PPO reprises UK Tour program in "Le Retour" season concert

A week after championing romantic pieces at the season opening concert, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra harkens back to its UK Tour last May with its second concert of the season happening on September 19, 2025, 7:30 PM at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater.

With PPO Music Director and Principal Conductor Grzegorz Nowak at the helm, the PPO reprises pieces performed at the tour like Georges Bizet's Carmen Suite No. 1, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Waltz from Swan Lake Suite, and Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67.

The concert, billed as Le Retour, also sees PPO's concertmaster and artist-in-residence Diomedes Saraza, Jr. as the featured soloist in Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines' President, Kaye C. Tinga announced in her welcome remarks at the opening concert that the PPO is slated once again to go on tour towards the end of the current season buoyed by the success of its UK Tour over the summer.

Reprinted below is the press release for the PPOs' Concert II: Le Retour

PPO serenades Filipinos with UK Tour repertoire in Concert II: Le Retour

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) reprises the repertoire from its successful tour across the United Kingdom (UK) in CONCERT II: LE RETOUR, slated on September 19, 2025, at 7:30 PM, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.

Revisiting British classics in PPO’s Concert II: Le Retour

Led by the commanding Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, Concert II: Le Retour ushers in the brilliance of the PPO with their iteration of Georges Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1. To familiarize himself with the sounds of southern Spain in the early 19th century, Bizet went to great lengths in constructing the world he borrowed from Prosper Mérimée’s novella of the same name.

Bizet, however, passed three months after the premiere of Carmen. Unbeknownst to him, his friend Ernest Guiraud compiled the opera’s remarkable moments into two orchestral suites.

PPO’s Concert II: Le Retour sustains its beautiful momentum with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending. Inspired by George Meredith’s poem of the same title, Vaughan Williams creates the vivid image of a soaring lark through his melodies. Diomedes Saraza, Jr., PPO’s very own guest concertmaster and artist-in-residence, performs the solo violin that had captivated hearts in the UK.

Composed before World War I, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending portrays a simpler England, one devoid of war and industrial change. It was received with admiration after Marie Hall played the violin under the guidance of conductor Adrian Boult in 1921. Over time, it evolved to be one of the most beloved British classics.

With Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite: Waltz, the PPO continues its excellent display of Filipino artistry in Concert II: Le Retour. Arguably among the most well-known orchestra pieces, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake: Waltz draws elements from the Russian and German folklore of a young princess transforming into a swan.

When Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered in 1877, its production was uninspired and underwhelming. Later in 1895, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov gave the ballet a new choreography attuned to the intricacy of Tchaikovsky’s music.

PPO’s Concert II: Le Retour concludes the night with an exhilarating rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5, op.67, C minor. Beethoven had already begun composing his Fifth Symphony as early as 1804. Often interpreted as “fate knocking on the door,” the piece’s four-note opening motif has been referenced across musical genres as it elaborates on human perseverance in the face of adversity.

A glimpse into the PPO’s UK tour

“The UK tour proved that Filipino musicians are truly world-class, and are on par with the very best orchestras in the world,” said Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) President Kaye C. Tinga proudly.

The conclusion of PPO’s remarkable tour in the UK is clear proof of Filipino artistry. Despite standing on unfamiliar stages, the orchestra relayed its unparalleled commitment to music to global audiences. PPO’s same brand of versatility, as presented in its repertoire in the UK, will be revisited in Concert II: Le Retour.

Witness PPO’s world-class renditions of British classics in Concert II: Le Retour on September 19, 2025, in the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City. PPO’s 41st concert season, dubbed Versatile, runs until April 2026.

Tickets for PPO concerts are priced at Php3,000, Php2,500, Php2,000, Php1,500, Php800, and Php500, available at TicketWorld. For an exclusive 25 percent discount, be a PPO subscriber. Email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880 to purchase a PPO’s 41st concert season subscription.

For more updates on PPO’s 41st Concert Season: Versatile, visit the CCP’s website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph). You may also follow the CCP’s official pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more information.

PPO's jampacked send off concert previews UK tour

Maestro Grzegorz Nowak and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra gave a sneak peek of their upcoming UK tour program during a send-off concert that was recently held at the Metropolitan Theater.

