The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) imparts narratives of solemn heroism and resiliency in the fifth installment of its 40th concert season, dubbed as “HOPE,” on February 14, 2025, 7:30 p.m., at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila City.
PPO Concert V: Hope uses the universal language of music to tell the shared past of two capitals, Warsaw (Poland) and Manila (Philippines), through melodies from Wings of Hope: a Warsaw-Manila Peace Tribute.
Accompanying the music are film illustrations created by director Adam Ustynowicz and graphic artist Piotr Forkasiewicz, thus creating a multi-sensory experience. Ustynowicz also bagged the Best Film Award at the Monaco Film Festival with “Chopin: the Space Concert,” which brought Frédéric Chopin’s music along the flight of the Space Shuttle.
Through the universal language of music, PPO Concert V: Hope honors the heroes who sacrificed their lives during the Warsaw Uprising in Poland and the Manila Massacre in the Philippines, both important historical events during World War II.
The first Warsaw Uprising began on the afternoon of August 1, 1944, with 50,000 troops attacking a German garrison. Their initial success, however, didn’t last long. When the Germans counter-attacked, the Polish underground resistance Home Army faced the bloodiest encounter as they tried to regain control of their city. Without significant support, the Home Army was forced to surrender on October 2, 1944. Over 15,000 insurgents and 250,000 Polish civilians faced death while the survivors were captured and sent to German concentration camps.
Also known as the “Rape of Manila,” the often overlooked Manila Massacre happened on the heel of the return of Gen. Douglas McArthur to the capital city during the waning months of World War II. The battle was characterized by the bravery of Philippine troops amidst the atrocities committed by Japanese troops. Refusing to surrender, the withdrawing Japanese forces slaughtered more than 100,000 Filipinos. They bombed Manila, obliterating cultural landmarks, religious sites, and government infrastructures. These acts sparked a firestorm with the World War II allied forces.
Under the baton of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, PPO Concert V: Hope highlights solidarity during trying times and spotlights the bravery shown by the people of the two countries.
The concert begins with Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto, featuring multi-talented Konrad Binienda on piano.
Addinsell half-heartedly wrote this concerto for the romantic film Dangerous Moonlight (1941). Besides evoking turmoil, this song narrates the bubbling love story between protagonists Polish pianist Radetzky and American journalist Carole. Addinsell’s “Warsaw Concerto” is known to divide opinion among musicians. For movie-goers, however, it is deemed brilliant for sounding like a “full-bloodied romance.”
From describing the tragedy of love amid war, PPO Concert V: Hope continues with Andrzej Panufnik’s Heroic Overture and Tragic Overture. “Heroic Overture” reflects Poland’s brave resistance during World War II. Drawing inspiration from his origins, Panufnik finished writing it in 1939. That same year, Poland was betrayed by the Stalin-Hitler pact, causing Panufnik to lose all optimism, giving birth to “Tragic Overture”.
Agonizing over the death of his only brother during the uprising in 1944, Panufnik composed Tragic Overture. Including its first version, 30 years of his life’s work were destroyed in the war. He rewrote Tragic Overture, intending to hide his frustration beneath it. Panufnik’s subconscious, however, seeped through and presented his grief in onomatopoeic passages.
Panufnik’s Wings of Hope pays homage to Polish airmen who risked their lives in the name of freedom. This commissioned work discusses the helplessness and hope that come with heroism. While exploring the struggle of making sacrifices in exchange for triumph, Panufnik’s “Wings of Hope” weaves modern harmonies with the human spirit’s innate resilience.
Featuring Binienda’s most Chopin-like orchestration, the PPO Concert V: Hope will showcase Frédéric Chopin’s Allegro de concert with patriotic conviction. Despite its title, this composition is technically not a “concerto” as it lacked orchestration from Chopin. This, however, didn’t stop it from gaining popularity as artists reimagined it over the years. Chopin’s “Allegro de concert” derives from military music and nocturne-like lyricism, making it stylistically inconsistent.
PPO Concert V: Hope culminates with Henryk Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. With Konrad Binienda on the piano and golden-throated soprano Małgorzata Trojanowska, this magnificent piece offers the perspective of the war’s innocent victims. Lamenting on the horrors of World War II, Górecki’s magnum opus describes the intricate relationship of a mother and her child amid wartime. Long, sustained notes decorate “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs,” creating a contemplative mood.
Through the poignant repertoire from Wings of Hope: A Warsaw-Manila Peace Tribute, PPO Concert V: Hope harnesses music’s profound power to foster solidarity among audiences of diverse cultures.
Celebrate Heart’s Day with these classical melodies of heroism, love, and loss on February 14, at 7:30 p.m., at the Metropolitan Theater.
PPO tickets are priced at Php 3,000, Php 2,500, Php 2,000, and Php 1,500, and are available at TicketWorld. Be a PPO Subscriber and enjoy up to 25 percent discount. Email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office at +63931-033-0880 for more information.
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