Honoring the life and legacy of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor with a necrological service

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) join the nation in commemorating the life and remarkable contributions of National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, belovedly known as Nora Aunor, in a necrological service on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

Arrival honors will begin at 8:30 AM, followed by a tribute program at 9:00 AM. The state funeral rites will continue at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

The National Artist, who passed away on April 16, 2025 at 71, was a distinguished film, television, and theater actor, a renowned singer, and a film producer. Her career began in amateur singing competitions, eventually gaining attention when she won the television talent show Tawag ng Tanghalan in 1967. Her successful stint in the popular television show along with her appearance in Darigold Jamboree, led to her phenomenal rise earning the iconic title of the Philippine film industry’s “Superstar.”

Among her acclaimed films are Bona (1980), which was the closing film of Cinemalaya 2024, as well as Himala (1982), Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984), and The Flor Contemplacion Story (1995) - all were featured at the CCP Cine Icons program.

She was conferred the Order of National Artist (Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) by the Office of the President in 2022. The Order of National Artist is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.

The public is invited to attend the necrological service. Limited seats are available. The registration link will be released on Monday through the official social media pages of the CCP and NCCA.

For those unable to attend in person but who wish to pay their respects, the necrological service will be livestreamed on both the CCP and NCCA Facebook pages.

For inquiries, please call NCCA at 09209480385 or CCP at 09617466602.

Instituto Cervantes’ Día del Libro: Celebrating the Passion for Books at Ayala Triangle on April 26

To celebrate the World Book Day, on Saturday April 26, 2025, from 9 am to 11 pm, Instituto Cervantes de Manila, together with the Embassy of Spain, and the collaboration of Ayala Land and Make it Makati, invite visitors to the Ayala Triangle Gardens for the iconic Día del Libro, an exciting whole-day event jam-packed with a variety of activities that promote the joy of reading.

From fiction to non-fiction, poetry to prose, thousands of books will be up for grabs at the Ayala Triangle. The Día del Libro will feature Manila’s top bookstores and publishing houses, that will be selling a wide array of books at a 20% discount. Following the tradition in Spain, each book purchase will come with a free rose. Apart from the book market, visitors to the Día del Libro will get to join poetry recitals, free Spanish classes, book presentations, book signings, street art, games, exhibits, storytelling sessions, Spanish food, fun activities for the children, as well as a very authentic Flamenco show. Check out the complete program at https://manila.cervantes.es/es/cultura_espanol/calendario_dia_libro_2025.htm.

Among the activities of Día del Libro 2025, a classic stands out: Escribo el Quijote. Like every year, to commemorate the Day of Miguel de Cervantes, Instituto Cervantes is challenging visitors to join a Quixotic attempt: to handwrite the classic novel Don Quixote de La Mancha --an initiative which Instituto Cervantes started just a decade ago. The final hand-written book will be deposited in the Library of Instituto Cervantes. The activity will begin at 9:00 am. No prior registration will be required. Participants in the handwriting chain will receive a rose.

Día del Libro will officially open at 9:00 am with a special inauguration led by H. E. Miguel Utray, Ambassador of Spain to the Philippines, marking the official opening of this year’s celebration. Following the inauguration, slam poet Toni Panagu will take the stage for a moving spoken word poetry performance, setting a reflective and inspiring tone for the day’s festivities.

At 9:30 am, Vibal Group will present the workshop “Amor: Writing the New Adult Romance”, conducted by author Mina V. Esguerra. In it, Esguerra will discuss her career as a popular writer of romance stories a and her tips on how to write romance novels.

On Día del Libro, children will take center stage. They will get to enjoy a story telling at 10:15 am. The story, “El cartero simpático”, is about a mailman who delivers letters to famous characters such as Cinderella, the Three Bears, and the Big Bad Wolf.

From 11am, Spanish language learners will have the chance to take part in an Universitarian Yincana specially designed for university students across Manila. This event will include activities such as dance, live music, quizzes, poetry creation, and more. Thanks to the collaboration of local university departments, this initiative seeks to go beyond fun and entertainment — aiming to build a strong, engaged community of university students who are learning Spanish in the city. Participants will not only practice their language skills in a playful context but also connect with fellow learners from other campuses.

Through the Poetry Recital, Instituto Cervantes is inviting poetry lovers to recite verses written in Spanish. The recital will be compiled in a video that will be posted in Instituto Cervantes Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/InstitutoCervantesManila. Interested poetry aficionados must sign up here: https://forms.office.com/e/cgZtbYb7C5

For those interested in art, Instituto Cervantes is presenting the space Dibujo Makati, where Urban Sketchers Manila will display their works on the Día del Libro and conduct a workshop on sketching.

At 1:00 pm, Instituto Cervantes will have “The Writing Revolution”, a workshop on the history of the written language, at the end of which participants will get to write their name on clay in cuneiform style, in hieroglyphics on papyrus, in Greek or Latin on parchment paper, and in baybayin on palm leaf.

As one of the perks of Día del Libro, Instituto Cervantes will offer a free Spanish class for beginners at 2pm.

