Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Celebrates 45th Anniversary with a Season of Performances
Mozart, Stravinsky, Vivaldi and the assemblage of musical geniuses are not only for the select few, nor do their compositions only destined to be played at a certain period in time.
Like a set of proverbial myths, the archetypal misconceptions about the prodigies’ classical compositions were debunked by no other than Cultural Center of the Philippines President, Arsenio Lizaso, during the press conference of the 45th Anniversary of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), saying, “Music is art and it’s yours. It belongs to you.”
As if to accompany this, on August 1, in front of invited guests, a contract was signed to pave the way for a set of performances which aim to reach the communities in different regions of the country.
PPO Outreach Performances
PPO is set to perform in different universities and city halls in the country from August until January the following year, as announced during the press conference at The Manila Hotel.
From August 2018 until January 2019, PPO is set to perform in different universities and city halls in the country. To start with, the University of Baguio (UB) will witness a Masterclass on Woodwind and Brass on August 2, succeeded by the PPO Concert at the Pines on August 3, from 3 to 5 in the afternoon at the UB Gym.
CCP also partnered with the City Government of Malolos, Bulacan, for the PPO to perform at City Hall on August 29. Meanwhile, on November 23 and 24, PPO will be gracing the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao, as well as UP Diliman and Nueva Ecija on December 8 and 20, respectively.
Finally, PPO’s Outreach Performances will draw to a close on January 29, 2019 with a performance at SMX Convention Center Bacolod and the Bacolod City Hall.
Also introduced during the press conference was the opening of the 36th concert season, paved with performances from PPO together with masters of music.
PPO 36th Concert Season
Monique Duphil, Ryu Goto, Hiyas Hila, and Kiyoshi Shomura are among the eight soloists to perform with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, under conductor, Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura.
It seems the PPO will have a year of performances as the 36th concert season sets to commence, starting September 14 at the CCP Main Theater. Piano soloist Monique Duphil, who first performed at an orchestra in Paris at the age of 15, will be staging two of Maurice Ravel’s masterpieces: the Piano Concerto in G major and Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2. On the other hand, violinist Ryu Goto together with the PPO, will be bringing Antonio Vivaldi and Antonin Dvorak inside the Manila Cathedral by performing The Four Seasons and Symphony No. 8, Op. 88 in G major, on November 15.
Meanwhile, Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg Prelude and Beethoven’s Symphony no. 7, op. 92, in A major, will be brought to life by the country’s Hiyas Hila, on January 18, 2019. Hila, who graced the United States and Spain among countries, is known to appear alongside the Manila Symphony Orchestra and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra.
As a conclusion to the 36th concert season, Kiyoshi Shomura, who is known to partner with other Japanese artists to bring the guitar landscape to the fore, will be performing The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky and Italian by Mendelssohn.
PPO’s performances with these soloists for PPO’s 36th Concert Season will be conducted by Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura, who is recognized for directing over 10 Japanese orchestras, as well as other performances abroad. Known for conducting Music of the World in Japan in 1970, he is also prominent for conducting charity concerts in Cambodia.
PPO is under the baton of Maesto Fukumura for the 36th Concert Season 2018-2019./ Image courtesy of CCP
Written by: Chin Sanigan
