PPO, Lara Maigue and Gian Magdangal go on tour to Iloilo and Capiz

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' outreach programs continue with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, along with singers Lara Maigue and Gian Magdangal, flying to Iloilo and Capiz for a weekend of performances on January 19 & 21, 2024.

The PPO will grace the Dinagyang Festival celebrations with The Dinagyang Musical Concert happening on January 19, 7:00 PM at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand in Iloilo City.

The next performance, Kumpas, Tunog kag Kiay sa Roxas City! happens on January 21, 2024 6:00 PM at Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center, Roxas City in Capiz.

Both concerts, to be conducted by Herminigildo Ranera, will have the PPO perform classical music such as Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C major K.314 (271k), Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, Johann Strauss II's Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op. 214, among others. Maigue and Magdangal, on the other hand will be accompanied by the PPO as they sing popular tunes, musical theater favorites, and Philippine songs including music from the Visayas.

Admission to both concerts are for free. More details can be seen at the press release reprinted below.

PPO GRACES ILOILO AND CAPIZ

ILONGGOS and Capiznons can look forward to magical nights of musical bliss as the Cultural Center of the Philippines brings the country's leading orchestra, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, to the city of Iloilo and the province of Capiz this January.

In time for the annual Dinagyang Festival, the PPO, under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, takes center stage in a one-night-only concert, billed The Dinagyang Musical Concert, on January 19, 7pm, at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand in Iloilo City. The group then moves to Capiz for the Kumpas, Tunog kag Kiay sa Roxas City! outreach concert, slated on January 21, 6pm, at Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra
Photo ©Rodel Valiente

“As always, music enthusiasts can expect an extensive program repertoire from the PPO. We want to expand our reach to a bigger number of audiences and continue what our past CCP presidents have done in terms of doing outreach programs. Now that the CCP building is being rehabilitated for preservation and retrofitting, it is important to bring CCP to the various regions to make them feel that CCP is present. We are bringing the soul of the CCP to a greater number of people around the country," said CCP president ad interim Michelle Nikki Junia.

The concerts are made possible with the support of the City Government of Iloilo, the Provincial Government of Iloilo; the Iloilo Festivals Foundation, Inc.; the City Government of Roxas, the Provincial Government of Capiz, and Uswag Ilonggo.

The concerts consist of two parts: the first part features classical music such as Ride of the Valkyries, Oboe Concerto in C Major, Symphony no. 4 Allegro con Fuoco, Tristch Tratsch Polka, among others, while the second part spotlights contemporary music, OPM songs, and Broadway.

Soprano-songwriter Lara Maigue and singer-actor Gian Magdangal will serenade the crowds in both concerts, performing well-loved Filipino classics, Visayan songs, and other popular music.

Lara Maigue

Lara Maigue has performed with notable orchestras in a variety of performance halls in Asia and the Philippines over the years. Opera, Kundiman, jazz standards, Broadway, OPM, and her original compositions are among the songs in her arsenal. She recently rose to fame after her version of Mozart's “Queen of the Night” aria garnered over 30 million views on Instagram, following the success of her version of “The Flower Duet” with her mother (Nanette Moscardon), which garnered over 6 million views.

Gian Magdangal

A Filipino singer, performer, theater, and television actor, Gian Magdangal has worked in a variety of reputable theater shows and other productions. He reprised his role as Hector in the most recent staging of the musical Ang Huling El Bimbo, which undoubtedly continued to solidify his career in 2023.

The PPO concerts form part of the CCP’s outreach programs, with the mission to promote and preserve the best of Filipino arts and culture by embodying the values of katotohanan (truth), kagandahan (beauty), and kabutihan (goodness).

The CCP outreach program, under the CCP Office of the President, focuses on expanding the Center’s reach to the regions by showcasing the CCP brand of productions and shows in the country, while nurturing the next generation of artists and cultural workers, engaging the public to address art education and appreciation, and creating critical conversations and cultural exchanges among stakeholders to usher in national development, especially among the youths.

The concerts are free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest updates.

RAd Culture: A peek inside the CCP building, 2023 performances

Inside the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater)

Back in May 2017, a couple of hours before Lea Salonga's concert with the Brigham Young University Orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, a very sudden heavy downpour occurred.

