The Cultural Center of the Philippines starts the year 2009 with an opening salvo, featuring three noted Filipino pianists Dr. Jose Artemio Panganiban III, Pia Margarita Diño Balasico and Abelardo Galang II at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) slated on Jan. 9 at 8 p.m.
“3 Grands: A Piano Celebration” includes Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos KV 448 in D Major, Poulenc’s Sonata for Two Pianos, the world premiere of Kulay-Tugtugin, a suite for three pianos based on Filipino folksongs written by Augusto Espino, and Mozart’s Concerto for Three Pianos and Orchestra in F Major, KV 242 with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Josefino “Chino” Toledo.
Dr. Panganiban obtained his Bachelor of Music degree (summa cum laude) at the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1989 under the UP Musical Arts and Research Management Piano Scholarship. Later that year, he won the Associate Takahiro Sonoda Award at the fifth International Takahiro Sonoda Piano Competition in Oita, Japan. He has performed at the Puerta Real Evenings Special Concert Series, Paco Park Presents and the CCP Filipino Artists Series. At present, Dr. Panganiban is a vice president at Citigroup.
A child prodigy and an intense performer, Balasico was the featured soloist of the Metro Manila Symphony Orchestra (MMSO) at a special concert at the CCP for the delegates of the 1980 Inter-Parliamentary Union. She also performed twice as soloist with the MMSO at the Concert at the Park. An active collaborating artist, Balasico was featured in various concerts at UP and other concert halls including a chamber music performance at the Francisco Santiago Hall this year. Balasico is currently an assistant professor of piano at the UP College of Music.
Galang pursued his music studies at the State Music Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria and trained at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule fuer Musik in Berlin, Germany. Galang made his debut recording in Germany with works of Schumann and Chopin, and later with acclaimed Filipino bass-baritone Jonathan de la Paz Zaens in a collection of Philippine art songs titled Kundiman arranged by Ryan Cayabyab. Galang is finishing his Doctoral Studies on the “Development of Philippine Piano Literature” at the Technische Universitaet Berlin.
For information, call the CCP Music Division at 832-1125 local 1604/05 or the CCP Box Office at 832-3704.