Soundscapes: The PPO 29TH Season Concert opens in September

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) proudly announces the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra's (PPO) 29th Concert Season 2011-2012 under the baton of its Music Director, Olivier Ochanine. In a master classics season entitled Epic Evenings, Maestro Ochanine and the PPO open the season with “A Hero’s Life" on September 9. Noted Filipino cellist Renato Lucas performs Elgar’s Cello Concerto. The concert will also feature the Saint-Saens’ Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah, and Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben. Clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana performs with the PPO on October 7 with Musical Landscapes of Revueltas’ Sensemayá, Mozart Clarinet Concerto, Respighi’s Feste Romane and Peña’s Igorot Rhapsody. On November 11, renowned Korean conductor Jae Joon Lee returns to the CCP stage with one of Vietnam’s top violinists Bui Cong Duy to perform Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. The PPO will also perform Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture.

Maestro Olivier Ochanine once again wields the baton in a Christmas concert with the return of eminent Filipino pianist Ariel Dechosa on December 16, featuring Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, along with Christmas medleys and songs. Japan’s prominent trombonist Takahiro Ono ushers in the New Year with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Trombone Concerto on January 20, 2012. The PPO will also perform Dvŏrák’s Czech Suite, and one of the signature works of Denmark’s most celebrated composer, Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 “Inextinguishable". Distinguished British born conductor James Judd conducts the PPO on February 17 in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 “Italian" and Bernstein’s Overture to Candide. Finnish violinist and concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Vesa-Matti Leppänen, performs Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. The concert will be presented at the Philamlife Theater at 7:30 p.m. Anton Bruckner Symphony No.4 “Romantic" will highlight the March 16 PPO concert under the baton of Maestro Olivier Ochanine. The concert also features one of the country’s top sopranos, Rachelle Gerodias in arias, kundimans, and more. On April 20, Leeds International Piano Competition winner renowned Russian pianist Sofya Gulyak ends the PPO season with Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring" and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1. The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is the country’s leading orchestra, and is widely regarded as one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific Region. It has performed with many of the world’s conductors and artists, as well as world premieres of Filipino compositions and international composers. Last August 13, the PPO performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (more popularly known as the “Egg"), in Beijing, China to mark the 35th year anniversary celebration of the Philippines-China Diplomatic Relations. The Beijing concert was supported by the Rustia Tantoco Foundation spearheaded by Zenaida “Nedy" Tantoco. All concerts (except Feb. 17 concert) will be staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) at 8:00 pm. Ticket prices: P1000/800/500/P350/200, with discounts available to students, senior citizens and groups. Subscription packages are also available for eight (8) or four (4) shows. For inquiries and subscriptions, please call the CCP Marketing Department (832-1125 loc. 1806), the CCP Box Office (832-3704) or Ticketworld at National Bookstore (891-9999). - CCP press release