Pianist Raul Sunico and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) are set to perform three iconic Filipino piano concertos in a special concert, Gabi ng Piyano Konsyertong Pilipino, on Feb. 6 at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.
The concert, scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m., will feature conductors Jeffrey Solares and Herminigildo Ranera, both faculty members of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music.
The program includes Lucino Sacramento’s Piano Concerto No. 2 “Maharlika” (1973), Alfredo Buenaventura’s Piano Concerto No. 1 “Celebration” (1976), and Francisco Santiago’s Piano Concerto in Bb minor (1924). These works, considered milestones in Filipino music, will be performed for the first time in years.
Santiago’s Piano Concerto in Bb minor holds historical significance, as it was thought lost during World War II but was recently reconstructed based on notes from one of Santiago’s students. This performance coincides with the concerto’s 100th anniversary, marking its debut at the Manila Grand Opera House on Feb. 5, 1925.
Sunico, an internationally renowned pianist and advocate of Filipino music, first premiered Sacramento’s Maharlika fifty years ago. He described the upcoming concert as a celebration of Filipino composers and their contributions to 20th-century music.
Established in 1926, the MSO is among Asia’s oldest orchestras, having worked with legendary performers such as Yehudi Menuhin, Montserrat Caballé, and Filipino icons like Antonio Molina and Ryan Cayabyab.
The event is produced by Musika Pilipinas, a research initiative funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Council of the Philippines, in partnership with the UST Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities.
Tickets are available via Ticket World, with prices ranging from P1,030 to P8,240.
