Celebrating the country’s cultural synergy with Russia, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) performs works as a tribute to leading Russian composers in its third season concert on Nov. 17 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater at Circuit Makati at 7:30 p.m.  Maestro Grzegorz Nowak leads the orchestra.

Billed as “Russian Masters,” the concert program consists of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin: Polonaise, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto no. 2, op.18, C minor, and Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet (selections).

Russian pianist Nikolay Khozyainov performs as a guest soloist. He is currently one of the most gifted pianists. His musicality and formidable technique have thrilled audiences across the planet, his recitals and concerto engagements include sold-out performances on all continents at the world’s foremost stages such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, Wigmore Hall in London, The Louvre and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Sydney Opera House, Tonhalle in Zurich, Palazzo Quirinale in Rome, Auditorio Nacional in Madrid, the United Nations and many other venues.

Khozyainov has performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, The Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, among other groups.

Born in Blagoveshchensk in 1992, a city in the Russian Far East, Khozyainov began to play the piano at the age of five. His musical talent was discovered immediately. He moved to the capital to continue his studies at the Central Musical School and, at the age of seven, he made his public debut with the Handel Piano Concerto at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. He graduated from the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory with the gold medal and “The Best Student of the Year” award.

In 2012 he won first prize at the Dublin International Piano Competition and at the Sydney International Piano Competition.  He also received special prizes like Best Performance of both Concertos voted by members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Best Performance of a Work by Liszt, Best Performance of a Work by Schubert, Best Performance of a Virtuoso study, and Youngest Finalist. Khozyainov presently lives in Germany, where he has received an advanced degree at the Hannover Hochschule fur Music under the guidance of Professor Arie Vardi.

Maestro Grzegorz Nowak is currently the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director and principal conductor.  He is a permanent associate conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He was music director of the Polish National Opera in Warsaw from 2017 to 2020 and other orchestras in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and the US. He has conducted orchestral music recorded in over 80 CDs that have received awards and five-star ratings.

Tickets are priced at ₱3,000 (Orchestra Center), ₱2,000 (Orchestra Side), ₱2,500 (Loge Center), ₱1,500 (Loge Side), and ₱800 (Balcony One). www.culturalcenter.gov.ph