CAINTA, Philippines — How&nbsp;time flies! The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), which was established back in 1973, is now 50, and it is celebrating its golden year with a special&nbsp;PPO 50th&nbsp;Anniversary Gala, slated at the Metropolitan Theater on May 12 at 8&nbsp;p.m.

The Metropolitan Theater serves as the temporary home of the PPO while the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)’s Main Building is still undergoing rehabilitation.

For this milestone, the PPO, CCP’s resident orchestra, shall recreate in part its very first concert, which took place on May 15, 1973. In that debut concert, the PPO was under the baton of Maestro Luis C. Valencia, its first musical director, with Julian Quirit as concert master. Back then, the PPO performed Alfresdo S. Buenaventura’s "Bathaluman" and National Artist Lucresia Kasilag’s&nbsp;Divertissement for Piano and Orchestra. The late National Artist was the president and artistic director at that time. The 1973 concert also featured Manuel de&nbsp;Falla’s "Noches en los Jardines de España" and G. Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue," with guest performer, pianist Benjamin Tupas.

The PPO has certainly come a long way through the years. Initially intended to just be a live orchestra to accompany performing artists at the CCP Theater when it was founded in 1973, it has since grown, both in size and in talent. From that initial state, the PPO underwent reorganization in 1979, with Professor Oscar C. Yatco at the helm. Three years later, the PPO was born with a new vision — to be ranked among the best in the world. Breeding excellence, the PPO has through the years grown to become the country’s leading orchestra.

Now, under the baton of Maestro Rodel Colmenar, who is known as the founder and music director of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, the PPO will relive its first concert by performing Buenaventura and Kasilag’s masterpieces, with young pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol as guest performer.

Colmenar has proven his great skills and passion for music on international platforms and has collaborated with several outstanding local and foreign classical artists. As a conductor, he is significantly involved in the&nbsp;Kurt Masur Conducting Workshop&nbsp;in Detmold, Germany, and in the masterclasses of French conductor Jean Sebastian Bereau and Italian conductor Pierro Gamba.

Meanwhile, young virtuoso Baracol is currently a Grade 12 scholar at the Philippine High School for the Arts. In the last three years, he has won 16 local and international piano competitions, notably the Junior Piano category of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). He is a scholar of CCP.

In the upcoming concert, another performer will be critically acclaimed Filipino tenor Arthur Espiritu, who will be performing "Salut! Demeure e Chaste et Pure&nbsp;from&nbsp;Faust" (Charles Gounod), "Che gelida manina&nbsp;from&nbsp;La Boheme"&nbsp;(Giacomo Puccini), and "Kundiman ng Langit" (Augusto Espino).

With his impressive vocals and great stage presence, Espiritu has performed in various operas, concerts and recitals across the United States and other countries, thus showcasing his versatility and range as a performer. He took part in the CCP opera production of "Lucia di Lammermoor" in 2020.

The anniversary concert is culminating with the strong performance of renowned pianist D. Raul Sunico, who will be playing G. Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" under the baton of PPO resident conductor Herminigildo Ranera.

A former president of the CCP, Sunico has brought home several awards in piano competitions held abroad; while conductor Ranera, who is also a multi-awarded performer, has been a three-time prize winner or the NAMCYA in 1982 and 1983 as a performer in Trombone, Baritone, and Tuba (Chamber Music) categories.

Tickets to the&nbsp;PPO 50th Anniversary Concert&nbsp;are available at the CCP Box Office, located at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Vicente Sotto Street, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also get tickets at the TicketWorld via&nbsp;www.ticketworld.com.ph. Ticket prices are: P3,000 (Loge Premium and Orchestra Center Premium), P1,500 (Orchestra Left and Right), and P800 (Balcony Center, Right, and Left).

