PPO presents rare harp concerto performance on Oct. 16 at the Met

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra continues its 42nd concert season, Modulatio, with a rarelly seen harp concerto performance happening this October 16, 2026, 7:30 PM at the Metropolitan Theater.

Billed as Concert II: Elegance, the second concert of the season sees 14-year old harp prodigy Vien Ignacio as she makes her debut with the PPO under the baton of Grzegorz Nowak.

Vien Ignacio

Ignacio, who was introduced to the pedal harp when she was just three and a half years old, has since then been trained by Olga Shevelevich. She has won awards most notably First Place at the 2025 Scandinavian International Instrument Music Competition to go along with special diplomas for Best Performance of a Romantic Piece and the Child Prodigy awards. For her PPO debut, she will take on George Frideric Handel's Harp Concerto in B flat major, Op. 4 No. 6.

Other pieces to be performed include Redentor Romero's Philippine Portraits and Zygmunt Noskowski's Step (the Steppe), Op. 66.

Tickets for the PPO's Concert II: Elegance are available at TicketWorld outlets. PPO subscriptions can be availed by contacting salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or by calling the CCP Box Office at +63 931-033-0880.

David Gómez-Ramírez mesmerizes at PPO season opener

Conductor David Gómez-Ramírez and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra 

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra opened its 38th season with flair as Spanish conductor David Gómez-Ramírez sets the tone for the season and also the standard for the rest the shortlisted conductors gunning for the position of PPO's Music Director/Principal Conductor

The concert had a mesmerizing start with Redentor Romero's Philippine Portraits handled deftly and reverently by Gómez.

He also led the orchestra to a very confident showing of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 bringing much needed optimism and cheer to an audience who had waited for more than two years for the resumption of the PPO's season. While the Dvořák symphony is an often played, repertoire staple, Gómez delivered a magnificent display of colors and textures that made this piece sound fresh and exciting.

By the time of the encore, Gómez both had the orchestra and the audience at the palm of his hands via a masterful rendition of the Intermedio from La Boda de Luis Alonso by Gerónimo Giménez.

The only blemish in what might have been a flawless outing was the performance of Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102 by Dmitri Shostakovich with Clement Acevedo as the piano soloist. At times, the orchestra was not in sync with Acevedo despite the pianist opting for a more relaxed and less frantic pace with this concerto. The orchestra's unfamiliarity with this piece was apparent by how tentative they were, lacking the cheekiness and playfulness that this defines this concerto. Thankfully, the sublime second movement showcased what a capable pianist Acevedo is which was also evident with his encore, a nostalgic take on Evocación from Iberia Book 1 by Isaac Albéniz.

Despite the misstep with the concerto, the PPO still had a promising start to the season. Display materials at the venue also made it known that the PPO's final two concerts of the season will be conducted by Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng on March 17, 2023 and Associate Conductor Herminigildo Ranera on April 28, 2023.

PPO's 38th concert season features music director/principal conductor hopefuls

After a couple of years of online and outreach performances, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra finally announced the return of their concert season, entitled Metamorphosis, to be held this September 2022-April 2023 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo and also at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

The PPO's 38th Concert season will also feature five of the shortlisted conductors who are up in the running to be the orchestra's next Principal Conductor/Music Director.

David Gómez-Ramírez

Opening the season on September 16 is Spanish conductor David Gómez-Ramírez. Last seen with the PPO as guest conductor back in 2018, he has worked with many professional orchestras around the world. He has been chief conductor of the Sagunto Symphony Orchestra, and guest conductor in important orchestras as València, Seville, Madrid, Oviedo and outside of Spain, in France, Portugal, United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia, Romania, Italy, and Vietnam.

Grzegorz Nowak

On October 7, the PPO welcomes Grzegorz Nowak, for the second concert of the season. Nowak, the permanent Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London, UK, was also the Music Director of the Polish National Opera, Warsaw, Poland from 2017-2020 and other orchestras in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. He has conducted orchestral music recorded in over 80 CDs that have received awards and 5-star ratings.

