PHILIPPINE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA UK TOUR SEND-OFF CONCERT

PRESENTED BY:

The Cultural Center of the Philippines

DATE/ TIME/ VENUE:

April 24, 2025 | 6:30 PM

CCP @ the Metropolitan Theater

 DESCRIPTION:

Before embarking on their historic and highly anticipated UK Tour, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) presents a special send-off concert featuring an evening of musical brilliance and world-class symphonic artistry. Under the direction of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the orchestra will take center stage with an exquisitely curated program highlighting works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Elgar, Delius, Vaughan Williams, and Ching.  Renowned pianist Mark Bebbington joins the PPO for a performance of Delius’ Piano Concerto in C Minor, while Diomedes Saraza Jr., the PPO’s concertmaster and artist-in-residence, performs Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending.

Join us for this memorable occasion as the PPO takes the stage one last time before sharing their artistry with audiences across nine cities in the United Kingdom this May.

PROGRAM:

Edward Elgar                                                Nimrod, from Enigma Variations, Op. 36

 

Frederick Delius                                          Piano Concerto in C Minor

.                                                                   Mark Bebbington, piano

 

Felix Mendelssohn                                      Symphony No. 4, Op. 90, A Major (“Italian”)

 

Jeffrey Ching                                                 Il Maestro di Cappella

 

Ralph Vaughan Williams                              The Lark Ascending

                                                                      Diomedes Saraza  Jr., violin

 

Ludwig van Beethoven                                 Symphony No. 5, Op. 67, C Minor

 

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Grzegorz Nowak, conductor

TICKET INFORMATION:

Ticket Prices: P3,000 | 2,500 | 2,000 |1,500 | 800

Get your tickets at https://premier.ticketworld.com.ph/shows/show.aspx?sh=PPOSOTUT25

 For ticket inquiries, group discounts, and subscriptions:

• Call the CCP Box Office at + 63 931 033 0880 or email

salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph.

ABOUT THE PHILIPPINE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA:

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra is the country’s leading orchestra. It was established in 1973 as the CCP Philharmonic Orchestra, which was originally intended to accompany performing artists at the CCP Main Theater. In 1979, it was reorganized through the efforts of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos together with Maestro Oscar C.  Yatco. The PPO has since collaborated with renowned Filipino and foreign artists either as soloists or conductors. It continues to promote music appreciation among Filipinos through its regional outreach concerts and workshops. The PPO is now headed by its new Music Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR:

GRZEGORZ NOWAK

PPO Music Director and Principal Conductor

Polish conductor Grzegorz Nowak is the new Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. A much-sought-after conductor with a long career in opera and concerts, Maestro Nowak is a highly-esteemed Permanent Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He was the music director of the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, Poland, from 2017 to 2020, and other orchestras in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. For years, he was able to record orchestral music in over 80 CDs that have received awards and 5-star ratings.

Grzegorz Nowak’s career propelled to international level after he won various prestigious awards and prizes. He has performed alongside many of the most widely respected soloists of our time, including Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Nigel Kennedy, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Gil Shaham and Krystian Zimerman, and has worked with such singers as Janet Baker, Kathleen Battle, Marilyn Horne, Gwyneth Jones, Sherrill Milnes and Anja Silja.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

JEFFREY CHING

PPO 40th Concert Season Composer-in-Residence

A distinguished graduate of Harvard, Cambridge, and London, Jeffrey Ching has composed over 300 works, including five symphonies and acclaimed operas such as Das Waisenkind and The True Story of King Kong. His innovative approach blends historical elements with contemporary themes, earning him numerous accolades, including the Jose Rizal Award for Excellence. Ching’s works have been celebrated internationally, with performances at prestigious festivals and venues. He is also set to premiere his opera Before Brabant in November 2024 at the Children’s Biennale in Manila, further showcasing his dynamic contributions to the world of music. At the invitation of Grzegorz Nowak, Jeffrey Ching will serve as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s first composer-in-residence for the 2024-2025 season.

ABOUT THE SOLOISTS:

MARK BEBBINGTON, piano

Mark Bebbington is fast gaining a reputation as one of the UK’s most strikingly individual pianists. (“Bebbington is without doubt one of Britain’s finest pianists” – Michel Fleury in Classica). He is internationally recognized as a leading interpreter of British piano music, and has more than thirty admired recordings to his name. Mark’s programming demonstrates a commitment to the music of our time and he regularly includes contemporary composers as diverse as Takemitsu, Julian Anderson, John McCabe, David Matthews, Pierre Boulez and Elliot Carter in his recital series.

www.markbebbington.co.uk

 

DIOMEDES SARAZA, JR., Violin

Diomedes Saraza started playing the violin at the age of three. He gained attention and became a prominent violinist in the Philippines after winning first place at the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 2002. He became the youngest member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra at age 13. Saraza received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School in 2015. One of his notable concert engagements the performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the historic concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in New York’s Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Olivier Ochanine. At the invitation of Grzegorz Nowak, Diomedes Saraza serves as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s concertmaster and artist-in-residence for the 2024-2025 season.