As gastronomy is a key aspect of culture, visitors to Día del Libro will have the opportunity to learn how to cook paella, an internationally renowned culinary delight, with one of Manila's best chefs in Barcino's delicious demo: “How to Cook a Great Paella.” Savor the intensity of Spain's flavors and surprise your friends with a delicious paella.

Book lovers will also have the chance to attend book presentations organized by some publishers. In addition, thanks to the collaboration of publishing houses, visitors will have the opportunity to meet writers who will be signing their works. Authors like Ambeth Ocampo, Anthony Shieh, Kenneth Yu, Laurel Flores Fantauzzo, Ninotchka Rosca, and Yvette Tan will be signing at the booth of Anvil Publishing. Alice Sun-Cua will be signing at Sirena Books. Charlson Ong, Kannika Claudine Peña, Wilfredo Liangco and Sanny Villafranca will sign copies of his works at the Milflores Publishing booth. Ricky Lee, Derald Lico, Yvette Tan will be signing at FEU. Jonathan Best will be signing at Ortigas Foundation. Please check the schedule at https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila

Flamenco

At 7 pm, catch the special show Flamenco Pasión, a musical extravaganza featuring Flamenco legend Tito Losada, a gypsy guitarist of the purest flamenco, accompanied by singer Marta Heredia, and dancers Daniela Ramos, and Lucía González. Earlier in the day, Tito Losada will conduct a free Flamenco Guitar Masterclass addressed to Advanced Guitar players. Interested in joining the masterclass must sign up through this link: https://forms.office.com/e/qKUwWFPWNE

To cap off the evening, Instituto Cervantes will close Día del Libro 2025 with a live concert by the leading Filipino rock band Yah Bles, from 9:00pm.

Whether you're a lifelong reader or just discovering the joy of books, the Día del Libro 2025 at the Instituto Cervantes de Manila is a day to celebrate the power of words to connect us with each other and to the world around us.

Día del Libro 2025 is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, AECID, Ayala Corporation, Ayala Land, Make it Makati, the PTC Group, Acciona, Vibal Foundation, NCCA, NBDB, Fundador, Terry Selection, Barcino, Las Flores, and the embassies of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panamá, and Venezuela, the Conservatory of Music of the University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo University Press, FEU Publishing House, Milflores, Anvil, Ortigas Foundation, The Indie Publishers Collab PH, Biblio, Circle of Chabacano Dreams, Fundación Santiago, Everything’s Fine, Kahel Press, Komiket, Señor Papa, Urban Sketchers Manila, Romanceclass Books, Tawid Publications, Sirena Books, Piefke, Abiva, Avenida Books, and the best Manila bookstores.

Admission to all Día del Libro activities is FREE on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis.

For more information about Instituto Cervantes de Manila’s Día del Libro 2025, visit the pages https://manila.cervantes.es/es/cultura_espanol/calendario_dia_libro_2025.htm or www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila.

FEU Bamboo Band holds "Ascend" concert on April 26

As temperature's rise this summer, the Far Eastern University Bamboo Band (FBB) invites everyone to soar higher with their upcoming concert ASCEND: Reaching New Heights in Music happening on April 26, 2025, 6:00 PM at the FEU Auditorium.

The FEU Bamboo Band, headed by Norberto Cads, Jr., is one of the performing groups under the Far Eastern University Center for the Arts (FCA). Using a variety of instruments made out of bamboo, the group performs various genres of music which will be on full display at the upcoming concert that will also feature special performances by other FCA groups namely the FEU Chorale and the FEU Drum and Bugle Corps (DBC), and guest artists like saxophonist Mr. Marlexis Del Mundo, flutist John Erin Gonzaga and bugle player Mr. Jhon Mark Isla.

FEU Bamboo Band

ASCEND is open to the public and admission is for free.

Reprinted below is the press release for ASCEND.

The Far Eastern University Center for the Arts (FCA) presents the Far Eastern University Bamboo Band (FBB) in “ASCEND: Reaching New Heights in Music”, a special concert on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the historic FEU Auditorium.

This year’s performance helps celebrate FEU’s 97th founding anniversary and the 76th year of

the FEU Auditorium — a dual celebration of legacy and artistic excellence.

In honor of these milestones, the FEU Bamboo Band returns to the historic stage with ASCEND, a concert that highlights the limitless potential of bamboo music through a captivating blend of sound, culture, and creativity.

Following the emotional depth of last year’s kundiman-themed concert Ang Tangi Kong Ikaw, the FBB now invites audiences on an expansive musical journey.

ASCEND features a richly curated repertoire combining cherished Filipino classics with powerful international pieces — demonstrating how bamboo instruments and Filipino musicality can transcend genres and cultures.

Leading this project is Mr. Norberto Cads, Jr., an accomplished bamboo musician, key member of Banda Kawayan Pilipinas and artistic director of the FBB. Under his guidance, the FBB continues to blend tradition and modernity.

The FEU Bamboo Band is composed of dedicated student artists from across a wide range of

disciplines including Nursing, Medical Technology, Psychology, HRM, Tourism, Architecture, Marketing, Business, and Accountancy.

