IN order to start the year on the right foot, the Philippine-Italian Association (PIA) together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Rustan Group of Cos., is coproducing the much-awaited concert of world renowned Filipina pianist Cecile Licad that will feature a scintillating repertoire including Rossini’s “Overture to Italian Girl in Algiers,” Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” and Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.”
Licad’s rise to international prominence began in 1981 when she was awarded the prestigious Leventritt Gold Medal making her the first Asian to bag this award.
With this, Licad’s international career was launched. Since then, her musical life has been played out in the great concert halls of the world, performing with famous orchestras and distinguished conductors of the world.
This first salvo is in line with PIA’s advocacy, under the leadership of its President Zenaida Tantoco, to create an endowment fund earmarked to answer the growing needs of the underprivileged, as well as nurturing the human spirit through art and culture.
In keeping with the association’s vision, some of the beneficiaries are major charities organized by Italian missionaries for the benefit of Filipinos, including the Servants of Charity, the Sister Handmaids of Charity and the Canossians.
The Servants of Charity provide care for special children who have been abandoned by their own families. They teach them livelihood skills to enjoy fulfilment in their lives. Meanwhile, the Sister Handmaids and the Canossians on both work to improve the lives of underprivileged children by making sure they go through school and are fed right.
On the cultural aspect, PIA has always worked hand in hand with the Italian Embassy and other Italian agencies present in the country to promote Italian culture.
A succession of concerts, film festivals and exhibits has peppered 50 odd years of the association’s existence with a lot of the concerts fulfilling its sharing and mentoring aspects. The Italian Embassy, through Cultural Attaché Emanuela Adesini has ensured that a master class would always be part and parcel of its cultural endeavours.
Filipino pianists, musicians, ballet dancers, opera singers, film critics and restorers have benefited from the cultural program supported by the Italian Embassy and the PIA.
Licad’s concert, happening on January 28 at the main theater of the CCP, aside from benefiting the three charities, will also support the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) upcoming tour in the US slated in June. It is a first for the PPO, which will be joining Licad under the baton of Olivier Ochanine.
The acclaimed pianist will be using a Hamburg Steinway Grand Piano, the same one she used for a concert held at Santuario de San Antonio in October last year, as well as her performance during the state dinner to honor the 15 heads of states who attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation last November.
Cecile Licad Encore! is made possible with the support of Calata Corp., The Peninsula Manila, Starbucks and Royal Duty Free Shops Inc. as sponsors, and the active cooperation of Bvlgari, Megaworld Corp., Mercedes-Benz, SSI Group Inc., Amanpulo and Anflocor Group of Cos.