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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Ruggero Barbieri, former musical director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, passes away

Ruggero Barbieri, former musical director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, passes away

Published Mar 21, 2022 09:02 am

Italian Maestro Ruggero Barbieri passed away on March 20 at Pope John XXX111 Hospital in Bergamo, Italy due to aneurism in the brain. Confirming the news of his demise was his 21-year-old son, Piolo Barbieri, through Rustan's CEO Zenaida “Nedy” Tantoco. Last March 12, maestro Barbieri was taken to the hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 60.

Maestro Ruggero Barbieri (Photo from Ruggero Barbieri Facebook Page)

Born on May 5, 1961, Maestro Barbieri was known as the first foreign musical director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), leading the musical ensemble from 1996 to 2005. In 1997, he founded the Intramuros International Music Festival, introducing the Philippines to Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem.”

According to Vida Art Management, Maestro Barbieri honed his musical skills at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan, the Music Academy of Pescara, and the Konservatorium für Musik in Vienna, and trained under the tutelage of great Italian conducting teachers such as Franco Ferrara, Mario Gusella, and Alceo Galliera.

Even after his run as the musical director of PPO, he continued to return to the Philippines leading the orchestra under his baton in concerts such as “Glimpses of Europe” (2009) and “Christmas Concert at The Pen” (2016 and 2019), among others.

“He loved the PPO and the Philippines. He made many lasting friendships here,” Nedy said. “From the years 2005 until 2019 he would come annually to the Philippines to be the conductor of the PPO during the Christmas Concert at the Pen. It was an occasion many Filipinos look forward to and Maestro Barbieri always played to a full and enthusiastic audience. He was scheduled to come once again this year to once again conduct the Christmas concert. But alas, he will be missed.”

Rest in peace, Maestro Barbieri.

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Ruggero Barbieri Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Arts and Culture
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