Despite not being music majors, these students devote over 12 hours each week to practice, fueled by passion and a shared love for music.

The evening will also feature special performances by the FEU Chorale, the FEU Drum and Bugle Corps (DBC), and guest artists: Mr. Marlexis Del Mundo on the Saxophone and Mr. John Erin Gonzaga on the flute, both former FBB members; and Mr. Jhon Mark Isla on trumpet – a proud FEU alumnus from the Institute of Arts & Sciences Class of 2018, former member of the FEU DBC, and the current Section Head at the FEU Center for the Arts.

Each artist brings a distinctive voice to the stage, promising a night of rich musical tapestry.

The concert is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit the Far Eastern University Bamboo Band or Far Eastern University Center for the Arts on Facebook.

You may also drop by the FCA office from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, or call (02)8849-4145 ext. 310.

Come and ASCEND —a celebration of music without borders.

Italian violinist Andrea Obiso headlines PPO season finale concert

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra would like to inform our audience that, due to unforeseen health issues, violinist Andrea Obiso will be unable to join us for PPO Concert VII: Finale on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 PM, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. We wish him a swift recovery and thank you for your kind understanding.

In his place, violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr., PPO concertmaster and artist-in-residence, will perform as soloist, playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. The concert will also feature Concerto for Orchestra, a commissioned work by composer Jeffrey Ching, and Georges Bizet's Carmen Suite no.1, conducted by Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Please stay tuned for further updates. We appreciate your continued support. and look forward to seeing you at the finale of the PPO’s 40th concert season.

Originally scheduled for the December concert, Andrea Obiso finally makes his much awaited Philippine debut as he wraps up the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 40th concert season on April 11, 2025m 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Billed as Finale, the season ending concert sees Obiso take on Camille Saint-Saëns' Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor, Op. 61 with a 1741 crafted Joseph Guarneri del Gesù violin.

The concert also marks the debut of Jeffrey Ching's Concerto for Orchestra. This newly commissioned work by the PPO's first ever composer-in-residence is dedicated to Ching's friend and colleague, the late Brazilian cellist Matias de Oliveira Pinto. A frequent collaborator, of Ching, de Oliveira Pinto had performed in the Philippines a handful of times.

Those who felt upset that Georges Bizet's Carmen Suite No. 1 got scrapped at last month's concert need to fret no more, as this piece eventually closes out the PPO's 40th concert season that has seen its share of switches (as well as some remarkable fortes).

Andrea Obiso

But the closing of the 40th season doesn't mean that the PPO and music director/principal conductor Grzegorz Nowak can rest on their laurels just yet. Already on the horizon is the orchestra's upcoming UK tour that will be preceded by a send off concert happening just a couple of weeks later.

Reprinted below is the press release for the PPO's Concert VII: Finale.

A Jeffrey Ching classic and soloist Andrea Obiso in PPO Concert VII: FINALE

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) masterfully closes its 40th concert season, dubbed Forte, featuring internationally acclaimed soloist Andrea Obiso and a new concerto from Jeffrey Ching, on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.

PPO Concert VII: Finale will be an evening of compelling orchestral works under the baton of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

Another classic from PPO’s first composer-in-residence Jeffrey Ching

The PPO Concert VII: Finale commences with composer Jeffrey Ching’s “Concerto for Orchestra,” a newly commissioned work by the orchestra. At the invitation of Maestro Nowak, Ching became the PPO’s first composer-in-residence.

Studying music, Sinology, and Philosophy at Harvard, Cambridge, and London, Ching was the composer-in-residence at the Tongyeong International Music Festival (2010), the Singapore International Festival of Music (2016), and the Mendigorría International Music Festival in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2023.

One of his operas, “Before Brabant,” was first staged at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2013. Under the direction of multi-nominated Alberto Rodriguez, it received premier animation and lighting effects. It was showcased at the CCP Children’s Biennale in Manila in November 2024.

Armed by his fondness for historical narratives, Ching wrote over 300 compositions. In 2010, his opera “Das Waisenkind” won the Theater Erfurt Audience Prize in Germany. It was also nominated for the Kyoto Prize as it blended Eastern and Western traditions through music.

Renowned soloist Andrea Obiso graces PPO Concert VII: Finale

Italian violinist Andrea Obiso joins PPO Concert VII: Finale for a night of dreamy melodies. Since 2020, he has served as Concertmaster of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. He has also performed with top orchestras, including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the Bayerische Rundfunk Symphonie Orchester.

Obiso toured extensively across Europe, Asia, and the USA as a distinguished soloist. With technical skills helmed by masters Boris Belkin and Midori Goto, his repertoire spans over 30 violin concertos.

Playing a Joseph Guarneri del Gesù violin crafted in 1741, Obiso carries 284 years of musical history with him in each performance.

For PPO Concert VII: Finale, Obiso interprets Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Violin Concerto No. 3”. Saint-Saëns was already 45 years old when he finished writing the composition. Integrating virtuosity in three parts, he demonstrated refined musicality in the piece. The violin is immediately put into action with his luminous writing. Slowly, Violin Concerto No. 3 ascends to a solo recitative, perfectly sustaining the orchestra’s momentum.

