Dutch pianist performs at PPO special concert
MANILA, Philippines - The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands present Dutch-born pianist See Siang Wong in a special concert with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of maestro Hermenigildo Ranera on Jan. 23, 8 p.m. at the CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).
Dubbed “A Touch of Dutch,” the program includes two piano concertos of Franz Joseph Haydn’s Piano Concerto in D-Major, Hob. XVII:11 and Ludwig van Beethoven’ s Piano Concerto Nr. 3 in C minor, op. 37.
Described by the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung as a “subtle painter of sound,” Wong is an internationally sought-after soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. Since his debut at age 12 with the Dutch Radio Orchestra, Wong has performed across Europe, Asia, Central and South America and the Middle East including Tonhalle Zurich, KKL Lucerne, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, St. Martin in the Fields London, Salle Olivier Messiaen Paris, Bertramka Prague, Marble Hall Budapest and St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall.
He has performed with top conductors, including Pierre Boulez, Ralf Weikert and Howard Griffiths, and has collaborated with leading composers such as Emmanuel Nunes, Marco Stroppa, James Dillon and Rudolf Kelterborn.
He made recordings with Deutsche Grammophon, Novalis (piano concertos of Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann), Guild (piano works of Nunes and Kelterborn), Zhdk Records (Messiaen’s piano concerto Oiseaux Exotiques), Liverpool Records and Rose. His recordings of Chopin, Mozart and Schumann (Decca) and Schumann’s Piano Concerto, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 6 (Piano Arrangement of the Violin Concerto) were honored with the “Swiss Classical Highlight” Award.
Wong’s 2009/2010 concert season will feature two new Decca CD releases: Beethoven’s famous piano sonatas (Pathétique, Moonlight, Waldstein), Haydn’s D-Major piano concerto and Mozart’s piano concerto KV 414, accompanied by the Winterthur Symphony Orchestra, the oldest symphony orchestra of Switzerland.
Since 2002, Wong has taught at the Zurich University of the Arts. He holds masterclasses in Switzerland and abroad, and is among the exclusive circle of Steinway & Sons Artists.
Ticket prices are P400 for orchestra center and P300 for orchestra sides.
For information, call 832-3704/832-1125 locals 1409/1800-1808; Ticketworld at 891-9999, or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.
