography allowed during the actual concert, but taking photos along with people in costume makes for very interesting souvenirs of this unique concert.

Ticket Prices: 

P2500 Orchestra Center

P2000 Orchestra Side

P1800 Loge Center

P1500 Loge Side

P500 Upper Balcony

For inquiries:

TicketNet 911-5555