The staccato rhythm of Saint-Saëns’ piece continues PPO Concert VII: Finale with Spanish flavor through Georges Bizet’s “Carmen Suite”. Derived from Bizet’s operatic masterpiece of the same title, the atmospheric composition includes five instrumental sections describing a gypsy woman and her fiery love for freedom. Bizet’s Carmen Suite closes the curtains of PPO Concert VII: Finale with its score bursting with passion.

PPO Concert VII: Finale marks a remarkable beginning for the orchestra. The momentous closing of the orchestra’s 40th season brings another milestone as PPO gears for a nine-concert tour in the United Kingdom in May.

Join the PPO for a night of soaring melodies on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City. Now available at TicketWorld, tickets are priced at Php 3,000, Php 2,500, Php 2,000, and Php 1,500. Enjoy up to 20 percent discount as a PPO Subscriber. For more information, email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880.

Follow the CCP and PPO’s official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for updates on the orchestra’s future concerts and performances. For more information on world-class masterclasses, workshops, performances, and other events, visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).

Lise Davidsen stars at CCP's The Met Live in HD Tosca screening

For those who missed Lyric Opera's recent staging and also for those who want to get yet another fix, the Cultural Center of the Philippines got you covered as the CCP's The Met LIVE in HD Season 10 presents Giacomo Puccini's Tosca screening this April 8, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 at the Ayala Center in Makati.

The main draw for this David McVicar production has got to be Norwegian superstar soprano Lise Davidsen singing the title role of Floria Tosca. Joining her are Freddie De Tommaso as her lover Cavaradossi and baritone Quinn Kelsey as the antagonist Scarpia. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts in this production.

Reprinted below is the press release.

Passion and drama blend in Puccini’s Tosca in CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD at Glorietta 4 Cinema

Witness how the lives of a volatile diva, a sadistic police chief, and an idealistic artist unfold in the cinematic screening of Giacomo Puccini's classic opera Tosca, the next installation of the CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD Season 10 this April 8, at 5:30 p.m. at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 in Makati City.

One of the much-awaited operas to date due to its timeless and powerful story, musical masterpieces, and dramatic staging, the three-act Italian opera features an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The opera contains depictions of torture, murder, and suicide, as well as some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias.

For this special screening, Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen stars as the volatile diva Floria Tosca for her first time at the Metropolitan Theater of New York. It also features British Italian tenor Freddie De Tommaso in his eagerly anticipated company debut as Tosca’s revolutionary lover, Cavaradossi, and powerhouse baritone Quinn Kelsey as the sadistic chief of police Scarpia.

David McVicar directed this thrilling production. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the electrifying score, which features some of Puccini’s most memorable melodies.

Premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on January 14, 1900, Tosca is one of the most popular works by Puccini. He created the work based on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 French dramatic play, La Tosca, a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800 during the time when French general and statesman Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Italy threatened the Kingdom of Naples’s control of Rome.

Through the years, critics often wrote about Tosca’s rather grungy subject matter, the directness and intensity of its score, and the crowd-pleasing dramatic opportunities it provided for its lead roles. But these same aspects have made Tosca one of a handful of iconic works that seem to represent opera in the public imagination. Tosca’s popularity is further secured by a superb and exhilarating dramatic sweep, a driving score of abundant melody and theatrical shrewdness, and a career-defining title role.

The CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. and Ayala Malls Cinemas. It is a series of screenings of the latest opera performances by the Metropolitan Opera of New York, delivered in High-Definition video and Dolby Surround Sound.

This project likewise corresponds with the CCP’s commitment to fostering a national appreciation for all art forms, inviting Filipino audiences to embrace new artistic horizons.

Regular tickets for the CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals may avail themselves of the special discounted price of Php100.00 upon presenting a valid ID. Visit the venue’s ticket booth or book them online via www.sureseats.com to purchase tickets.

For more information on CCP’s The Met: LIVE in HD and other CCP shows, visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph, and follow the official CCP and CCP Film, Broadcast and New Media Facebook pages. Get the latest updates on the CCP official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Tenor Arthur Espiritu holds one night only concert at MiraNila House on April 2

The MiraNila Heritage House & Library, in partnership with Leon Gallery and Gallery MiraNila of The Blue Leaf with support from the Bizu Groupe, presents a homecoming concert of tenor Arthur Espiritu happening on April 2, 2025, 6:30 PM at the Main Hall of the Miranila Heritage House.

Coming at the heels of Arthur performing the title role in Faust at the Teatro Massimo di Palermo in Palermo, Italy, the one night only concert at the MiraNila sees the critically acclaimed tenor perform music by Gabriel Fauré, Franz Lehar, Giacomo Puccini, Charles Gounod, Richard Strauss, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Francesco Sartori.

Tenor Arthur Espiritu was born in Morong, Rizal, Philippines. He migrated to the United States with his parents in his teens and finished with an Artist Diploma in Music Performance at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. He won the La Scala award at the Belvedere Competition in 2007 and the distinguished George London Award in 2009.

