Filipina pianist Cecile Licad performs in honor of Women’s Month
Truly there would be reason to go mad were it not for music. — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
It’s almost impossible not to recognize the brilliance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s works. Whether it’s the calm and gentle nature of “Swan Lake” or the booming excitement brought forth by the “1812 Overture.”
What many might not be aware of though is the tragedy that laid the path for Tchaikovsky’s timeless compositions. According to musical scholars, Tchaikovsky’s first composition came about after he created it in memory of his mother who had passed away from cholera when he was only 14 years old. The waltz was originally titled “My Dear Little Mother” before being renamed “Mama” as part of his Album pour les enfantes op. 39 (Children’s Album op. 39).
After his mother’s death, his father sent him back to school where Tchaikovsky’s passion for music started to bloom as he often watched opera performances with friends.
His father, upon seeing his talent for the piano, opted to have him undergo private lessons but the teacher was skeptical of the young artist. Despite this, Tchaikovsky powered on with his passion for music and created one of his most famous works, “Concerto No. 1.”
It’s only fitting then that a piece made through resilience be used as an homage to women’s empowerment this Women’s Month as part of Filipina piano virtuoso Cecile Licad’s upcoming performance alongside the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) at the Metropolitan Theater.
Licad will be performing her rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23” during an invitational event on March 17. Under the guidance of Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, the music director and principal conductor of the PPO, the performance promises one of musical mastery.
Expected to be in attendance during the prestigious event are dignitaries from the Senate, several government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, socio-civic stalwarts, educators from state colleges and universities, young artists, and music students from all over. Such a rich blend of people will ensure a haven for those hoping to share their love for cultural and artistic heritage. The event is made possible through Senate President Pro Tempore and chairperson of Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts Loren Legarda, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and its chairman Ino Manalo, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) headed by chairman Jaime Laya, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. led by its late president Zenaida Tantoco.
