MAESTRO Rodel Colmenar. T he Manila Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary under the baton of its founder and music director, Maestro Rodel Colmenar.

Billed “MPO Opus 20: Trailblazing Music Excellence,” the grand concert featuring the country’s best in classical and pop music scenes will take center stage on 1 September at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

The grand celebration will highlight the musical achievements of the MPO for the last 20 years with performances of special guests Lani Misalucha, world-acclaimed Filipino pianist Raul Sunico, the mixed-chorale ensemble of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and many other surprise guests.

THE Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. Maestro Colmenar is proud of MPO’s solid passion for music, the only reason that propels the orchestra to achieve depth and breadth of musical excellence. He says, “This concert will showcase our history. There is a wealth of memorable repertoire attached to every milestone in our colorful career and that is what we hope to bring to our audience during the night’s performance. We promise to give them a grand time as they walk down memory lane with us.”

Throughout the years, MPO has gained the distinction of pioneering innovative programs that sought to bring communities closer together, sustainably bridging the gap between diverse cultural perspectives and proving music as a gift for all forms. It has always aimed, Colmenar added, “to bring classical music right to the heart of the Filipinos.”

The 20th founding anniversary of MPO kicked off last year when the orchestra featured world-renowned Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu as guest artist in its pre-anniversary classical performance at the CCP last 17 June 2017.

To date, the MPO has performed in more than 500 concerts and partnered with over a hundred companies in bringing music to the community. Some of the acclaimed productions they mounted featured local and international artists such as pianists Cecile Licad, Ingrid Sala Santa Maria, Aileen Chanco, Raul Sunico; well-known violinists Anastasia Chebotareva, Alexander Tumescu and Oscar Yatco; conductors Eduardo Browne, Mark Kadin, Dmitri Liss and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, among others.

MPO also takes in the honor of being a stalwart in Philippine musical theater productions by staging “The Sound of Music,” “King and I,” “Cinderella,” “Noli Me Tangere,” “The Opera,” “Bituing Walang Ningning, The Musical,” “Annie” and currently “Ang Huling El Bimbo” at the New Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila.

Tickets to “MPO Opus 20: Trailblazing Music Excellence” are available at TicketWorld Outlets and TicketWorld.com.ph, (02) 891-9999. For inquiries, contact MPO office at 0917-5478787, 0917-576-2502, manilaphilharmonic@gmail.

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