Renowned Swiss organist and composer Guy Bovet is returning to the 43rd International Bamboo Organ Festival for the ninth time to play on Feb. 26. Bovet’s recital is just one of the many musical events happening during the six-day event.
The festival, which celebrates the 19th century bamboo organ in Las Piñas, begins on Feb. 22 with a by-invitation-only Gala Night that will highlight Dixit Dominus by G. Fr. Handel and two organ concertos. Performers include Belgian organist Jan Van Mol, Christian Tan (solo violin), sopranos Cristel De Meulder (Belgium) and Stefanie Quintin, altus Kyle Tingzon, tenor Ervin Lumauag, bass Mark Abesia, the Villancico Vocal Ensemble, and the Manila Baroque Ensemble with Armando Salarza at the organ positive and harpsichord, all under the baton of Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng.
Other audience can catch the repeat of the opening program’s last performance on Feb. 23.
Aside from his recital on Feb. 26, Bovet will also perform during the Festival Mass on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 4:00 p.m. (free admission). The mass will feature the sung Eucharistic Prayer (in Tagalog) by Fr. Nic Sengson, SVD with participation of the Assembly Choir. Presiding celebrant is Fr. Jonathan T. Cadiz. It will be followed by a concert at 8:00 p.m.
For the closing program on Feb. 28 at the San Ezekiel Moreno Oratory, the festival will use the newly installed pipe organ designed by master organ builder Cealwyn Tagle and constructed by the Diego Cera Organ Builders in 2017. Soloists are Stefanie Quintin and Maria Flores. Special guests are the Las Piñas Boys Choir, directed by Carl Paolo Hernandez. Bovet will also play his organ solo pieces.
Tickets for the concerts at the Bamboo Organ Church (Feb. 23, 25, and 26) are at P600, P400, and P200, and at the SEMO (Feb. 28) at P200 only. For ticket reservations, call (02) 825-7190 or 820-0795, or visit Ticket World, TicketNet, or SM Tickets.