CCP Chairman Dr. Jaime Laya

The rain was so heavy that it caused a slight delay to the concert, there were those that got stuck along the way in the flooded streets of Metro Manila which was not surprising. But what was shocking to see was the handful of orchestra seats inside the CCP Main Theater cordoned off due to leaks from above. The concert was a sold out affair so who knows where the ticket holders for those seats ended up eventually.

CCP President Margie Moran-Floirendo

This incident from back in 2017 already drove home the need for major repairs to the CCP Main Building. A year later, an audit of the whole building was conducted to see what and where needs fixing. Events to raise funds were then held during the 50th anniversary celebrations that was abruptly cut by the pandemic.

Ongoing work at the 4th Floor

Now at the start of 2023, the major repair and rehabilitation is in full swing. The CCP main Building is closed to the public and the performances have already moved to various venues like the nearby Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez and Metropolitan Theater. But during the institutional press conference held earlier this month, the press was toured around the building and was given a glimpse of the ongoing work there.

Bare ceiling at the Silangan Hall 

When the CCP reopened its doors, several venues inside like the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) and Silangan Hall at the 4th floor were already undergoing renovation. The tour showed that the ceilings of the Silangan Hall and the offices housed at the 4th floor have already been stripped exposing the wiring, drainage, and air vent systems that will be completely overhauled. There were plenty of warped ceiling panels and bumpy floors throughout the 4th floor indicating water leaks and corrosion of the drainage pipes.

Ceiling of the Silangan Hall kitchen

The CCP Library, which has been closed since sometime October 2022, will be transferred over to the annex building which is just a stone's throw away. Some of the library's collection are still in boxes currently stored at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) awaiting its transfer to the annex building.

Library materials currently stored at the Bulwagang Juan Luna (Main Gallery) 

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) remains untouched for now with rehabilitation work beginning sometime next year. The Fazioli piano remains there as well for the meantime while the Steinway has been moved to the Metropolitan Theater where the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and its office is based for the meantime.

Current state of Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater)

On the other hand, Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) has not been used at all since the reopening and work in it has already begun. Not sure if the Little Theater will still have an orchestra pit after all this rehabilitation. The orchestra pit has not been used for ages due to the presence of water in it. Not surprising since the CCP Complex is built on reclaimed land and the pit is among the lowest areas inside the building.

Even if the CCP Main Building is closed, the performances will definitely continue. The Institutional Presscon also laid out some of the productions on the horizon for 2023.

Lara Maigue with the PPO Wind Ensemble

Announced are the music productions like Isang Gabi ng Sarswela (June 2023), Figaro, excerpts from the Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro (August 2023), and Wondrous Woodwinds (October 2023) to be held at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (Black Box), the CCP's newest performance venue.

Aside from the subscription series concerts at the Metropolitan Theater, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra will also go on a tour with more dates in various cities in Luzon and the Visayas.

CCP Vice President and Artistic Director Dennis Marasigan 

Other projects include the Lola Basyang Animation Project and a Flamenco show schedules in September 2023. Also announced is the return of the Virgin Labfest and the Cinemalaya to be held in new venues this year.

Golden team, diamond lineup of events in celebration of 75 years Philippine-French diplomatic relations

French men's volleyball team 

After sweeping all of their matches at the recently concluded Quezon City leg of the Volleyball Nations League, the French men's volleyball team gave a golden touch to the festivities with their presence at the launch of the 75th Anniversary of the Philippine-French diplomatic relations held at the Pinto Art Museum.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champions gave up just a set in the four matches the team had during the second round of competition. They won in straight sets against China (by default), Netherlands, and Japan, while their last match against Germany took 4 sets. With this convincing sweep, the team find themselves at the top of the standings above the World Champions Poland by virtue of set won/lost ratio. The team, captained by setter Benjamin Toniutti, will aim to cement a top 8 finish and a ticket to the quarterfinals with matches against the USA, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia at the Osaka, Japan leg happening on July 5-10, 2022.

Coach Andrea Giani

This year's VNL also sees Andrea Giani as the team's new coach. Giani is a 3 time World Champion (1990, 1994, 1998) and a 3 time Olympic medalist (silver 1996 & 2004, bronze 2000) with the Italian squad before retiring and switching to coaching. He is now tasked to lead the French team to take on the World Championship crown later this year in Poland and Slovenia and to defend their Olympic title in homesoil at the Paris 2024 summer games.