Noam Zur

Noam Zur leads the orchestra as they perform at the Manila Metropolitan Theater stage on November 11. Since 2017, he was the principal conductor and artistic director of the State Symphony Orchestra of Salta, Argentina. He has over 20 years of professional and conducting experience during which he developed an expansive repertoire in opera, ballet and symphony. He is also a composer and arranger, having recorded his own works in Funkhausorchester des WDR Köln in August 2016 which he conducted as well.

Mark Anthony Carpio

Philippine Madrigal Singers choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio conducts the PPO on December 16, which will be the last to be held at the CCP before the major rehabilitation of the main building starting in January 2023. Personally handpicked by National Artist for Music Andrea O. Veneracion to succeed her as choirmaster of the Madz, Carpio is one of the most respected figures in choral music and a sought after choral clinician who has given extensive and in-depth workshops all nationally and internationally.

Shizuo Kuwahara

Japanese-American Maestro Shizuo Kuwahara conducts the PPO January 27, 2023. Kuwahara is the First Prize winner of the prestigious Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in Frankfurt, Germany and Principal Guest Conductor of The Mariinsky Theatre, Russia. Kuwahara has led performances throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia. He was also an Assistant and Cover Conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony and Orchestra de Paris.

Haoran Li

On February 24, 2023, the PPO will be under the baton of Haoran Li. He was Assistant Conductor of China Philharmonic Orchestra from 2019-2020 and the National Center for the Performing Arts Beijing, China in 2018.

The conductors and programs for the March 17 and April 28, 2023 concerts have yet to be announced.

The September, October, and December concerts will be held at the CCP while the November and performances in 2023 will be at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

Pianist Clement Acevedo joins PPO 38th concert season opener

Pianist Clement Acevedo joins conductor David Gómez-Ramírez at the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's 38th Concert Season opener this September 16, 2022 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).

Program for the evening includes Redentor Romero's Philippine Portraits, Dmitri Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102 with Acevedo as the featured pianist, and Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88.

Clement Acevedo

Clement Acevedo is an award winning pianist who has performed in prestigious competitions such as the Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition in Westport, Connecticut, and the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), where he entered semifinalists in both 2004 and 2009. He won the Amati Award at the 2003 Amati Music Festival in Catskills, New York. Also, he has won in concerto contests hosted by the Manila Chamber Orchestra Foundation (MCO), James Madison University (JMU), and the UP College of Music, as well as the Rachmaninoff Piano Competition.

He performed with the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Herminigildo Ranera, the James Madison University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Robert McCashin, and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra under the baton of composer/conductor Josefino Chino Toledo at the Merkin Hall in New York City, the Taichung National Theater in Taiwan, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

He has recently accepted the position of Assistant Professor at the UP College of Music and Dance, to teach beginning the Academic Year 2022-23.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra to make US debut at Carnegie Hall

June 18, 2016, 8:00 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage

Carnegie Hall

57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, NY

Featuring:

Cecile Licad, piano

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Olivier Ochanine, conductor

Programme:

Dmitri Shostakovich

     Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96

Jean Sibelius     

     Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Sergei Rachmaninoff     

     Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Redentor Romero

     Philippine Portraits

In the 33 years that the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra has been in existence, it is quite remarkable to find out that the country’s leading orchestra has never performed in US soil. But come June 18, 2016, all that will change as the PPO makes its US debut at the Carnegie Hall nonetheless. Leading the orchestra in this historic concert is Olivier Ochanine, the PPO’s former music director/principal conductor, who has worked for more than three years to make this project come to fruition.

The evening boasts a formidable program including two major concertos that will feature pianist Cecile Licad and violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr., two of the Philippines’ top caliber artists. Licad will perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 while Saraza will tackle Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47. Other pieces to be performed are Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96 and Redentor Romero’s Philippine Portraits.

Licad has performed the Rach 2 with the PPO and Ochanine earlier this year at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Theater that also saw her perform Tchaik 1 at the same concert. Saraza, on the other hand, had his solo violin concert with pianist Greg Zuniega at the CCP Little Theater just a few weeks prior to that of Licad’s concert.