Mr. Espiritu has portrayed numerous leading roles in North America, Europe, and Asia, with early career highlights that include his very first Ferrando in Michael Hampe’s staging of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte in the Teatro alla Scala, the role of Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with the Israeli Opera Tel-Aviv, and the role of Publio in Mozart’s early work, Il sogno di Scipione, with the former Gotham Chamber Opera, New York.

Arthur Espiritu
Photo ©Jojit Lorenzo

His recent roles include Roberto of Leicester in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda in the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz (the Munich opera house); Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in the Daegu International Opera Festival, South Korea; Gualtiero in Bellini’s Il Pirata; Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata; Cassio in Verdi’s Otello; Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme; and Don Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, in Munich’s Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz. His opera commitments continue unabated in 2025. Read more about him at: https://www.arthurespiritutenor.com/

Below are some reviews regarding Arthur's previous performances.

Arthur Espiritu as Roméo... interpreted his leading role with a heroic tenor. Powerful and musically secure in all registers, he steered timelessly, singing his melodious tenor voice and making his role debut through the demanding role. The soft tones are touching.

Das Opernglas

Filipino-American tenor Arthur Espiritu as the poet Rodolfo, whose sound is exquisitely polished and contained—almost delicate—with a fine, burnished sheen. Espiritu’s voice warms in Che Gelida Manina as he sensitively crafts the swells and diminuendos.

Angus McPherson of Limelight Magazine

As one of the rare Spinto-tenors in the tradition of a Pavarotti, which combine safe heights with lyrical melt and great virtuosity, he travels at large houses worldwide. Sparks spark in the duets of the two.

Detlef Obens of Opernmagazin Das Opern & Kulturmagazin

Arthur Espiritu achieved great success with his Duke, who also had an impeccable voice. With his well-trained tenor and no fear of heights, he showed how to musically implement the specifications of Leggerezza.

Peter Skorepa of OnlineMERKER

Arthur Espiritu convinces with a powerful sensitive implementation in the title role. His Don Carlo is characterized by emotions, suffering and hopelessness, to which he submits little rebelliously. His tenor follows effortlessly in all layers and warms with full bright timbre.

Florian Krenstetter of The Kronen Zeitung

The Filipino-American tenor Arthur Espiritu makes this feeling at the mercy of his own doubts and desires come alive with his magnificent vocal power and fantastic height confidence. He crowns this production with top performances in singing and acting, for which he repeatedly receives applause from the audience.

Dr. Andreas Ströbl of Klassik begeistert - Der Opernfreund

The tenor Arthur Espiritu... has a sweet timbre and he sings with a lilting Italianate intonation, ideal for the bel canto repertoire, which his aria Ah! Rimiro il bel sembiante beautifully confirmed, by highlighting his natural lyricism. He performed exceptionally well in the numerous interactive recitative passages and ensembles.

Alan Neilson of @operawire.com

Filipino-American opera singer Arthur Espiritu, who embodied the title part with wonderful Italianita. He is an extremely beautiful, sympathetic and high-altitude Rudolfo, who does not need to fear the comparison with stars... His high C in the aria hit Che gelida manina is of an effortlessness and radiance that require admiration. (December 24, 2024)

Norbert Pabelick of Der Opernfreund

Performing with Mr. Espiritu is the multi-awarded soprano Jade Riccio. Virtuoso pianist Mariel Ilusorio will accompany them on MiraNila’s newly restored 1904 Steinway, considered rare in the Steinway & Sons catalog.

Jade Riccio

Soprano Jade Riccio, an Italian-Filipina who hails from Palawan, earned a slot in the 2024 Person to Watch: Women Who Made It in Music. She was the sole recipient of the 37th Aliw Awards 2024 Hall of Fame from which she won five consecutive awards, including Best Classical Performer in 2018 and 2020 and Best Female Crossover Performer in 2019 and 2022. She earlier received highest recognitions during vocal competitions at the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 2014 and the Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition in 2015. As one of the most sought-after celebrity vocal coaches to some of Asia’s most shining stars, Ms. Riccio is also the CEO, creative producer, and chairperson of a music company called Riccio Music and Artistry (RMA) Studio Academy, a creative hub she founded during the pandemic, which now nurtures nearly 400 students from around the world.

Mariel Ilusorio

Pianist Mariel Ilusorio studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, and the State College of Music and Theater Hanover (now Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media) in Lower Saxony, Germany. Under the tutelage of Stella Brimo, she won top prizes in Philippine piano competitions before continuing her studies overseas. After performing in the U.S., Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Indonesia and having lived twenty-six years in the U.S., Germany, and South Africa, she has made the Philippines her home. She continues performing and now organizes concerts and recitals. She is also in the faculty of the UST Conservatory of Music, St. Scholastica's College of Music, the Philippine High School for the Arts, and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

This April, the public gets the chance to hear these three outstanding performers in an environment conducive to master-level performances. In the once bucolic environs of Cubao, this four-story 1929 heritage house boasts a living room and library with near perfect acoustics. With its charming gardens and chapel, the grounds are likewise not to be missed.

