The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), the premier resident orchestra of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), embarks on its 40th concert season with “FORTE,” an inspiring series of performances.

Under the baton of acclaimed music director and principal conductor, Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the milestone season pays vibrant tribute to Filipino culture and the universal spirit of celebration, featuring a diverse repertoire that takes audiences on a profound journey through life’s emotional spectrum.

Experience the exuberance of Filipino festivities with the PPO’s season opener, CONCERT I: FIESTA!, slated on September 27, 2024, 7:30 p.m. Guest violin virtuoso Shlomo Mintz joins the orchestra for a thrilling performance of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, op. 26, G minor. The Philippines’s leading orchestra will premiere the composition of its resident composer Jeffrey Ching’s Fiesta Contrapuntistica. They will also perform Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben. 

Bask in the astounding feeling of success and grandeur with CONCERT II: TRIUMPH on November 15, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Grammy Award-winning cellist Sara Sant’ Ambrogio joins the orchestra in a program featuring Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, op. 34, Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto, op. 85, E minor, and Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, op. 61, C Major.

Embark on a journey of imagination with CONCERT III: FANTASY, on December 6, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring violin prodigy Andrea Obiso, the PPO concert beautifully presents Gioacchino Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto no. 3, op. 61, B minor, and Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 5.

Wander through European sensibilities with CONCERT IV: EUROPA, slated on January 17, 2025, 7:30 p.m. The PPO plays majestic melodies with Cleveland concertmaster David Radzynski. The program includes Zoltán Kodály’s Dance of Galanta, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto No. 1, and Dvořák’s Symphony no. 8, op. 88, G Major.

CONCERT V: HOPE, on February 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., blooms with optimism intertwined with music from the Manila Peace Tribute and captivating visuals by Adam Ustynowicz. Soloist Malgorzata Trojanowska lends her golden voice, with Konrad Binienda playing the piano. Hope begins with Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto and Andrzej Panufnik’s Heroic Overture and Tragic Overture. Wings of Hope, a commissioned work by Roxanna Panufnik, also takes the spotlight. The hopeful night culminates with Chopin’s Allegro de concert and Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs.

Laureate pianist Rowena Arrieta and the PPO share the warmth and comfort of home with CONCERT VI: HOMECOMING on March 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. The concert pays tribute to Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, celebrating his 150th anniversary, with Miške (In The Forest). Emphasizing the innate need to celebrate with loved ones, the night flourishes with Franz Liszt’s Totentanz and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony no. 4, op. 98, E minor.

Forte concludes with CONCERT VII: FINALE, featuring another commissioned work by Jeffrey Ching. The PPO seizes the momentum with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Witold Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra on April 11, 2025, at 7:30 PM. Celebrated Filipino violinist Diomedes Sazara Jr. joins the PPO as its resident artist for this much-awaited finale.

For the 40th concert season, Sazara Jr. is also the PPO’s Concertmaster and Artiste-in-Residence. Saraza Jr., on top of being a performer, is also an educator advocating for the distribution and promotion of the Philippine culture and arts. With Forte, Saraza Jr. teams up with Maestro Nowak, promising a contemplative musical journey through life.

Forte, the PPO’s 40th concert season, delivers a captivating exploration of human emotions, and how these emotions relate to one’s culture.  Under Maestro Nowak’s guidance and expertise, the PPO  continues to celebrate the essence of music and its profound impact on our lives and explore the depth of human emotions. 

All concerts, except Concert V, will be at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Makati. Concert V: Hope will culminate at the Metropolitan Theater (MET), Manila. Tickets are priced at Php3,000, Php2,500, Php2,000, Php1,500, Php800, and Php500. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the CCP’s official website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph or follow the CCP on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.