<h1>PPO recreates its first ever concert for 50th Anniversary Gala on May 12</h1>CAINTA, Philippines — How&nbsp;time flies! The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), which was established back in 1973, is now 50, and it is celebrating its golden year with a special&nbsp;PPO 50th&nbsp;Anniversary Gala, slated at the Metropolitan Theater on May 12 at 8&nbsp;p.m.The Metropolitan Theater serves as the temporary home of the PPO while the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)’s Main Building is still undergoing rehabilitation.For this milestone, the PPO, CCP’s resident orchestra, shall recreate in part its very first concert, which took place on May 15, 1973. In that debut concert, the PPO was under the baton of Maestro Luis C. Valencia, its first musical director, with Julian Quirit as concert master. Back then, the PPO performed Alfresdo S. Buenaventura’s "Bathaluman" and National Artist Lucresia Kasilag’s&nbsp;Divertissement for Piano and Orchestra. The late National Artist was the president and artistic director at that time. The 1973 concert also featured Manuel de&nbsp;Falla’s "Noches en los Jardines de España" and G. Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue," with guest performer, pianist Benjamin Tupas.The PPO has certainly come a long way through the years. Initially intended to just be a live orchestra to accompany performing artists at the CCP Theater when it was founded in 1973, it has since grown, both in size and in talent. From that initial state, the PPO underwent reorganization in 1979, with Professor Oscar C. Yatco at the helm. Three years later, the PPO was born with a new vision — to be ranked among the best in the world. Breeding excellence, the PPO has through the years grown to become the country’s leading orchestra.<img style="max-width:100%;height:auto;" src="https://vritimes-public.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/production/4_2023-05-08_11-44-38_gallery.jpg" alt="Image"/>The PPONow, under the baton of Maestro Rodel Colmenar, who is known as the founder and music director of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, the PPO will relive its first concert by performing Buenaventura and Kasilag’s masterpieces, with young pianist Aidan Ezra Baracol as guest performer.Colmenar has proven his great skills and passion for music on international platforms and has collaborated with several outstanding local and foreign classical artists. As a conductor, he is significantly involved in the&nbsp;Kurt Masur Conducting Workshop&nbsp;in Detmold, Germany, and in the masterclasses of French conductor Jean Sebastian Bereau and Italian conductor Pierro Gamba.Meanwhile, young virtuoso Baracol is currently a Grade 12 scholar at the Philippine High School for the Arts. In the last three years, he has won 16 local and international piano competitions, notably the Junior Piano category of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). He is a scholar of CCP.In the upcoming concert, another performer will be critically acclaimed Filipino tenor Arthur Espiritu, who will be performing "Salut! Demeure e Chaste et Pure&nbsp;from&nbsp;Faust" (Charles Gounod), "Che gelida manina&nbsp;from&nbsp;La Boheme"&nbsp;(Giacomo Puccini), and "Kundiman ng Langit" (Augusto Espino).With his impressive vocals and great stage presence, Espiritu has performed in various operas, concerts and recitals across the United States and other countries, thus showcasing his versatility and range as a performer. He took part in the CCP opera production of "Lucia di Lammermoor" in 2020.<img style="max-width:100%;height:auto;" src="https://vritimes-public.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/production/5_2023-05-08_11-44-41_gallery.jpg" alt="Image"/>The PPO 50th Anniversary GalaThe anniversary concert is culminating with the strong performance of renowned pianist D. Raul Sunico, who will be playing G. Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" under the baton of PPO resident conductor Herminigildo Ranera.A former president of the CCP, Sunico has brought home several awards in piano competitions held abroad; while conductor Ranera, who is also a multi-awarded performer, has been a three-time prize winner or the NAMCYA in 1982 and 1983 as a performer in Trombone, Baritone, and Tuba (Chamber Music) categories.Tickets to the&nbsp;PPO 50th Anniversary Concert&nbsp;are available at the CCP Box Office, located at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Vicente Sotto Street, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can also get tickets at the TicketWorld via&nbsp;www.ticketworld.com.ph. Ticket prices are: P3,000 (Loge Premium and Orchestra Center Premium), P1,500 (Orchestra Left and Right), and P800 (Balcony Center, Right, and Left).

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Art Culture

PPO recreates its first ever concert for 50th Anniversary Gala on May 12

Sennheiser has appointed Versatech International, a renowned IT/AV distributor as its exclusive distributor for its Business Communication products in the Philippines. This partnership is a testament to Sennheiser’s commitment to expand its distribution network and to better serve its customers and partners in the region.

Versatech International is an IT/AV distributor established in 2012 with strong emphasis on ensuring premium products are readily available to their customers. With an extensive network and deep understanding of the local market, Versatech International has built strong partnerships with many global brands in the industry over the years.

“We are excited to partner with Versatech International as our exclusive distributor in the Philippines,” said John Oh, Sales Director for Sennheiser Business Communications in Southeast Asia. “The pandemic has demonstrated the key role that audio plays in a virtual or hybrid set-up, which has created a huge demand for high quality conferencing solutions suitable for meeting rooms, lecture halls or collaboration spaces. Sennheiser’s TeamConnect Ceiling solutions and our expanding portfolio of premium products are the perfect solutions, and we look forward to offering them to more customers in Philippines through our partnership with Versatech.”

With immediate effect, Versatech International will distribute the full suite of Sennheiser Business Communication solutions in Philippines, including the newly launch TeamConnect Ceiling Medium.

“We pride ourselves as a company that provide brands with strategic and effective route for product distribution to the Philippine market. We are delighted to partner with a reputable brand like Sennheiser and we look forward to growing the brand through elevated awareness&nbsp;and availability in the Philippines,” said Stephen Yu, President, Versatech International.

<h1>Sennheiser aims to expand its distribution network in Philippines, bringing seamless and high-quality audio solutions to more partners and end users</h1>Sennheiser has appointed Versatech International, a renowned IT/AV distributor as its exclusive distributor for its Business Communication products in the Philippines. This partnership is a testament to Sennheiser’s commitment to expand its distribution network and to better serve its customers and partners in the region.Versatech International is an IT/AV distributor established in 2012 with strong emphasis on ensuring premium products are readily available to their customers. With an extensive network and deep understanding of the local market, Versatech International has built strong partnerships with many global brands in the industry over the years.“We are excited to partner with Versatech International as our exclusive distributor in the Philippines,” said John Oh, Sales Director for Sennheiser Business Communications in Southeast Asia. “The pandemic has demonstrated the key role that audio plays in a virtual or hybrid set-up, which has created a huge demand for high quality conferencing solutions suitable for meeting rooms, lecture halls or collaboration spaces. Sennheiser’s TeamConnect Ceiling solutions and our expanding portfolio of premium products are the perfect solutions, and we look forward to offering them to more customers in Philippines through our partnership with Versatech.”With immediate effect, Versatech International will distribute the full suite of Sennheiser Business Communication solutions in Philippines, including the newly launch TeamConnect Ceiling Medium.“We pride ourselves as a company that provide brands with strategic and effective route for product distribution to the Philippine market. We are delighted to partner with a reputable brand like Sennheiser and we look forward to growing the brand through elevated awareness&nbsp;and availability in the Philippines,” said Stephen Yu, President, Versatech International.