The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra stages a grand finale for its 41st season with Concert VIII: Coda on April 17, 2026, 7:30pm, at the Metropolitan Theater. 

Under the baton of music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the concert season finale promises a captivating program showcasing the orchestra’s exceptional musicality. 

The program features versatile Czech composer Antonin Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Op.92; French musical prodigy Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, renowned Romantic era Russian composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet, and influential Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird: Suite (1919).

The concert serves as the world premiere of PPO resident composer Jeffrey Ching’s Paganini and the Time Machine (world premiere), as well as his Fiesta Contrapuntística.

The PPO will perform with acclaimed Filipino violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. as guest soloist.

A Coda to A Versatile Season 

Dvořák’s Carnival Overture, Op. 92 (1891) opens the concert with its fast-paced energy of bohemian folk dances.

The 10-minute concert piece celebrates life and festivity, especially its second movement “Nature, Life, and Love” triptych, which portrays the night-time city carnival scene.

Composed in 1863 and premiered in 1867, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 is a brilliant showpiece for violin and orchestra. Dedicated to virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate, it combines a melancholic slow introduction with a fiery, Spanish-influenced, and highly technical rondo, making it a cornerstone of the violin repertoire. 

The Paganini and the Time Machine (world premiere) is a continuing dialogue of Ching with the music of past masters. Fiesta Contrapuntistica, meanwhile, is a symphonic toccata and fugue based on the Filipino national anthem Lupang Hinirang.

Inspired by literary genius William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet is a renowned fantasy-overture. It features three main themes representing the warring families, the friar, and the lovers. 

Stravinsky’s The Firebird: Suite (1919) is the most popular concert arrangement of his 1910 ballet based on a Russian folklore. Re-orchestrated for a smaller, more accessible orchestra, the suite features a fantastical blend of chromatic, shimmering, and rhythmic, “infernal” music, depicting Prince Ivan’s triumph over the evil sorcerer Kashchei with the help of a magical firebird. 

A major talent with remarkable artistry and technical prowess 

Saraza Jr. will display his virtuosity on violin by performing Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Op.92 and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso.

Saraza Jr. gained attention and became a prominent violinist in the Philippines after winning first place at the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in 2002. He became the youngest member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra at age 13. Saraza received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School in 2015. 

One of his notable concert engagements is the performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto in the historic concert of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in New York’s Carnegie Hall, under the baton of former PPO principal conductor Olivier Ochanine. Saraza serves as the PPO’s concertmaster and artist-in-residence.

The PPO concert tickets are priced at ₱3,000, ₱2,500, ₱2,000, and ₱1,500 and can be purchased at TicketWorld, with discounts for Senior Citizens, PWD, Government & Military Personnel, and Athletes. Be a PPO season subscriber to get an exclusive 20 percent discount. Email salesandpromotions@culturalcenter.gov.ph or call the CCP Box Office (+63931-033-0880).

For more updates on the PPO’s performances, visit the CCP’s website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph. Follow the CCP and PPO’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for more information on future events.