The Philippine
Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) imparts narratives of solemn heroism and resiliency
in the fifth installment of its 40th concert season, dubbed as “HOPE,” on
February 14, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila City.
PPO Concert V: Hope
uses the universal language of music to tell the shared past of two capitals,
Warsaw (Poland) and Manila (Philippines), through melodies from Wings of
Hope: a Warsaw-Manila Peace Tribute.
Accompanying the
music are film illustrations created by director Adam Ustynowicz and graphic
artist Piotr Forkasiewicz, thus creating a multi-sensory experience. Ustynowicz
also bagged the Best Film Award at the Monaco Film Festival with “Chopin: the
Space Concert,” which brought Frédéric Chopin’s music along the flight of the
Space Shuttle.
Through the
universal language of music, PPO Concert V: Hope honors the heroes who
sacrificed their lives during the Warsaw Uprising in Poland and the Manila
Massacre in the Philippines, both important historical events during World War
II.
The first Warsaw
Uprising began on the afternoon of August 1, 1944, with 50,000 troops attacking
a German garrison. Their initial success, however, didn’t last long. When the
Germans counter-attacked, the Polish underground resistance Home Army faced the
bloodiest encounter as they tried to regain control of their city. Without
significant support, the Home Army was forced to surrender on October 2, 1944.
Over 15,000 insurgents and 250,000 Polish civilians faced death while the
survivors were captured and sent to German concentration camps.
Also known as the
“Rape of Manila,” the often overlooked Manila Massacre happened on the heel of
the return of Gen. Douglas McArthur to the capital city during the waning
months of World War II. The battle was characterized by the bravery of
Philippine troops amidst the atrocities committed by Japanese troops. Refusing
to surrender, the withdrawing Japanese forces slaughtered more than 100,000
Filipinos. They bombed Manila, obliterating cultural landmarks, religious
sites, and government infrastructures. These acts sparked a firestorm with the
World War II allied forces.
Under the baton of
Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, PPO Concert V: Hope highlights solidarity during trying
times and spotlights the bravery shown by the people of the two countries.
The concert begins
with Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto, featuring multi-talented
Konrad Binienda on piano.
Addinsell
half-heartedly wrote this concerto for the romantic film Dangerous Moonlight
(1941). Besides evoking turmoil, this song narrates the bubbling love story
between protagonists Polish pianist Radetzky and American journalist Carole.
Addinsell’s “Warsaw Concerto” is known to divide opinion among musicians. For
movie-goers, however, it is deemed brilliant for sounding like a “full-bloodied
romance.”
From describing the
tragedy of love amid war, PPO Concert V: Hope continues with Andrzej
Panufnik’s Heroic Overture and Tragic Overture. “Heroic Overture”
reflects Poland's brave resistance during World War II. Drawing inspiration
from his origins, Panufnik finished writing it in 1939. That same year, Poland
was betrayed by the Stalin-Hitler pact, causing Panufnik to lose all optimism,
giving birth to “Tragic Overture”.
Agonizing over the
death of his only brother during the uprising in 1944, Panufnik composed Tragic
Overture. Including its first version, 30 years of his life’s work were
destroyed in the war. He rewrote Tragic Overture, intending to hide his
frustration beneath it. Panufnik’s subconscious, however, seeped through and
presented his grief in onomatopoeic passages.
Panufnik’s Wings
of Hope pays homage to
Polish airmen who risked their lives in the name of freedom. This commissioned
work discusses the helplessness and hope that come with heroism. While
exploring the struggle of making sacrifices in exchange for triumph, Panufnik’s
“Wings of Hope” weaves modern harmonies with the human spirit’s innate
resilience.
Featuring Binienda’s
most Chopin-like orchestration, the PPO Concert V: Hope will showcase Frédéric
Chopin’s Allegro de concert with patriotic conviction. Despite its title,
this composition is technically not a “concerto” as it lacked orchestration
from Chopin. This, however, didn’t stop it from gaining popularity as artists
reimagined it over the years. Chopin’s “Allegro de concert” derives from
military music and nocturne-like lyricism, making it stylistically
inconsistent.
PPO Concert V: Hope
culminates with Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. With
Konrad Binienda on the piano and golden-throated soprano Małgorzata
Trojanowska, this magnificent piece offers the perspective of the war’s
innocent victims. Lamenting on the horrors of World War II, Górecki’s magnum
opus describes the intricate relationship of a mother and her child amid
wartime. Long, sustained notes decorate “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs,” creating
a contemplative mood.
Through the
poignant repertoire from Wings of Hope: A Warsaw-Manila Peace Tribute, PPO
Concert V: Hope harnesses music’s profound power to foster solidarity among
audiences of diverse cultures.
Celebrate Heart’s
Day with these classical melodies of heroism, love, and loss on February 14, at
7:30 p.m., at the Metropolitan Theater.
PPO tickets are
priced at Php 3,000, Php 2,500, Php 2,000, and Php 1,500, and are available at
TicketWorld. Be a PPO Subscriber and enjoy up to 25 percent discount. Email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or
call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880 for more information.
For updates on
PPO’s future concerts, follow the official Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and
YouTube accounts of the PPO and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
You may also visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph for more information on upcoming masterclasses,
workshops, performances, and other events.
Post a Comment