Entering the Kaleidoscope with Spanish techno and Italian Neoclassical music

As the scent of sandalwood and lavender from a lit candle perfumed the room, I dared to tread a realm of music way outside my comfort zone. With a video playlist totalling almost three hours, I stepped into the world of electronic music courtesy of Spanish DJ Pablo Bolivar and the fusion of neoclassical piano with electronic by Italian DJs Lorenzo Travaglini and Davide Sammarchi of the Bosco Studio collective to immerse myself in the kaleidoscopic experience that is Medium Rare.

Medium Rare is a multi-sensory cultural event of music, gastronomy and art that will hold its latest edition, billed as Kaleidoscope, this May 9, 2026 at the Salon de Ning at The Peninsula Manila.

DJ Chele

Medium Rare, now on its seventh edition, is spearheaded Chele Gonzalez, a fixture in Manila's culinary and creative scene and developed with Samantha Nicole, a prominent figure in the underground music community.

Samantha Nicole

From 7:00 PM until 4:00 AM, the three international artists headline along with a diverse lineup of local DJs transforming Salon de Ning into a space filled with live music, culinary creativity and artistic expression simultaneously. Or simply put, a one-of-a-kind kaleidoscopic experience.

Salon de Ning

Now on to the international guest musicians.

Pablo Bolivar

Hailing from Spain, Pablo Bolivar is internationally known for his deep and atmospheric blending of techno and ambient music. With more than two decades in the underground electronic scene, Bolívar has developed a distinctive sound balancing hypnotic rhythms with emotional melodic structures. He is also the founder of influential labels Seven Villas Music and Avantroots Records, which have played a role in shaping the deeper side of contemporary electronic music.

Bolivar's first professional visit in the country is supported by the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines.

Lorenzo Travaglini

Italian composers and pianists Lorenzo Travaglini and Davide Sammarchi, from the Bosco Studio collective add to the kaledoiscopic experience of Medium Rare with their brand of music exploring the intersection of neoclassical composition and cinematic sound.

Travaglini, founder of Bosco Studio, focuses on emotionally driven piano works that blend classical tradition with modern sonic landscapes.

Davide Sammarchi

Sammarchi complements this approach through atmospheric textures and expressive minimalist structures. Together their performances create immersive musical narratives that move between classical sensitivity and contemporary sound design.

Bosco Studio's first ever Asian visit is supported by the Philippine–Italian Association.

Medium Rare Kaleidoscope edition happens on May 9, 2026, 7:00 PM until 4:00 AM at the Salon de Ning, The Peninsula Manila.

Pianist Kate Liu makes Philippine debut on May 2 at Ayala Museum

Classical piano music lovers in Manila can't help but feel spoiled as yet another Laureate of the XVII International Chopin Piano Competition makes their way to the country. After Tony Yike Yang and Szymon Nehring's performances some months ago, it's now Kate Liu's turn to dazzle audiences in her Philippine debut on May 2, 2026, 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum

Presented by Veniccio.com, in partnership with MA Piano Academy, Kate Liu's concert will see her perform Frédéric Chopin's 4 Mazurkas, Op. 30 and Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, Robert Schumann's Arabeske in C major, Op. 18, and Johannes Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1.

Kate Liu

Rising to international acclaim after winning Third Prize at the XVII International Fryderyk Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Kate Liu also received the Best Mazurka Prize and the Audience Favorite Prize through the Polish National Radio. Since then, she has toured extensively, performing at world-renowned venues including the Seoul Arts Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Warsaw National Philharmonic, La Maison Symphonique de Montréal, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and many more.

Kate Liu has collaborated with esteemed orchestras such as the Warsaw Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Cleveland Orchestra, and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra. She is a regular invitee to the Chopin and His Europe Festival in Warsaw, and in 2024 she was awarded the Olivier Berggruen Prize at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival.

Born in Singapore, Kate Liu began piano studies at age four and trained at the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, earning her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Artist Diploma. In 2025, she released her debut album featuring Beethoven and Brahms sonatas with Orchid Classics.

Here is a video of Kate Liu from the 3rd round of the XVII International Chopin Piano Competition performing my favorite Chopin piece ever.

Tickets for Kate Liu's concert are available at:

https://www.veniccio.com/products/kate-liu-in-recital

Vienna Boys Choir concert celebrating 80 Years of Austria-Philippines Friendship set on April 26-27

After ten years, the world-renowned Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben) will return to Manila for a special concert on April 26 and 27, 2026, at 8:00 PM, in the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Celebrating the strong cultural ties between Austria and the Philippines, the concert will be held in anticipation of the 80th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries in 2026.

With a history spanning more than five centuries, the Vienna Boys Choir is regarded as one of the most distinguished choirs in the world. Known for their remarkable musicality, purity of tone, and rich tradition, the young singers perform a wide-ranging repertoire that includes classical masterpieces, sacred music, traditional Austrian works, and international favorites.

The upcoming Manila concert will mark the choir’s long-awaited return to the Philippines since their last performance in the country a decade ago. The event promises an evening of exceptional music and cultural exchange, highlighting the shared appreciation for the arts that has long connected Austria and the Philippines.