Clocking over two and a half hours and featuring two soloists and two full symphonies(!), the concert was definitely stacked. Consider also the orchestra had having to adjust rehearsal schedules in order to play, on short notice, at the Necrological Service of National Artist Nora Aunor just a couple of days prior to the send-off concert date. But the PPO, under the baton of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, managed to pull it off and showing that the orchestra is more than ready for its 9 stop UK tour scheduled for May 13-24, 2025.

Mark Bebbington, CCP President Kaye C. Tinga, and Diomedes Saraza, Jr.

The concert started with the Nimrod from Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 or more popularly known as the Enigma Variations". Quite a somber beginning since a bombastic overture typically opens a performance.

Mark Bebbington

Mark Bebbington gave what is believed to be the Philippine premiere of the revised, one movement version of Frederick Delius' Piano Concerto in C minor. He mentioned at the press conference prior to the concert that he's excited to perform this piece on tour especially at the penultimate stop in Bradford where Delius was born. Bebbington then evoked the captivating flow of the tides in his encore, The Island Spell from John Ireland's trio of piano miniaures Decorations.

The last time the PPO performed Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian" back in October 2023, Nowak conducted the orchestra almost to the point of exhaustion as he steered the finale at such a frantic pace. But this time, the PPO was up to the task and confidently looked to have enough gas for yet another symphony later in the program.

The second half began with Il Maestro di Cappella by the PPO's Composer-in-Residence Jeffrey Ching. This work, that will serve as an opener in each of the concerts at the tour,  displayed some bits of humor, especially from Nowak who conducted the orchestra as if directing traffic on a busy intersection.

Diomedes Saraza, Jr.

PPO Concertmaster and Artist-in-Residence Diomedes Saraza, Jr. then gave a performance of Ralph Vaughan William's The Lark Ascending less than two months since his last take on the same piece back in March. A pastoral romance that evoked peace and calm, Saraza Jr. exhibited the restraint that is demanded with this piece. Audience members who yearned for more fireworks from him got their wish though with Saraza Jr.'s own take on the folk song Magtanim ay 'Di Biro that had a healthy dose of his contemporary leanings.

The concert wrapped up with the very popular Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven. By this time, the send-off concert felt bogged down by its length. But the PPO's unwavering endurance coupled with the popularity of the piece managed to close out the concert on a high note.

Diomedes Saraza, Jr. and Mark Bebbington

With the send-off concert in the bag, the PPO is now ready to depart to the UK. It's remarkable to think that the opportunity for the PPO to do a UK tour only happened after the Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra of Colón Opera had to cancel its due to the economic situation in Argentina. By that time, the concert program have already been set and Nowak managed to have some tweaks like the inclusion of Ching's new work. Also joining the tour is cellist Wen-Sinn Yang who was the guest soloist during the PPO's October 2023 concert.

Wen-Sinn Yang and Grzegorz Nowak from October 2023

Listed below are the dates, venues, and respective programs of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's UK Tour.

May 13, 2025

Bristol Beacon

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

May 14, 2025

Cadogan Hall London

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Edward Elgar Nimrod from Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma Variations"

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

May 15, 2025

Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

May 16, 2025

G Live, Guildford

Mark Bebbington, piano

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"

Frederick Delius Piano Concerto in C minor

Edward Elgar Nimrod from Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma Variations"

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

May 18, 2025

Theatre Royal, Norwich

Mark Bebbington, piano

Diomedes Saraza Jr,. violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

Frederick Delius Piano Concerto in C minor

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

May 19, 2025

Bridegwater Hall, Manchester

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Grzegorg Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op.90 "Italian"

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Edward Elgar Nimrod from Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36 "Enigma Variations"

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

May 21, 2025

City Hall, Sheffield

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Grzegorg Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

May 22, 2025

St. George's Hall, Bradford

Mark Bebbington, piano

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

Frederick Delius Piano Concerto in C minor

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

May 24, 2025

Perth Festival, Scotland

Wen-Sinn Yang, cello

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeffrey Ching Il Maestro di Cappella

Georges Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1

Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

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.

Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng lends golden touch at PPO concert

Conductor Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng, the Serenade to Music soloists,
and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

The latest performance of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra proved that a woman's touch is indeed golden as guest conductor Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng led the orchestra in what has been the most buzz worthy concert of the season so far.

