Marian Pastor Roces book launched
GATHERING: Political Writing on Art and Culture, a limited-edition collection of 43 essays on politics, culture and art written by cultural theorist, critic, and independent curator Marian Pastor Roces, was recently launched at Powerbooks at The Podium in Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City. The anthology debuts the publishing initiative of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), which will continue to print special monographs of contemporary Filipino artists and art practitioners. The project was a part of the celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of the museum. Gathering: Political Writing on Art and Culture features Roces’ discursive articles from 1974 to 2018, which showcase her insights on diverse and important subjects such as art, museology, and cultural theory in the local and international landscape of political and social developments. Roces, the founder and principal of TAO Inc., “a museum and exhibition development corporation,” was part of MCAD’s master planning team and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the museum in 2008. Co-published with ArtAsiaPacific Foundation and sponsored by Powerbooks and National Bookstore, Gathering: Political Writing on Art and Culture is available at the MCAD and at select Manila stores such as Art Bar Serendra, Art Bar Rockwell, Powerbooks Podium, Powerbooks Alabang, Powerbooks Shangri-La, National Book Store Glorietta, National Book Store Shangri-La, National Book Store Taft, and ArtBooks.ph. Locally, it is available for P2,300, while it is likewise available for international purchase via Art Asia Pactic’s website www.artasiapacific.com at the price of $45.
Group show at Artery Art Space
ONGOING until Sept. 21 is the exhibit Looking at your brain by means of a mirror, a group show featuring works by Julius Bagoyo, Nice Buenaventura, Lena Cobangbang, Jon Cuyson, Jason Montinola, Ikea Rizalon, Jiddu San Jose, and Luis Santos. The exhibit examines the intersection between concept and craft that brings about a diversity of representations ranging from eccentric figuration, portraiture, or other altered manifestations of identity and the self. Artery Art Space is at 102 P. Tuazon St., Cubao, Quezon City.
Sweeney Todd’s full cast out
ATLANTIS Theatrical Entertainment Group has announced its full cast and creatives for Sweeney Todd, its final musical offering for its 20th Anniversary season. It was previously announced that Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga and rock icon Jett Pangan would lead the cast as Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd, respectively. They will be joined by Ima Castro as the Beggar Woman, Andrew Fernando as Judge Turpin, Gerald Santos as Anthony Hope, and Nyoy Volante as Adolfo Pirelli. Also joining them are Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as Johanna, Luigi Quesada as Tobias, Arman Ferrer as Beadle, and Dean Rosen as Jonas Fogg. Completing the ensemble are Steven Conde, Sarah Facuri, Christine Flores, Jep Go, Kevin Guiman, and Emeline Celis Guinid. Sweeney Todd will be directed by Bobby Garcia and will have set design by Tony Award winner David Gallo, musical direction by Gerard Salonga along with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra, costume design by Rajo Laurel, choreography by Cecile Martinez, lighting design by Aaron Porter, hair and make-up design by Leslie Espinosa, vocal direction by Manman Angsico, and sound design by Justin Stasiw. Mr. Garcia says, “We have gathered quite the cast for this retelling of Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical thriller. I think we will be bringing to the stage a unique version of Sweeney Todd, as told by some of the best musical theater storytellers in the country, led by Lea Salonga and Jett Pangan. I am also so excited to be collaborating with a creative team full of geniuses in their craft. I can’t wait to begin.” The musical runs from Oct. 11 to 27 at the Theatre at Solaire. Tickets are now available at www.ticketworld.com.ph or through 891-9999.
PPO 37th Concert Season
THE Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) announces its programming and lineup of soloists and guest conductors for the 2019-2020 performance season. PPO Music Director Yoshikazu Fukumura leads the Orchestra in five concerts of the season while three will be led by guest conductors Michael Cousteau, Herminigildo Ranera, and Gerard Salonga. It will run from September 2019 to April 2020 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. The season opens on Sept. 13 with pianist Noriko Ogawa as soloist and Maestro Fukumura at the podium. On the concert program are Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Don Giovanni Overture, Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto no. 3 op. 26 in C Major, and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony no. 7 op. 70 in D minor. On Oct. 25, French conductor Michael Cousteau takes the baton to conduct a program offering Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod, Hector Berlioz’s Harold in Italy op. 16, and Romeo and Juliet: Love scene, and Franz Liszt’s Les Preludes. Featured soloist is Rey Casey Concepcion on the viola. On Nov. 15, Maestro Fukumura returns to the podium with the SORA Ensemble of Japan as the featured soloists of the evening. The concert repertoire consists of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 9 op. 70, Franz Joseph Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante op. 84 in B-flat Major and two works by Arturo Marquez, Danzon no. 7 and Danzon no. 8. For its Christmas offering, the PPO will perform on Dec. 20 with conductor Herminigildo Ranera. The Orchestra will perform two works by Samuel Barber’s, Adagio for Strings and Die Natali op. 36, Darius Milhaud’s Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra, and Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien op. 45. Percussionist Aimee De la Cruz and soprano Alexa Kaufman will be the soloists for the evening. Bassoonist Adolfo Mendoza is featured soloist in the fifth concert on Jan. 24, 2020. Maestro Fukumura conducts a program of Antonin Dvorak’s Serenade for String Orchestra op. 22 in E Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto in B-flat Major and Cesar Franck’s Symphony in D minor. Gerard Salonga is the guest conductor for the 6th concert on Feb. 14, with soprano Andion Fernandez performing as soloist. The concert offers Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetique” Symphony no. 6 op. 74 in B minor, Lucio San Pedro’s Ang Buwan sa Kabundukan, Franz Schubert’s Erlkönig, Manuel De Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares Españolas. On March 13, Japanese violinist Ryu Goto will be the featured soloist as Maestro Fukumura leads the PPO in a repertoire consisting of Zhou Tian’s Concerto for Orchestra, Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto op. 35 in D Major and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony no. 5 op. 67 in C minor. The grand finale of the PPO concert season, on April 24, is an collaboration with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. Ray Wang again plays the cello with the PPO under Maestro Fukumura. The evening program will feature Carl Orff’s Entrata for Orchestra, Franz Joseph Haydn’s Cello Concerto no. 2 in D Major and Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique op. 14. For ticket information, please call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.
