The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's upcoming 39th concert season is billed as Switch, as it will be the inaugural season of newly appointed music director and principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak after a yearlong search. This season also sees the concert venue switch from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Metropolitan Theater to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.
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| Grzegorz Nowak |
But at the recent press conference held at the Ascott Hotel in BGC, the switch may not just be about the changes but may also be about turning the switch on Maestro Nowak's grand plans for the PPO. And it couldn't get any grander than THE Krystian Zimerman being part of the upcoming season.
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| Krystian Zimmerman Photo © Bartek Barczyk |
Zimerman, the 1st Prize winner at the IX International Chopin Piano Competition in 1975, is the featured soloist at the February 2024 concert. Two more special performances could see Zimerman either lead and/or perform with a chamber ensemble made up of PPO musicians. Nowak said that Zimerman has worked with him more than any other conductor.
Nowak also detailed that some of his plans as the PPO 's music director is to commission new works by Filipino composers. He wants the orchestra to have a composer in residence per year whose works will be promoted and performed in the season. As a supporter of new works, he also mentioned the possibility of having a modern music festival in here.
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| PPO Director Eugene delos Santos, CCP President Nikki Junia, and Grzegorz Nowak |
As for his plans for the PPO, Nowak aims to make the orchestra as a team. He saw the PPO's potential when they kept on responding well as he continued to demand more from them during his first stint with the orchestra.
Notable also is Nowak's penchant for anecdotes and stories from his decades of experience working with big name artists. One memorable story he told was having to stay late at night hand writing a score for a concert with Kathleen Battle whom he described as capricious.
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| PPO Woodwind Quintet |
Here is the 39th season program of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. All concerts will be conducted by Grzegorz Nowak. Performances will now start at 7:30 PM and will be held at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. As always, the program and performers are subject to change.
Concert I: Roman Carnival
September 15, 2023, 7:30 PM
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| Mark Bebbington |
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Mark Bebbington, piano
Hector Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9
Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Ottorino Respighi Pini di Roma, P141
Concert II: Italian Night
October 13, 2023, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Wen-Sinn Yang, cello
Filipino Work
Antonin Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"
Concert III: Russian Masters
November 17, 2023, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Nikolay Khozyainov, piano
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24
Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Sergei Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64
Concert IV: Ode to Joy
December 8, 2023, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Raul Sunico, piano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
Concert V: Fate
January 12, 2024, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Jerome Rose, piano
Commissioned Filipino Work
Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 on F minor, Op. 36
Concert VI: Piano Rapture
February 9, 2024, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Krystian Zimerman, piano
Stanisław Moniuszko Bajka (The Fairy Tale) Overture
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
Sergei Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
Special performances by Krystian Zimerman
February 14, 2024
February 16, 2024
Concert VII: Don Pasquale
March 8, 2024, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Gaetano Donizetti Don Pasquale (semi-staged performance)
Concert VIII: Fête Française
April 19, 2024, 7:30 PM
Grzegorz Nowak, conductor
Diomedes Saraza, Jr., violin
Commissioned Filipino Work
Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28
Maurice Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Suites 1 & 2
Updated tickets prices for concerts at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater are as follows:
P3000 Orchestra Center
P2000 Orchestra Side
P2500 Loge Center
P1500 Loge Side
P800 Balcony
The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 39th Concert Season Switch is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and is made possible by partners SSI Group, Inc., TBWA\SMP, Ascott Bonifacio Global City, and Lyf Malate Manila.
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