The launch event was not just about the French men's volleyball team since it also marked the opening of the Diamond in the Rough art exhibit featuring around 40 works by Filipino contemporary artists who have resided in France (Stella Rojas, Manuel Baldemor, Rock Drilon, Nena Sagil, Vitalis, Gaugin, etc.), as well as French artists based in the Philippines (Henri Etève, Olivia d’Aboville, Maia d’Aboville, Pierre de Vallombreuse).

Ambassador Michèle Boccoz

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., French Ambassador Michèle Boccoz, exhibit co-presentor Dr. Joven Cuanang and curator Sandra Palomar formally opened the exhibit which will be available for viewing at the Pinto Art Museum until August 7, 2022.

Lara and Franco Maigue

The program also included a performance by classical-crossover artist Lara Maigue and her brother, guitarist Franco Maigue that was beamed live from Paris, France.

Apart from the exhibit, the 75th Anniversary of the Philippine-French diplomatic relations boasts a lineup of events happening over the next several months.

Noteworthy is the return of French conductor Michaël Cousteau as he leads the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert featuring the music of César Franck, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Claude Debussy happening at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 10, 2022.

Another highlight is Bayan Bayanan: Letters from Home, a new musical based on the classic play by multi-awarded playwright Bienvenido Noriega. Directed by Anton Juan, this musical stars Carlo Mañalac, Banaue Miclat-Janssen, and Tamara Aguilos. The staging of Bayan Bayanan at the CCP on July 15-17, 2022 is presented in accordance with the agreement signed by Erehwon with the Embassy of France in the Philippines.

Still staying at the CCP, the upcoming Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival happening in August 5-14, 2022, the first face to face, on site edition since the online migration, welcomes French film director Frédéric Auburtin as part of this year's jury.

Part of the lineup too is the return of the hit musical Mula sa Buwan by Pat Valera and William Elvin Manzano, adapted from Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. The latest run happening from August 26 to September 11, 2022 at the new Samsung Performing Arts Center sees Myke Salomon, Gab Pangilinan, and Markki Stroem leading the cast.

And wrapping things up by going full circle with sports but with basketball this time, the ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne basketball team will play a series of exhibition games in partnership with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) this August and September 2022.

CCP presents first live performance in 2022 with PPO concert

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, through its Office of the President, presents its first live performance this 2022 with PPO Concert at the CCP Grounds happening on March 11, 2022, 6:00 PM at the CCP grounds/front lawn.

The free concert that is open to the public will see the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Herminigildo Ranera, performing a variety of music ranging from classical, Broadway, kundiman, and Filipino hit songs.

Joining the PPO are some of the country's premier vocalists such as Lara Maigue, Bo Cerrudo, Robert and Isay Seña, and the Nightingales, composed of Bianca Lopez-Aguila and Bernadette Mamauag.

Covid-19 health protocols will be strictly observed at the event. All attendees must be fully vaccinated and must wear a face mask for the duration of the concert.

PPO Concert at the CCP Grounds is part of the CCP Office of the President’s Sining Handog program that aims to bring world-class productions to a wider Filipino audience. This also signals the start of the CCP’s transition towards reopening its doors and bringing back live performances. The concert will also be live-streamed at the CCP, CCP Office of the President and the PPO's Facebook pages.

PPO goes alternative/indie in online performance series

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra goes alternative/indie in the latest episode of PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances premiering on July 23, 2021, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the PPO’s various online pages/channels.

To be hosted by classical crossover artist Lara Maigue, this edition will see PPO members perform a handful of local music from the alternative/indie scene namely With a Smile by the Eraserheads to be played by the duo of violinist Ayesa Cruz and harpist Madeline Jane Banta; Tadhana by Up Dharma Down (arranged by Naldy Rodriguez) to be performed by violinist Ma. Angelica Uson and cellist Herrick Ortiz; Halik ni Hudas  by Wolfgang (arranged by Glenn Aquias) to be played by cellist Giancarlo Gonzales; Salamat by The Dawn (arranged by Theodore Amper) to be performed by a quintet composed of violinists Christian Tan and Jose Carlo Tuazon, violist Rey Casey Concepcion, cellist Giuseppe Andre Diestro, and double bassist Vincent Dela Cruz, and lastly Harana by Eric Yaptangco to be played by the PPO Brass and Percussion section along with Abner Cruz at the electric bass.