Doors open at 6:00 PM with the concert proper promptly starting at 6:30 PM.

Tickets are priced at P2500 (Main Hall) and P1500 (Library). Seats are limited, so book now by texting Robeen at (0927) 277-6335.

Guests are requested to wear soft-soled shoes as these are kinder to old floors.

Pre-concert and intermission snacks and bottled water are available for sale in the East Patio. The Gift Shop will also be open.

MiraNila Heritage House & Library is located at 26 Mariposa Street, Brgy Bagong Lipunan Crame, Q.C. (Find us on Facebook: MiraNila Heritage House and Library & MiraNila Heritage House Events)

Arthur Espiritu's concert at the MiraNila is presented by the MiraNila Heritage House & Library in partnership with Leon Gallery and Gallery MiraNila of The Blue Leaf with support from the Bizu Groupe.

Rowena Arrieta to perform with PPO

Way back when the 32nd Concert Season of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014-2015 was announced, one of the most anticipated soloists in the lineup was celebrated Filipino pianist Rowena Arrieta. But performer and program changes typically occur in a season for a myriad of reasons and Arrieta's initially scheduled performance with the PPO didn't materialize then.

Rowena Arrieta

Now, a little over a decade later, Rowena Arrieta, the Fifth Prize winner for Piano at the VII Tchaikovsky International Competition in 1982, will finally make her much awaited performance on March 14, 2025, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit, Makati.

Under the baton of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, Arrieta take audiences to a journey to the underworld with Franz Liszt's technically challenging Totentanz S.126.

The concert, billed as Homecoming, will also commemorate Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis's 150th birth anniversary with a performance of the Lithuanian composer's  Miške (In The Forest).

Diomedes Saraza, Jr.

The PPO's Concertmaster and Artist in Residence, Diomedes Saraza, Jr. also gets featured as the soloist in Ralph Vaughan William's The Lark Ascending.

Rounding up the evening's packed program are familiar tunes from the opera and ballet stages with Georges Bizet's Carmen Suite No. 1 and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Suite.

Maestro Grzegorz Nowak and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Reprinted below is the CCP press release.

Filipino pianist Rowena Arrieta returns for PPO Concert VI: Homecoming this March 14

Laureate pianist Rowena Arrieta makes a triumphant return to her homeland with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) for the highly anticipated sixth installment of its 40th concert season. Dubbed “Homecoming,” PPO Concert VI shares the warmth of home through musical brilliance on March 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

ECHOES OF LITHUANIA IN PPO CONCERT VI: HOMECOMING

The PPO Concert VI: Homecoming opens with Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’ Miške (In The Forest), commemorating the Lithuanian composer’s 150th birth anniversary. When the Nazis occupied his hometown in Lithuania, he turned to art. Čiurlionis created approximately 400 compositions and 300 artworks, blending music and visual arts.

The Lithuanian cultural hero composed his first symphonic poem, “Miške (In The Forest),” for a competition in Warsaw in 1901. It was introduced in the first concert season of the war period, cementing Čiurlionis’ status as one of Lithuania’s patriotic figures.

AN ARIA OF LOVE

The PPO Concert VI: Homecoming continues its melodic journey with George Bizet’s Carmen Suite no. 1. Drawn from the composer’s celebrated opera “Carmen,” this suite’s vivid orchestration conveys the tragic destiny of a free-spirited gypsy woman who had an affair with a young soldier.

THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED COMEBACK OF ROWENA ARRIETA

Arrieta will be playing Franz Liszt’s Totentanz (Dance of Death) in PPO Concert VI: Homecoming. Composed in 1849, the dramatic piano and orchestra work is based on “Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)” from the Requiem Mass. Arrieta will showcase her world-class technical skills through the piano variations of “Totentanz”.

TRULY A PINOY PRIDE

Arrieta was hailed the “youngest and most promising of 82 contestants” in the prestigious Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. After winning the competition’s Fifth Prize and Special Prize in 1982, she received the title “Laureate”. To this date, Arrieta is the only Filipino to attain this honor.

Arrieta began playing the piano at age two, learned to read notes at age three, and wrote her first composition at age five. She received her first musical training in the Philippines under the tutelage of Philippine Women’s Conservatory of Music’s Leonila Celino, the University of the Philippines College of Music’s Regalado Jose and Reynaldo Reyes, and Carmencita Arambulo of Greenhills Music Studio.

One of the first graduates of the Philippines High School for the Arts (PHSA), Arrieta received her Master’s Degree from the renowned Moscow State Conservatory. She received the highest honors under the tutelage of Russian National Artist Yevgeny Malinin in 1985. While in Russia, she also earned a degree in Russian Language Pedagogy. She later pursued Professional Studies at the Manhattan School of Music as a student of Dr. Solomon Mikowsky and as a recipient of the Elva Van Gelder Memorial Scholarship.

Arrieta’s accolades include being one of the Ten Outstanding Women in the National Service (Philippines, 1989), Presidential Awards in Performance (Philippines, 1978–1979), and Second Prize as a songwriter in the 1979 Metro Pop Music Festival (Philippines).

