After a well-received 40th concert season at the Samsung Theater, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under music director Maestro Grzegorz Nowak has embarked on a 9-city tour of the United Kingdom.
The PPO’s first concert May 13 at Beacon Hall in Bristol was greeted with a standing ovation followed by equally enthusiastic audiences at Cadogan Hall in London (May 14), the Symphony Hall in Birmingham (May 15), G Live in Guildford (May16) and another standing ovation at the Theater Royal in Norwich (May 18).
The audiences at the Theater Royal in Norwich were so enthusiastic the orchestra had to oblige with two encores.
As this is being written, the PPO’s 7th engagement at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester has just ended with Filipinos in the audience.
Krina Cayabyab, daughter of National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, told her father the PPO was well-received by English audiences. “It was a proud moment for Filipinos as the applause was really long and well-deserved.”
In the Birmingham concert, a netizen named Anna Prince commented on FB: “Last night’s performance was absolutely stunning!”
In Guildford, England, the orchestra performed Mendelssohn’s ‘Italian’ Symphony; Delius’ Piano Concerto, featuring acclaimed pianist Mark Bebbington; Elgar’s Nimrod from Enigma Variations; Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1; and Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite.
The others concerts featured cellist Wen-Sinn Yang and violinist Diomedes Sarala Jr. in a repertoire consisting of Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1, Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending, Jeffrey Ching’s Il Maestro di Capella, among others.
PPO director Eugene de los Santos told this writer the general mood of the musicians border on excitement and nervous reserve. “They know UK audiences have heard all the world’s greatest orchestras and we are just another unknown orchestra from Asia.”
He added each venue has different acoustical conditions but the orchestra quickly adjusted with the seasoned Polish conductor always in command.
De los Santos added: “What was very noticeable was the consistency of execution of the pieces by Maestro Nowak. He truly knows how to adjust the sound of the orchestra to the different venues the orchestra performed As expected, violinist Saraza, cellist Yang, and pianist Bebbington were well received by audiences. The three of them were fabulous and the audiences in all the venues gave their solid approval.”
The concert at Norwich Royal Theater also ended in a standing ovation with many Filipinos in the audiences.
Present at the Cadogan Hall in in London were Ambassador Teddy Boy Locsin and his wife and some CCP scholars led by Aidan Baracol and singer Mark Bautista.
As this is being written, the PPO has given seven concerts and the result is music to the ears of Maestro Novak.
Although unknown in this part of Europe, the common verdict after the initial concerts was that the PPO was an excellent world-class orchestra.
And the PPO soloists delivered.
Recounted Maestro Novak: “Diomedes (Saraza) gave superb performances and was well received by audiences. Wen-Sinn Yang was brilliant in Rococo Variations and Mark Bebbington, a champion of British music, enchanted audiences with delightful interpretations of Delius Piano Concerto.”
Since UK is exposed to world-class orchestras all over the world, he had to consult with the artists and the venue organizers. “This is in order to avoid clashes of the same works being performed in the same season. That’s why we could not go with just one program, but with two symphonies, two major orchestra works, three soloists and two shorter works by a British composer and our Filipino composer in residence.”
Since UK is exposed to excellent visiting ensembles, the challenge is how to make impression since the PPO is unknown in this part of Europe. “It is a big challenge for an unknown orchestra to be compared with other excellent ensembles. After seven concerts, I believe the PPO has passed the test with flying colors and was adjudged one of the world’s best orchestras.”
In preparation, the PPO performed the UK tour program in Manila and scheduled additional rehearsals just before the tour. “In addition, we have a two-hour rehearsal before each concert. Altogether it is a hard work. But the ensemble became better and better from one concert to another. Indeed, performing concerts every day to a demanding audience challenges our players to give their best, and indeed they did in this tour. The crucial factors are the desire of everyone to give their best individually and to become a unified ensemble inspired by their conductor.”
The PPO director admits travelling three to five hours by bus and straight to rehearsals and performances was quite hectic. “But all the fatigue vanishes when you hear the applause and the post-concert feedback.”
(Pianist Cecile Licad will have a return engagement in Manila at the Metropolitan Theater on Sept. 24, 2025, 6:30 p.m. with the Philippine Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Grzgorz Novak. She will be soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major. Then Licad goes on a national outreach tour kicking off at Baguio Country Club (September 27), Pinto Gallery (September 28), MiraNila (October 1), University of the Philippines Visayas (Oct. 6), and with last outreach concert in Catanduanes. Call 09065104270 for invitations to the Cecile Licad recital)