“The Vienna Boys Choir is one of Austria’s most treasured cultural ambassadors,” said H.E. Johann Brieger, Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines. “Their return to Manila after ten years is a wonderful opportunity to share Austria’s rich musical heritage with Filipino audiences and to celebrate the longstanding friendship between our two countries, especially as we look ahead to the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and the Philippines in 2026.”

The concert is presented by Ovation Productions through a collaboration with the Austrian Embassy in Manila and the support of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Tickets are available via smtickets.com and SM Tickets outlets.

Audiences can look forward to a captivating program featuring classical European choral works, traditional Austrian pieces, and beloved international selections. More than a concert, the Vienna Boys Choir’s return to Manila represents a celebration of shared history, artistic excellence, and the lasting friendship between Austria and the Philippines.

About the Vienna Boys Choir

Founded in 1498, the Vienna Boys Choir is among the most famous choirs in the world. Based in Vienna, Austria, the choir consists of around 100 choristers between the ages of 9 and 14, divided into touring groups that perform regularly in leading concert halls and festivals worldwide. The choir maintains a tradition closely linked to Vienna’s rich musical heritage, once associated with composers such as Mozart, Schubert, and Bruckner.

Don’t miss this extraordinary musical event!

Arthur Espiritu performs all-kundiman concert at MiraNila on May 14

Internationally renowned Filipino‑American tenor Arthur Espiritu is set to deliver his first ever all-kundiman program with the one-night-only Mga Awit ng Pag‑ibig at Kundiman happening on May 14, 2026 at Gallery MiraNila in Quezon City.

Presented by the MiraNila Heritage House & Library in partnership with Gallery MiraNila by The Blue Leaf, with support from MiraNamin Nest and the Philippine‑Italian Association, this one-night-only performance sees Espiritu joined by award-winning soprano Stefanie Quintin‑Avila and celebrated pianist Najib Ismail. The concert honors the legacy of Ambassador Tomas C. Benitez, a lover of kundiman, and celebrates the richness of Filipino musical heritage.

A Spotlight on Filipino Classics

The program features selections from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) newly recorded 13‑track archive—its first major initiative with the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation to digitally preserve Filipino classics performed by the nation’s finest voices.

The repertoire traces the kundiman’s evolution from patriotic beginnings to zarzuela, love songs, and modern art songs. Composers include Nicanor Abelardo, Francisco Santiago, Constancio de Guzman, Ernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Augusto Espino, among other pillars of Filipino music who shaped the nation’s musical identity.

World-Class Artists on One Stage

Arthur Espiritu

Arthur Espiritu, fresh from his title role in Borodin’s Prince Igor at the Munich Opera House, this rare spinto-tenor comes with his radiant tone and powerful artistry. He was recipient of the 2009 George London Award and the Scala award at the Belvedere Competition in Vienna. Having performed in prestigious opera productions and major venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, a critic once wrote, “When Arthur Espiritu sings, heaven opens up.”

Stefanie Quintin-Avila

Stefanie Quintin‑Avila, praised for her stylistic range and expressive clarity, reunites with Espiritu after their acclaimed 2024 collaboration. A recipient of the Delphic Lyra Award and multiple international citations, she will appear at the Gleam International Early Music Festival with Belgium’s InAlto Ensemble in June 2026.

Najib Ismail

Completing the trio is Najib Ismail, one of the Philippines’ most respected pianists, whose global performance career spans Europe, Asia, and Australia. A longtime champion of Filipino composers, his artistry anchors the evening’s musical journey.

A Fundraising Event for Heritage Conservation

All proceeds benefit the MiraNila Conservation Program, which has restored numerous at‑risk artworks and now prioritizes structural repairs following severe flooding in 2025 that endangered the 94‑year‑old house.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Venue: Gallery MiraNila, 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy. Bagong Lipunan Crame, Quezon City

Schedule

5:00 PM

Registration; gallery opens; refreshments (Bizu’s pizzas, pastas + Ralph’s Wine)

5:10-5:30 | 5:30-5:50 | 5:50-6:10

Heritage House Tours

6:30–8:10 PM

Concert (with intermission)

8:15 PM

Meet & Greet the artists

Until 9:30 PM

Food & refreshments remain open

Tickets — Free Seating

Limited Early Bird Promo (until March 29): ₱2,000 Adults; ₱1,500 Seniors, PWD, Students with IDs

Regular Rates: ₱2,500 Adults; ₱2,000 Seniors, PWD, Students with IDs

Special Sale: NCCA Recordings Vinyl LP – ₱2,000; Secure Digital Card (SDC) – ₱1,000

Tickets & Inquiries

For concert guidelines and tickets text Steve on Viber 09458530963

For best response, text between 3pm and 9pm

About the MiraNila Heritage House & Library

Built in 1929, MiraNila is a house of the prewar grand style with gardens and interiors presenting a rare reminder of genteel Filipino life during the Commonwealth period. Spanning nine decades, it stood witness to events and personalities that related to the writing of three Philippine constitutions, the occupation by the Japanese imperial forces, the takeover by the U.S. First Cavalry, the creation of a national folk-dance company, and the founding of a political party intent on good local governance. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines acknowledged MiraNila’s cultural and historic significance in 2011 with a plaque.