MANILA, Philippines - It’s all set for the much-awaited concert of internationally acclaimed Filipina pianist Cecile Licad, together with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Olivier Ochanine, which will take place on Jan. 28, 8 p.m., at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater.
Cecile Licad Encore! — co-produced by the Philippine Italian Association with CCP, together with Rustan Group of Companies, Calata Corporation, The Peninsula Manila, Starbucks, Royal Duty Free Shops Inc., and Anflocor Group of Companies as main sponsors — will feature a scintillating repertoire including Rossini’s Overture to Italian Girl in Algiers, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
Licad’s rise to international prominence began in 1981 when she was awarded the prestigious Leventritt gold medal, making her the first Asian to bag this award. With this, Cecile’s international career was launched and since then her musical life has been played out in the great concert halls of the world, performing with famous orchestras and distinguished conductors of the world.
The piano that Cecile will perform on is a Hamburg Steinway grand piano. It was shipped from New York and was used for her concert at the Santuario de San Antonio Church in October 2015 and also at the state dinner in honor of the 15 heads of state who attended the APEC Summit last November.
The concert has also received the active cooperation of Bulgari, Megaworld Corporation, Mercedes-Benz, Philippine Tatler, SSI Group Inc., and Amanpulo.
Proceeds of the concert will go to the Philippine Italian Association Endowment Fund and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra United States of America Tour in June 2016. Incidentally, the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto that Cecile will perform at the CCP will be repeated at the Carnegie Hall when she joins the PPO in concert.
The Philippine Italian Association (PIA) Endowment Fund was created in 2002 under the leadership of PIA president Zenaida Tantoco to answer the growing needs of the underprivileged, as well as nurture the human spirit through the arts and culture. Outstanding beneficiaries of the PIA Endowment Fund are major charities organized by Italian missionaries who provide educational, medical, food and housing facilities. The welfare projects initiated by PIA are supervised by the Missionaries of the Servants of Charity, the Sisters Handmaids of Charity and the Canossian Sons of Charity.
For tickets (available at P5,000, P3,000, P1,000 and P500), call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or TicketWorld at 891-9999; or the secretariat, Maricar Alamodin, at 895-2109, 8773412/07, and 09175384508. Email ESAlamodin@rgoc.com.ph for tickets or those who may wish to make a tax-deductible donation.