Program

Capriccio Italien Op. 45
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky composed his thrilling Capriccio Italien during a dark period in his life. The recent death of his father and the 25th anniversary of his mother’s death had upset the composer. The composer did manage to line up in his mental illness long enough that it reflected in the Capriccio, with its bright primary colors and simple tunefulness. The work, though written by a deeply troubled Tchaikovsky, is one of the most direct he ever composed, an amazing hymn to a city that obviously stirred something in the soul of this most sensitive of composers.

Presenter

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) is the country’s leading orchestra and is widely regarded as one of the top musical ensembles in the Asia-Pacific region. It was established on May 15, 1973 as the CCP Philharmonic Orchestra and was initially intended to accompany performing artists at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). The PPO’s first Music Director was Prof. Luis Valencia with Julian Quirit as Concertmaster.

The PPO has performed with many of the world’s renowned conductors , such as Helen Quach, Sister Maria Rosalina Abejo, Yoshinao Osawa, Mendi Rodan, Francisco Feliciano, Basilio Manalo, Rudolf Gerstenbauer.

The PPO has premiered Filipino compositions and has featured works by foreign composers not yet performed in the Philippines. It continues to promote music appreciation through outreach concerts in schools, parishes, government agencies, and underserved communities in Metro Manila and in different regions in the country.

The PPO held two Ode to Friendship concerts at the Concert Hall of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in August 2011 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Philippines. Previous international performances by the PPO have been in Tokyo, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing as well as various European cities. June of 2016 marked the historic concert of the PPO as the first Philippine orchestra to perform at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2018 PPO participated in the Asia Orchestra Week held in Kuji and Tokyo, Japan.