Noriko Ogawa, world renowned Japanese classical pianist, will play for Filipino fans for the first time in a specially staged concert for clients and friends of BDO Private Bank on Nov. 12 at the Francisco Santiago Hall of BDO Corporate Center in Makati.
Ogawa has prepared an enthralling repertoire that should captivate the audience, which includes sublime masterpieces by legendary composers Claude Debussy, Robert Schumann, Toru Takemitsu, Franz Liszt, and Frédéric Chopin.
“I am looking forward to performing for the Manila audience as this will be my first time in the Philippines,” said Noriko.
Ogawa found her spot in the global music scene when she won third place in the 1987 Leeds International Piano Competition. From there, she launched a vibrant international performing career and is widely considered a Debussy specialist. In 2011, she recorded Debussy: The Solo Piano Works, a beautiful, all-encompassing six-disc boxed set.
Aside from her musical successes, Ogawa has also been involved in various humanitarian efforts.
She participated in a fundraising activity for relief and rebuilding efforts after the March 2011 earthquake in Japan. Likewise, she serves as a Cultural Ambassador of Japan for the National Autistic Society, performing concerts for the parents of autistic children.
This will be the second musical collaboration between BDO Private Bank and Steinway Boutique Manila.
In May, BDO Private Bank presented the 3rd Philippine Steinway Youth Piano Competition, a showcase of the Philippines’ best young pianists. In that competition, 13-year old Hansel Harel Ang was declared the overall winner and went on to represent the country in the Steinway Regional Finals Asia Pacific in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“We at BDO Private Bank advocate the uplifting of the Filipino spirit through the promotion and appreciation of classical music. Having Noriko Ogawa perform here is indeed a rare opportunity that we are delighted to be a part of,” says its president, Josefina N. Tan.
BDO Private Bank takes pride in being the only Filipino domestic private bank that provides complete wealth management services and is a proud supporter of artistic education and expression for the Filipino youth.