Catch this and other past episodes of the PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances at the PPO Facebook page and at the CCP’s YouTube Channel.

PPO online performance spotlights Manila Sound

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra goes back to the time when the Manila Sound rules supreme for the latest installment of the PPO Spotlight: Pocket Virtual Performances premiering online on July 9, 2021, 8:00 PM at the PPO Facebook Page and the Cultural Center of the Philippines' YouTube Channel.

With classical crossover recording artist Lara Maigue as host, members of the PPO perform a selection of OPM hits that embody the Manila Sound back in the 1970s-1980s namely TL Ako Sayo by Snaffu Rigor with bassoonist Frenvee Andra, Hotdog’s Ikaw Ang Miss Universe to be performed by the PPO Viola Section, Ang Buhay Ko by the folk group Asin to be played by the duo of violinist Dino Akira Decena and pianist Jascha Obieta Decena, Kapag Puso’y Sinugatan by Willy Cruz to be performed by basoonist Adolfo Mendoza, and VST Medley by VST & Co. to be performed by the PPO Brass Quintet & Percussion Section.

PPO Spotlight goes Latin, Lara Maigue guest hosts

After a musical trip to a galaxy far, far away, the Philippine Philharmonic goes back to earth and heads to South America for the latest installment of the PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances premiering on May 21, 2021, 8:00 PM via the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ website.

Joining this Latin music themed episode will be classical crossover recording artist Lara Maigue as host.

Pieces to be performed include as Bahia Norteño by Jeremy Cohen to be played by violinist Berny Dulce Payte and double bassist Ariston Payte III. Trumpet player Glober Calambro will dish out Tico-Tico no Fubá for 5 Trumpets by Zequinha de Abreu.

The Mexican folk song La Bamba will be interpreted by trumpet players Glober Calambro and Edwin Matias, French horn player Jay-Ar Mesa, trombonist Ricson Poonin, and percussionists Benedicto Dela Peret Jr. and Ederic Sampedro.

Finally, Jacob Pick Bittencourt's Noites Cariocas will be performed by violinists Dino Akira Decena and Jose Carlo Tuazon, violist Rey Casey Concepcion, cellist Giuseppe Andre Diestro, double bassist Ariston Payte III, perucssionists Aimee Dela Cruz, Elizalde Tolentino, Ederic Sampedro, with guest percussionist Floro Sernande.

Past episodes of the PPO Spotlight: Virtual Pocket Performances series can be viewed at the PPO’s Facebook page and the CCP’s YouTube channel.

BGC Arts Center Festival Day 2: The Opera Gala

Going back for the second day of the BGC Arts Center Festival was not a question for me mainly because of the Opera Gala featuring international tenor, Arthur Espiritu. Joining him in this concert presented by MusicArtes, Inc. and directed by Leo Rialp was a dozen (initially) young and upcoming classical artists. What also drew me in was getting to experience the new Globe Auditorium and see how this space can cater to classical music performances such as a concert featuring operatic singers like this one.

A bit of drama unfolded even before the start as it was announced that baritone Noel Azcona would not be appearing on stage due to illness. He was supposed to be the first to perform and his booming voice in Si può? Si può? from Ruggiero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci could’ve been an awesome start to the concert.

Opening the concert then fell to tenor Ervin Lumauag with Ich baue ganz auf deine Stärke from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. A duet between tenor Christian Nagaño and soprano Anna Migallos performing Lippen Schweigen from Franz Lehár’s Die lustige Witwe followed before Christian going solo with Dein ist mein ganzes Herz from Das Land des Lächelns also by Lehár. It was my first time to see both Ervin and Christian perform and I felt that Ervin sounded a bit nervous who, probably owing to starting the affair on such short notice while I think that Christian’s timbre is more suited for a classical crossover repertoire.

A selection from Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto featured the promising soprano Stephanie Aguilar displaying great control with Caro nome. But the normally well-composed Nomher Nival was out of sorts with a rough La donna è mobile that sounded more shouted than sung. This was very uncharacteristic of him since he was top on top form during the press conference of Noli Me Tangere, the Opera. With Noel’s absence, Bella figlia dell’amore with him, along with Nomher, Stephanie, and Krissan Manikan was no longer performed.

