As a prelude to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s upcoming state visit in China, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) recently held a series of goodwill concerts in that country, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
According to the DFA, the PPO’s concerts in China also capped the year-long celebration in China of the 35th anniversary of Philippine-China diplomatic ties.
“It also serves as prelude to the State Visit to China this year of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III,” the DFA said in a news release.
Dubbed “An Ode to Friendship,” the concerts paid homage to Filipino folk and contemporary compositions, arrangements of Chinese folk music, and Western classics of Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Grieg and Holst.
The DFA said the PPO’s performances included Nicanor Abelardo’s “Mutya ng Pasig” (Maiden of Pasig River), Manuel Velez’s 1920 composition “Sa Kabukiran” (In the Farmland) and Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kalesa,” as well as Philippine folk and love songs arranged by Bernard Green.
The PPO held the goodwill concert at China’s National Center for Performing Arts (NCPA), its premier performing arts venue.
Cultural Center of the Philippines president Raul Sunico led the 74-member group in this historic goodwill tour.
The PPO last performed in China with a distinguished list of Filipino artists including world-famous pianist Cecil Licad during the Philippine National Day Gala in June 2010 at the Shanghai Expo.
“It was the first time for many of the Chinese and foreign audiences in Beijing who watched the concerts to appreciate the timeless melodies of the Philippines played by a Philharmonic Orchestra in such a distinguished setting,” the DFA said. – VVP, GMA News
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