The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) took the stage once again before their historic and highly anticipated UK Tour, featuring one of Britain’s finest pianists, Mark Bebbington, on April 24, 2025, Thursday, 6:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila.

The special send-off concert showcased PPO’s musical prowess and world-class symphonic artistry headed by its Music Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.

The orchestra performed an exquisitely curated repertoire featuring works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Elgar, Delius, and Ching. Renowned pianist Bebbington joined the concert to perform Delius’ Piano Concerto in C Minor.

Featuring Jeffrey Ching’s work, PPO’s first composer-in-residence

PPO showcased Jeffrey Ching’s “II Maestro di Cappella” which was written to open each concert for the UK Tour. Jeffrey Ching is the PPO’s first composer-in-residence through Maestro Nowak’s invitation.

Ching is a distinguished graduate of Harvard, Cambridge, and the University of London. He has composed over 300 works, including five symphonies, and acclaimed operas such as Das Waisenkind and The True Story of King Kong.

He has earned numerous recognitions like the Jose Rizal Award for Excellence in the category of Art, Literature, and Culture in 2003 from the Philippine president for his innovative approach that blends historical elements of Philippine music with contemporary themes like romance. His work has also been celebrated internationally such as in Germany, Spain, Romania, and Russia.

In November 2024 at the Children’s Biennale in Manila, he premiered his opera “Before Brabant,” that tells the story of a young man who seeks for his true family amid an unfortunate destiny.

Renowned pianist Mark Bebbington’s elegance in every note

Soloist Mark Bebbington will join the PPO in three cities in the United Kingdom for a performance of Delius’ Piano Concerto in C Minor.

Bebbington is recognized internationally as a leading interpreter of British piano music and one of the UK’s most strikingly individual pianists with more than 30 admired recordings under his name. In his recital series, he regularly includes contemporary composers like Takemitsu, Julian Anderson, John McCabe, David Matthews, Pierre Boulez, and Elliot Carter.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra UK Tour Send-off Concert was co-presented by Okada Manila, with venue partner The Metropolitan Theater and National Commission for Culture and the Arts. The concert was sponsored by the Rustan Commercial Corporation, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc., the Office of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Emirates.

For ticket inquiries, group discounts, and subscriptions, you can call the CCP Box Office at + 63 931 033 0880 or email   salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Follow the CCP and PPO’s official social media accounts or  visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph) for updates on PPO’s future performances.