A “dolled up” Lara Maigue brought some color and humor to the stage with Les oiseaux dans la charmille aka The Doll’s Song from The Tales of Hoffman by Jacques Offenbach. Pianist Dingdong Fiel gamely joined in on the action when he had to do the winding up of the doll. And the winding up probably did the trick enabling Lara to hit that high Ab in the end.

The most anticipated man of the night, Arthur Espiritu gave me a sampling of something new, his duet with soprano Stefanie Quintin in Prendi l'anel ti dono from Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula, and a soaring Ah! lève-toi, soleil from Charles Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. Both these pieces were unknown to me but Arthur’s superb storytelling gave me a clearer picture of what these songs were all about. Although it doesn’t take much to know what Romeo’s aria was all about.

At the start of the second half, it became more obvious that the females provided more character, color and flavor to the concert as proven by Marielle Tuason’s exotic rendition L'Air des clochettes aka The Bell Song from Lakmé by Léo Delibes. Not to be outdone, mezzo soprano Krissan Manikan delivered an emotionally intense Adieu, forêts from Jeanne d'Arc, La Pucelle d'Orleans by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with such rich, dark timbre.

An unexpected surprise occurred as Andrew Fernando, who was really just there as part of the audience, came in to the rescue and took over the Noel’s part in a duet with Kay Balajadia-Liggayu in Là ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni by Mozart. Only urged by Madame Fides Cuyugan-Asencio to step in during the intermission, Andrew nonetheless performed as if he was indeed part of the original line up and had ample rehearsals. I wish that someone had informed him before the concert started so that he could’ve taken over entirely Noel's part and sung more than just the duet.

A scene from Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème with Arthur as Rodolfo and Anna Migallos as Mimì followed. What had come before were just bits and pieces from various operas, so this portion that included Arthur’s Che gelida manina, Anna’s Sì, mi chiamano Mimì, and their duet of O soave fanciulla really told a story. I bet that those who had not seen La bohème before, upon seeing how these two neighbors fall in love at first sight, would want to see the entire thing now.

Kay Balajadia-Liggayu revisited Micaëla with her aria Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante from Carmen by Georges Bizet. Having done La voix humaine, the night before, Kay spent her weekend portraying broken hearted women so it was no wonder that she enjoyed her duet with Andrew. As I’ve said earlier, the female singers were on fire and Tanya Corcuera was no exception in singing Sola, perduta, abbandonata from Manon Lescaut by Puccini. I still remember being blown away by Stefanie Quintin a year ago and she did once again with the same number that had me take notice of her: Ombre légère from Giacomo Meyerbeer’s Dinorah.

Arthur then put a close to the evening by dedicating Gioachino Rossini’s Cessa di più resistere from Il barbiere di Siviglia to Juan Antonio Lanuza who was one of the most ardent supporters of the classical music scene here in the country, even predating the establishment of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Hearing the flurry of notes in this aria made me scratch my head as to how Arthur could switch from Puccini to Rossini which is so musically different from each other.

The finale, with everyone back on stage, was Questo è il fin di chi fa mal from Mozart’s Don Giovanni that once again made me feel the absence of a baritone voice. Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot was the encore with the audience getting giddy once the first two words were sung. As always, this aria never fails to stir the emotions and the audience were up on their feet soon after the final Vincerò! was sung.

As far as the Globe Auditorium is concerned, I would need to experience being seated from different sections first like the two balconies in order for me to gauge the acoustics fully. The sound was okay (not great, not bad) from where I was seated at the orchestra section but whenever the two mics in front of the stage pick up the voice especially during the louder moments, a distracting reverb blares out from the speakers above. More distracting was the noise from outside, like the chatter from the lobbies and the vehicles passing by the road, that can be heard inside the auditorium. Measures should be undertaken in soundproofing both the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall and the Globe Auditorium to keep outside noise to the minimum.

I was very pleased with the audience turnout of the inaugural BGC Arts Center Festival. I saw students making up the long line to get into Katips while the senior citizens were given seats to make themselves comfortable while waiting for the Opera Gala to start. I now await with great interest what this new cultural hub has lined up, especially in the field of classical music, for the rest of the new year.