MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Experience the unique timbres of woodwind instruments in the third installment of the CCP Out-of-the-Box Series (OOTB), featuring the PPO Woodwind Quintet with singers Lara Maigue and Gian Magdangal, on October 27, 7:30 pm and October 28, 4 pm, at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater).
The CCP OOTB Series has been conceptualized to present performances that audiences normally wouldn’t see in conventional programming. With the ongoing rehabilitation of the CCP Main Building, the premier arts and culture institution of the country strives to continue fostering artistic excellence and cultural representation across multiple venues.
For this installment of the CCP OOTB Series, the spotlight is on the woodwind quintet. Compared to the string section, which is the most popular classical chamber music, woodwind quintet doesn’t get as much exposure.
“This concert offers an opportunity for the Filipino audience to hear the woodwind outside of the symphony orchestra. Woodwind instruments – flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and French horn – have their own distinct individual sounds that blend in unique ways to create amazing music. In spite of this, there isn’t much available content that features them. This concert allows us to churn out new and specialized arrangements for the woodwinds; to engage the audience with a different musicscape,” shared director Ariel S.R. Yonzon.
Dubbed CCP Out-of-The-Box Series: Wondrous Woodwinds, the ensemble concert will feature familiar selections of classical music including Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fugue in G minor, Jacques Ibert’s Trois Pièces Brèves, Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango (Arr. Jeff Scott), Zequinha Abreu’s Tico tico no Fubá, among others.
The Woodwind Quintet, composed of bassoonist Frenvee Andra, oboe player John Peter Bautista, French horn player Ernani Pascual, flutist Marie Poblete, and clarinetist Ariel Sta. Ana, will also share beloved Filipino tunes such as Edgardo Parungao’s Philippine Airs Medley, National Artist Lucio San Pedro’s Sa Ugoy ng Duyan, and an Ernani Cuenco Medley, featuring Kalesa, Nahan, Bato sa Buhangin, and Gaano Kita Kamahal.
Dive into the unique tonal colors of the woodwind ensemble with R. Percival’s Art Deco Suite (with Rag, Charleston, and Tango) and Luciano Berio’s Opus Number Zoo “Children’s Play for Wind Quintet,” (with Filipino contextual translation of recited parts), assisted by percussionist Aimee Mina-Dela Cruz.
Soprano Lara will perform Giulio Caccini’s Ave Maria, while musical theater artist Gian will cover National Artist Ryan Cayabyab’s Hibang sa Awit. The real-life couple will perform a Swift Duet.
The concert will surely engage the audience members in a sing-along of nostalgic favorites with the Beatles Medley and ’70s Manila Sound. Dancers Bianca Manalo, Abigael Tinio, and Brando Balmedina also share the stage in spot numbers.
Tickets for the concert are available at the CCP Box Office, located at TIG, and at TicketWorld. Follow the CCP official social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for latest updates.
