For its 44th edition, the International Bamboo Organ Festival will feature “Magnificat” by J.S. Bach and other works of the Baroque period (Telemann, Charpentier, Buxtehude), performed by Johann Trummer (organ, Austria), Manu Mellaerts (trumpet, Belgium), soloists Stefanie Quintin, Sherla Najera, Michelle Mariposa, James Conde, Ervin Lumauag, Christopher Arceo, Mark Abesia, the Villancico Vocal Ensemble, and the Manila Baroque Ensemble, conducted by Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng.
As has been tradition, the Gala Concert on Feb. 21, which will be for the sustaining members of the Bamboo Organ Foundation and major sponsors of the festival, will once again be held at the 200-year-old St. Joseph Parish church in Las Piñas. Constructed by Fr. Diego Cera and completed in 1819, the church has been restored and renovated between 1972 and 1974 by National Artist Francisco “Bobby” Mañosa, and is one of his earliest projects that made use of native Filipino material.
The same program will be performed for the general public on Friday (Feb. 22) and once again on Sunday (Feb. 24) after the festival Mass—conducted by Armando Salarza—to be held at the San Ezequiel Moreno Oratory, Villar Sipag Compound along the C-5 extension.
Other events are the open-air concert with organist Mauro Goia (Italy) together with trumpeter Manu Mellaerts (Belgium) on Saturday (Feb. 23) with OPM artists Klarisse de Guzman and Nyoy Volante; the organ recital by Viviane Loriaut (France) on Monday (Feb. 25), the Philippine-Korean Friendship Night with organists Dong-ill Shin and Yang-hee Yun, Hyo-young Kim (saenghwang) and Rachel Gerodias-Park (soprano) on Tuesday (Feb. 26), and the closing concert on Feb. 27 with the Las Piñas Boys Choir celebrating its 50th anniversary at the San Ezekiel Moreno Oratory.
Tickets are at P600, P400, and P200 for Feb. 22, 24, 25 and 26; Feb. 23, P600 and P400, and for Feb. 27, P200. Tickets available at SM Tickets and TicketNet.com.ph. For reservations, call the office of the Bamboo Organ Foundation at 8257190 or 8200795.