The PPO’s Carnegie Hall concert/US debut is made possible with the support of Philippine Airlines (the official carrier of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra), Smart Infinity, Rustan’s Commercial Corporation, One Meralco Foundation, with the support of PLDT Smart Foundation, Federal Land, Inc., and Metrobank Card Corporation.

Proceeds from the concert will go to a housing project of the Philippine Disaster Relief Corporation, Inc. in Tacloban for typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) victims.

Ticket prices:

$130

$110

$85

$70

$60

$50

$40

$35

$30

$25

$22.50

For inquiries:

CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800

Journey: A Classical Concert

Pianist Dingdong Fiel

Featuring:

Heliodoro “Dingdong” Fiel II, piano

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra

Rodel Colmenar, conductor

Programme:

Redentor Romero Philippine Portraits

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra led by Rodel Colmenar presented a one night concert entitled Journey: A Classical Concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) in preparation for their trip to Japan as the Philippine representative to the 2013 Asia Orchestra Week.

This send off concert featured the same program with works by Redentor Romero, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky that they would play in Japan in which the orchestra, was the one chosen by the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras to represent the Philippines.

The evening started with Philippine Portraits by Redentor Romero which I think was a good choice to showcase Filipino orchestral music to a Japanese/foreign audience. This piece incorporated some popular folk tunes which I think is pretty typical in orchestral works by Filipino composers.

Also featured in this concert was pianist Heliodoro “Dingdong” Fiel II who performed the very popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34 by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It was difficult for me to appreciate his performance due to the unsatisfactory Bösendorfer concert grand Dingdong was saddled with. I struggled to hear the softer and elegant passages especially during the much awaited Variation 18, probably owing to a piano that couldn’t project well without resorting to violently pounding the keys. I’ve seen and heard Dingdong play before and I can only imagine how frustrating it is to be at the mercy of an unresponsive instrument.

Conductor Rodel Colmenar

The concert ended with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, a piece that had already been performed twice by other orchestras in the past two months. I guess that it was a blessing in disguise that I wasn’t able to watch those performances for this enabled me to listen to the MPO’s rendition with fresh ears. Under Colmenar’s baton, the fate theme of the first movement constantly tormented, while the second movement conveyed sinking into the melancholy of the past. The third, with the pizzicato strings offered a respite, a hazy wandering of the mind before being dragged down into the fate that awaits the tortured soul at the fourth movement. I guess that I wouldn’t have reveled into such thoughts had this been my third time in two months to experience this symphony. On the other hand, I would’ve been pretty much sick and tired of it already.

Despite the melodrama of this symphony, the audience gave a hearty applause as the orchestra gave their bows. For an encore, Colmenar introduced the MPO’s new concertmaster, the Italian Giovanni Bobisse who gave the audience goosebumps as he did an exquisite violin solo with Meditation from Thaïs by Jules Massenet. I was momentarily distracted when I heard brass (and a bit spotty at that) which I didn’t expect from a full orchestral version of this piece.

With a successful concert that was well attended, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra had great momentum as they headed to Japan. The 2013 Asia Orchestra Week has already come and gone and as of now, the MPO can be heard accompanying Resorts World Manila’s production of Cinderella happening at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra presents Journey at the CCP

September 26, 2013, 8:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Heliodoro “Dingdong” Fiel II, piano

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra

Rodel Colmenar, conductor

Programme:

Redentor Romero Philippine Portraits

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

Sergei Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34

Before heading off to Japan to participate at the Asia Orchestra Week in October, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra will have a send-off concert entitled Journey: A Classical Concert happening on September 26, 2013, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

Under the baton of Rodel Colmenar, the MPO will perform Redentor Romero’s Philippine Portraits, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 34 featuring pianist Heliodoro “Dingdong” Fiel II. It has been a few years since I last saw Dingdong perform a piano concerto (Tchaikovsky's) so it will be great to see him on stage to perform this very popular piece by Rachmaninoff that includes one of the most romantic tunes ever written.

Ticket prices:

P1200 Orchestra Center

P800 Orchestra Side

P700 Lower Box

P600 Balcony I

P400 Balcony II

For inquiries:

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra 571-6760

TicketWorld 891-9999