A glorious Tchaikovsky by birthday girl Cecile Licad

From Pablo Tariman came this short but happy note that said more than "Good morning!" to me while I remained secluded in my old hilltop hideaway. It made me a tad rueful that I didn't move mountains to be in Makati for this public concert (may malls be more open for this sort of event):

"Cecile Licad shook Glorietta Mall! Standing ovation for her and the ABS CBN Philharmonic under Gerard Salonga after Tchaikovsky No. 1. The audience erupted into more cries of 'More!!' after a hair-raising performance of Buencamino's 'Mayon Fantasy.'"

It more than sealed my determination to work, save up and watch her June 29 concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines main theater.  Pablo also sent the program for the June concert and how/where to order tickets in advance.


Gerard Salonga leads the ABS CBN Philharmonic in a special concert on June 29,2013 at the CCP main theater with Cecile Licad as soloist. The complete program:

Beethoven Overture To Egmont Op. 84
Saint-Saens Danse Macabre Op. 40
Liszt Totentanz S. 126
Liszt Symphonic Poem No. 2: Tasso, Lamento e Trionfo, G. 96
Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124

For music lovers abroad, Cecile Licad plays Tchaikovsky No. 1 with the Nashville Symphony on June 21 and flies to Manila June 29 for engagement with ABS CBN Philharmonic under Gerard Salonga.. Link to Nashville Symphony tickets: http://events.tennessean.com/event/detail/441743628/Summer_at_the_Symphony_Tchaikovsky_Extravaganza

Tickets to her June 29 CCP concert now available at the following prices.

Orchestra Center and Left P 2750
Orchestra Right P 2200
Balcony 1 Center P 1100
Balcony 1 Left P 880
Balcony 2 P 550
Licad’s program: Liszt No. 1 and Totentanz for Piano and Orchestra.
Ticket delivery can be arranged.
Call (02) 5763132 *Cell 09065104270

Meanwhile, let me take this occasion of breaking my two-month-long silence in this space to wish our Piyanista ng Bayan, Ms. Cecile Licad, a glorious glory be of a birthday! She gets more interesting and powerful in  her flaming 50s.

As her mentor Rudolf Serkin told her when she said how unsatisfied she was with a performance, "When you are not contented with how you play, that means you will go far." And, girl, are you still going far! The whole nation is mighty proud of you!