Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra captivated audiences with a musical journey that spanned Broadway hits and cinematic scores.

The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with &lsquo;Lights, Camera, Encore!&rsquo; at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, showcasing the unifying power of music in a spectacular tribute to stage and screen classics. Attendees were delighted by showstopping performances from the 90-piece orchestra led by Maestro Rodel Colmenar. The setlist spanned Broadway hits like Wicked, Hamilton, and Mamma Mia and iconic scores from Titanic, Star Wars, Studio Ghibli favorites, and other unforgettable films and TV shows.

Colmenar opened the show with a beautiful rendition of Symphonic Dances from West Side Story before calling on some of the night&rsquo;s guests, Arman Ferrer and Lara Maigue, for a powerful performance of the musical&rsquo;s iconic &nbsp;duet, &lsquo;Tonight, Tonight.&rsquo; Vocal powerhouse Bituin Escalante impressed the crowd with her soaring notes through renditions of favorites from The Bodyguard and James Bond: Skyfall.

During a break, Colmenar shared a heartwarming story about the transformative power of music. &ldquo;I believe music can transform lives,&rdquo; he said, inviting cellist Dulcissimo &ldquo;Dodong&rdquo; Terrado to stand. Colmenar recalled meeting Dodong a decade ago during an outreach program for underprivileged children in Tondo, Manila. Through the Children&rsquo;s Orchestra Project, the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra provided Dodong with his first bass instrument and lessons. Today, he is a conservatory graduate who has toured Europe and Asia, showcasing the program&rsquo;s profound impact.

The night was made even more memorable with appearances from other celebrated homegrown musicians, including the award-winning Philippine Madrigal Singers, one of the country&rsquo;s finest vocal ensembles who electrified audiences with their medley of Abba hits and collaboration numbers with the renowned University of Santo Tomas Singers. Colmenar also brought world-class virtuoso violinist Shiho Takashima on stage for a moving performance of the 1988 Italian film Cinema Paradiso theme.

The concert was a fitting tribute to the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra&rsquo;s 25 years of excellence, showcasing Filipino talent and the extraordinary power of music. With a thoughtfully curated mix of Broadway anthems, iconic scores, and memorable live performances, Colmenar and the orchestra brought the audience on a delightful journey.

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra Marks 25 Years with ‘Lights, Camera, Encore!’ 

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES  March 2024- Park Gyu Young 600PHP 

L'OFFICIEL PHILIPPINES February 2024 Digital -James Reid 

Manila Philharmonic Orchestra Marks 25 Years with ‘Lights, Camera, Encore!’

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