Any fears that interest would wane after the concerts of the five shortlisted conductors have finished were unfounded as this Shangkuan-Cheng's outing was a sold out affair. The talk for this engagement intensified with the announcement of three pieces by Filipina composers in the program which was very much welcomed unlike the usual, almost token Filipino pieces that were performed earlier in the season.

The trio of pieces by the Filipina composers started with Marie Jocelyn Marfil’s Pyagsawitan Wedding and Harvest which was a rhythmic delight, abundant with percussion from indegenous instruments to the col legno of the strings before giving way to a somber, reflective finish. Next was National Artist for Music Lurcrecia Kasilag's Festival from Philippine Scenes, a short piece that captured the mood of a fiesta complete with shouting from the male members of the orchestra that ended with an exclamation point by the gong. Lastly, Denise Santos' The Light of Extreme Darkness was very cinematic, lush, nd ultimately uplifting.

The enthusiastic reception these pieces got was a stark contrast to the muted, even averse, reaction that some contemporary works have received in the past.

The other piece that got a lot of attention was Ralph Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music that featured some of the country's finest vocalists namely Bianca Lopez-Aguila, Stefanie Quintin, Mary Louise Macanaya-Alcantara, Sheila Marie Ferrer, Paul Ryan Arcolas, Maria Blanca Krystl Buesa, June Gonzaga, Mia Ariana Tanciongco, John Philip Bautista, Ervin Lumauag, Kevin Maske, Tomas Umbero Virtucio, Jr., Nil's Flores, Kris Gonzales, Lawrence Jatayna, and Jed Marcelo who were each given a chance to shine in solos to this piece with text from William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

The second half of the concert consisted of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92. Familiarity with this often performed piece offered the chance to scrutinize further the Met's acoustics. The projected sound's lack of depth that has been noticed before became more apparent, with the lower strings not projecting well. With the upper strings dominating, the overall sound felt shrill and shallow. The double bassists were having a riot during the finale but they were barely audible, unless one shuts out the other sections and focus solely on them.

Conductor Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Despite the Met's acoustics letting down what could have been a very enjoyable Beethoven, the concert as a whole was still a success based on Shangkuan-Cheng's performance and excellent programming. The improvement in acoustics by the ceiling panels is not enough and the Met stage is begging for an entire acoustic shell.

The PPO 38th concert series wraps up next month and hopefully, the next PPO Music Director/Principal Conductor will be announced by then.

PPO celebrates Women's Month with conductor Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng in March concert

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates Women's Month with guest conductor Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng on the podium at its upcoming concert on March 17, 2023, 8:00 PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

The concert program will be highlighted by a selection of pieces by Philippine female composers namely Marie Jocelyn Marfil’s Pyagsawitan Wedding and Harvest, National Artist for Music Lucrecia R. Kasilag’s Festival from Philippines Scenes, and Denise Santos’s The Light of Extreme Darkness.

Also to be performed are Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Serenade to Music featuring a 16 voice choir, and Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92.

Dr. Shangkuan-Cheng is the incumbent president of the Philippine Choral Directors Association, and the artistic director of the Las Piñas International Bamboo Organ Festival. She is an associate professor at the University of the Philippines College of Music, teaching conducting for both graduate and undergraduate music students. She is currently the Philippine representative to the Asia Pacific Choral Council and the Asia Choral Association.

Shangkuan-Cheng has a degree in music from the University of the Philippines, a master’s from the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, and a doctorate degree in musical arts from the University of Michigan. Conductor Shangkuan-Cheng has performed with various international orchestras in South Africa, Germany, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Spain, Vietnam, Portugal, and Singapore.

She has gained numerous awards including the Phyllis Curtin Career Entry Award from the Yale School of Music, the Margot Fassler Award and the Hugh Giles Prize from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music for her conducting, first prize at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Graduate Conducting Competition. She participated as a fellow at the Levi Barbour Fellowship from the University of Michigan.

PPO III: Reshef Plays Schumann

Pianist Yossi Reshef

Featuring:

Yossi Reshef, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

     Overture from The Wasps

     Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor

Richard Strauss Don Juan, Op. 20

Robert Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

A moment of respite was delivered when the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, its principal conductor and music director Olivier Ochanine, and guest artist, Israeli pianist Yossi Reshef performed at a concert less than a week after the devastating super typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas region at the center of the Philippines. This concert, billed as Reshef Plays Schumann, was co-presented by the Embassy of Israel and was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Conductor Olivier Ochanine and Madame Eti Bar-On

Ambassador Menashe Bar-On was not present during the concert for he was in Cebu overseeing the mobile hospital and team of medical personnel that flew in from Israel. Graciously acting as the host was his spouse, Madame Eti Bar-On who warmly welcomed the Embassy’s guests at the lobby prior to the actual performance.