Since 1990, Arrieta has been a faculty member of the National Piano Teachers Guild (USA). She was then inducted into the Hall of Fame of the U.S. National Piano Teachers Guild in 2009.

PPO CONCERT VI: HOMECOMING TAKES FLIGHT

The PPO Concert VI: Homecoming unfolds with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, a renowned violin and orchestra work inspired by George Meredith’s poem of the same title. Composed in 1914, the piece portrays the image of a lark in flight. In “The Lark Ascending,” Vaughan Williams makes use of sweeping melodies to evoke a sense of freedom.

PPO guest concertmaster and artist-in-residence Diomedes Saraza Jr. will perform this exquisite work, highlighting its emotional depth.

PPO’S ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE DIOMEDES SARAZA JR. JOINS CONCERT VI: HOMECOMING

Before becoming PPO’s guest concertmaster and artist-in-residence, Saraza Jr. was a 3-year-old playing the violin with his father. His formal training began at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. Through a full scholarship, Saraza Jr. received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School in New York.

At 19 years old, Saraza Jr. was the first Filipino Outstanding Academic Achievement awardee of former U.S. President Barack Obama’s Education Awards Program. He then pursued a Master of Musical Arts degree as a full scholar at Yale University. At Yale, he received the Brodus Erle Prize and successfully debuted at Carnegie Hall with the PPO.

But aside from being a concert violinist and chamber musician, Saraza Jr. is a dedicated educator. He served as associate and assistant concertmaster of The Juilliard Orchestra and Juilliard Lab Orchestra. He was also a former faculty member of St. Scholastica’s College Manila and the Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra.

MUSICAL TALES OF HOME

The PPO Concert VI: Homecoming concludes with Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite, an orchestral arrangement of unforgettable moments from the composer’s ballet “Swan Lake”.

An evening of exquisite musical storytelling, PPO Concert VI: Homecoming holds a diverse repertoire that transcends time and borders. Under the baton of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, this unmissable concert harnesses music’s power to shape and preserve cultural identities.

Tickets for PPO Concert VI: Homecoming on March 14 are priced at Php 3,000, Php 2,500, Php 2,000, and Php 1,500. They are now available online via TicketWorld. To enjoy up to a 25 percent discount, be a PPO subscriber. You may also email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Box Office at +63931-033-0880 for ticket concerns.

For updates on PPO’s future performances and CCP events, follow the CCP and PPO’s official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph for updates on future masterclasses, performances, and other events.

Iranian Film Festival 2025 screens at Shang's Red Carpet Cinemas

The Cultural Section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Manila, in cooperation with Shangri-La Plaza and the Film Development Council of the Philippines present the Iranian Film Festival 2025 happening this March 1-3, 2025 at the Shangri-La Plaza's Red Carpet Cinemas.

This festival's editions will showcase six contemporary Iranian films led by In the Arms of the Tree, Iran's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards.

Admissions to the film screenings, at Cinema 3 of Shang's Red Carpet, are for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Here is the film lineup of the Iranian Film Festival 2025.

Capitan (2022)

Director: Mohammad Hamzei

Cast: Pantea Panahiha, Pejhman Bazeghi, Sepideh Eydi, Amir Hossein Bayat, Parham Gholamlou, Amir Ali Moghadam, Mahbod Byour, Arghavan Shabani

Isa is an 11-year-old boy in a children's hospital who dreams of playing for Iran's national football team and is often referred to as "Captain." Despite his illness, he is determined to achieve his goal.

Fragrant (2023)

Director: Hadi Moghadamdoost

Cast: Mostafa Zamani, Hoda Zeinolabedin

The story of the suffering and cowardly man’s confrontation with life and his commitments. A romantic melodrama that centers around a man's ambition to create a unique perfume that has never been experienced before. The film explores themes of love, creativity, and the personal struggles associated with pursuing one's dreams. It highlights the protagonist's emotional journey as he confronts the challenges of life and his obligations while striving to achieve his artistic vision.

Goodbye Shirazi Girl (2020)

Director: Afshin Hashemi

Cast: Afshin Hashemi, Shabnam Moghadami, Aysan Hadad

Based on Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl.Based on Neil Simon's Goodbye Girl it is a romantic story Nasim who is from Abadan and Shabnam a widow who lives with her girl. When they both rent the same house, they have to deal with each other until they find a solution.

In the Arms of the Tree (2023)

Director: Babak Lofti Khajehpasha

Cast: Maral Baniadam, Javad Ghamati, Rouhollah Zamani, Ahoora Lotfi, Rayan Lotfi

The life crisis of Kimia and Farid, who have been married for twelve years, destroys the world of their children. Children who know nothing but kindness in life.

A Passenger from Ganora (2024)

Director: Ahmad Alamdar

Cast: Hooman Karimi, Atefeh Rezvannia, Shohre Roohi, Leila Soodbakhsh

A family, science fiction, and adventure animation, it is about an alien who comes to the earth to search for the ruler of the planet Ganora, who is lost on earth. A disabled boy and his friends help the alien to restore peace to the land of Ganora.