The concert opened with a couple of pieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams, namely Overture from the Wasps and Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor. Vaughan Williams’ music is abundant with English folk tunes and these two pieces are no exception. These two pieces weren’t part of the original lineup for this evening but I am pleased that they made the change. Orchestras in here rarely play Vaughan Williams’ works and although these two pieces don’t appeal that much to me, it gives me hope that someday, my preferred Vaughan Williams piece will be played soon.

Next to be performed was Richard Strauss’ Don Juan, Op. 20, a tone poem that really captures the audience’s attention right from the start. The orchestra, led by Ochanine, was able to convey the majesty and tenderness that it was not that difficult for the audience to be moved despite not knowing a word from the source material which is Nicolaus Lenau’s poem Don Juan. I noticed also that this was the orchestra’s third symphonic poem in as many concerts.

Diether Ocampo, Michelle Barrera and Neelesh Sajnani

After the intermission, it was time for pianist Yossi Reshef to perform Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54. One of the most enduring piano concertos, this work was composed for Clara Schumann, Robert’s wife and one of the leading pianists at the time. This piece isn’t truly virtuosic as there aren’t really that much fireworks set out to impress the audience. It’s more lyrical, tender and romantic. What made this piece very interesting for me is that this has become Clara Schumann’s signature piece. And when one learns about the romance between Robert and Clara, her father’s objections to the affair, Robert’s sad fate and Johannes Brahms entering the picture later on, all of this adds up to one truly intriguing story and the music becomes more fascinating than ever. Despite an off moment during the first movement when he and the orchestra weren’t in sync, Reshef performed the concerto in the usual contained manner, not letting the emotions get out of hand. For an encore, Reshef played the Allegretto from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 No. 2 which is also referred to as The Tempest.

Diether and Michelle explain sungka to Yossi

I was pleased to see Diether Ocampo watch the concert along with his non-showbiz girlfriend Michelle Barrera. The two clearly enjoyed watching and surprisingly, stayed on during the meet and greet at the lobby. Michelle even presented Yossi Reshef a sungka and amusingly explained to him how this popular Philippine game works.

Israeli pianist Yossi Reshef joins the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in November concert

Pianist Yossi Reshef

November 14, 2013, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Yossi Reshef, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Robert Schumann

     Overture from Manfred, Op. 115

     Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Ralph Vaughan Williams

     Overture from The Wasps

     Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor

Richard Strauss Don Juan, Op. 20

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes Israeli pianist Yossi Reshef, the featured guest at the orchestra’s upcoming concert in partnership with the Embassy of Israel happening on November 14, 2013, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Reshef will perform with the PPO Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 under the baton of Olivier Ochanine, the principal conductor and music director of the PPO. Other pieces to be performed in this concert include Schumann’s Manfred Overture, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Overture from The Wasps and Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 in E minor, and Richard Strauss’ Don Juan, Op. 20.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

According to the press release, Yossi Reshef holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California, where he was assistant to Prof. Norman Krieger. And aside from being a performer and a teacher, Reshef has also worked as a film composer and musical director in Hollywood. The independent feature Ivory to be released next year is his recent collaboration with director Andrew W. Chan. He has also won numerous prizes and awards like the America Israel Cultural Foundation Excellency scholarship award, the Zilbermann first prize award for the best interpretation of Israeli piano music; the second prize in the Rubin Academy Competition, the Apple Hill Playing for Peace Scholarship, the Tel Aviv University Dean's Excellency Award, the John Tesh Scholar, the Adele Marcus Foundation Music Scholarship, the John Green Endowed Music Scholarship, the David Nowakowsky Music Scholarship, the Alice Ray Catalyne Music scholarship in piano; the Michael Feinstein music scholarship, and the Ann and Gordon Getty Music Foundation Scholarship.

Conductor Olivier Ochanine

Free tickets can be won by joining a contest by the Embassy of Israel found at their facebook page.

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