Sima's Unfinished Narration (2023)

Director: Alireza Samadi

Cast: Ghazal Shakeri, Hamed Kamili, Mehran Ahmadi

Dr Arash Samin, one of the prominent professors in the field of sociology, lives a calm and peaceful life with his doctor wife and young daughter. But the publication of a picture of him in cyberspace puts his personal and family life on a new path..

Here is the schedule of screenings.

March 1, 2025

2:00 PM In the Arms of the Tree

4:00 PM A Passenger from Ganora

March 2, 2025

2:00 PM Capitan

4:00 PM Goodbye Shirazi Girl

March 3, 2025

6:00 PM Fragrant

8:30 PM Sima's Unfinished Narration

Jeanine Tesori's Grounded premieres at CCP The Met: LIVE in HD

Jeanine Tesori's Grounded is set to land on Philippine shores making its premiere at CCP The Met: LIVE in HD screening on March 4, 2025, 5:30 PM at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 in Makati.

Grounded is a groundbreaking, kaleidoscopic opera that wrestles with often-overlooked issues created by 21st-century warmaking: the ethical conflicts created by the use of modern military technology and the psychological and emotional toll supposedly safe remote technology takes on our servicepersons.

Emily D'Angelo

This production by Michael Mayer stars Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo as Jess, the hot-shot fighter pilot whose life at the military is derailed due to an unexpected pregnancy and American tenor Ben Bliss costars as the Wyoming rancher Eric. At the podium conducting the orchestra is Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

Grounded is composed by Jeanine Tesori with libretto by George Brant. Tesori is the Tony Award winning composer behind Kimberly Akimbo and Fun Home, the musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel's 2006 graphic memoir.

Reprinted below is the press release for CCP The Met: Live in HD screening of Grounded.

The Realities of Modern Warfare Through a Woman’s Eyes

CCP The Met: LIVE in HD premieres Jeanine Tesori’s Grounded this March at Glorietta 4

Two-time Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s new opera Grounded is set to premiere in the Philippines through CCP The Met: LIVE in HD on March 4, 5:30 pm, exclusively at Glorietta 4 Cinema 1 in Makati City.

Grounded narrates the story of a woman who is a successful F-16 combat pilot in the United States Air Force but has to leave the military for a moment because of her unexpected pregnancy. When she comes back, she is reassigned to being a Reaper drone operator in the Nevada desert. As she adjusts to this new way of doing battle, she struggles under the pressure to be the perfect soldier, the perfect wife, and the perfect mother all at the same time.

A thrilling, fast-paced adaptation of an award-winning play by playwright George Brant, who also wrote the libretto, the opera explores the psychological toll of modern warfare, as well as the roles of women in the armed forces and in society at large.

“The main part of the opera deals with what that psychological toll is on this woman. I’ve seen so many war stories, movies and books, and they’ve been told from male perspective. To me, when you see that woman up there in her fight suit, there is a jolt of newness and differentness,” shared George Brant, the playwright and librettist of the opera, in the behind-the-scenes interview.

Tesori, the most prolific female composer in American theater history and one of the first two women ever commissioned to compose an opera for the Met, described Grounded as “a moral awakening. I think Grounded is about unseen trauma, the psyche behind that.”

Commissioned through the Metropolitan Opera-Lincoln Center Theater New Works Program, Grounded had its world premiere at the Washington National Opera in 2023 and opened the Met’s 2024-2025 season, with Tesori making history as the first woman composer in the company’s 141-year legacy to open the season. This milestone highlights the growing recognition of female composers in a male-dominated industry.

Tesori is the force behind the Tony Award–winning Best Musicals Kimberly Akimbo and Fun Home. Grounded is her fourth opera, following most recently Blue, which garnered the Music Critics Association Award for Best New Opera.

Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, one of most compelling young opera stars in this generation, headlines in the tour-de-force role of the hot-shot woman fighter pilot.

“It’s just the most amazing material, with the most amazing team of people. It’s a gorgeous story. It is a meaningful human story about a person who, you know, seems so real. So, to have the opportunity to play this character and to sing music written by Jeanine Tesori, it’s impossible to turn down,” said D’Angelo in an interview with The Met.

The Met music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin, with assistant conductor Steven Osgood, takes the podium and leads the powerful cast. Michael Mayer’s high-tech staging, using a vast array of LED screens, presents a variety of perspectives on the action, including the drone’s predatory view from high above.

The special screening of Grounded is part of the tenth season of CCP The Met: LIVE in HD, a remarkable program that brings the captivating world of opera to Filipino audiences, offering them the unique opportunity to experience world-class performances from The Metropolitan Opera. The program is in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, The Filipinas Opera Society Foundation, Inc. (FOSFI), and the Ayala Malls Cinemas.

Regular tickets for the CCP The Met: LIVE in HD are priced at Php350. Students and young professionals may avail of the special discounted price of Php100 upon presenting a valid ID. For tickets, visit Glorietta 4 Cinema ticket booth or book via www.sureseats.com.

For more information on CCP The Met: LIVE in HD, visit the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph).