Manila Symphony Orchestra Presents Brazilian Guitar And Cello Concert On Aug. 9

The Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation Inc. and Standard Insurance in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil through Guimarães Rosa Institute (IGR) and the Embassy of Brazil in Manila proudly present BRAZILIAN GUITAR and CELLO on

August 9, 2025 Saturday 7:30 pm at the Bayanihan Hall, Creative Arts Centre British School Manila, BGC Taguig City

The featured artists are FABIO ZANON - guitar, FABIO PRESGAVE - cello, STEPHANIE QUINTON - soprano, MARLON CHEN - conductor

The repertoire of BRAZILIAN GUITAR AND CELLO will feature

PART 1 

1. Bachianas Brasileiras 

No. 7: I. Prelúdio (Ponteio) by Heitor Villa-Lobos. 

Composed in 1942, Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7 blends Baroque structure with Brazilian folk rhythms and rich harmonies, transforming the traditional ponteio into a lyrical, orchestrated prelude.

2. Concierto de Cámara 

for Guitar, Cello, Soprano, and Strings by Jeffrey Ching

Jeffrey Ching’s Concerto 

da Camera is a symbolic ‘quintuple concerto’ representing the five nationalities of its original performers (German, Lithuanian, Brazilian, Spanish, and Chinese) blending their musical traditions through abstract and figurative elements.

PART 2

1. Concerto No. 4 for Guitar and String Orchestra by Radamés Gnattali

Radamés Gnattali’s Concerto No. 4 (1969), written for Carlos Barbosa-Lima, blends classical form with samba, choro, and bossa nova in a lyrical, jazz-infused work where the guitar and strings interact in a fluid, chamber-like texture.

2. Le Grand Tango for 

Cello and String Orchestra by Astor Piazolla. 

Composed in 1982 for Mstislav Rostropovich, Astor Piazzolla’s Le Grand Tango fuses classical technique with the bold rhythms of nuevo tango in a single, intense movement that highlights the cello’s agility and emotional range.

3. Ária and Dança from Bachianas Brasileiras 

No. 4 (for Orchestra) by Heitor Villa-Lobos. 

Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas Brasileiras 

No. 4 (1930/1942) blends Baroque techniques with Brazilian folk elements, 

as heard in the lyrical Ária, evoking Brazil’s interior, and the lively Dança, rooted in native dance—showcasing his signature fusion of European form and local expression.

ARTIST PROFILE

Fabio ZANON (GUITAR) 

earned his master’s from the University of London and rose to prominence by winning major guitar competitions in 1996, including the Francisco

Tárrega, GFA, and Alessandria contests; 

he later received numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario and awards such as the Carlos Gomes Prize and Bravo! Award.

FABIO PRESGAVE (CELLO) 

Rio-born Fabio Presgrave earned his degree from The Juilliard School and has performed as soloist with orchestras worldwide, including the Qatar Philharmonic and Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, under renowned conductors such as Rafael Payare and Lior Shambadal.

STEPHANIE QUINTIN

SOPRANO 

Praised for her vocal flexibility and commanding presence, Stefanie Quintin-Avila is a multi-awarded soprano, receiving honors such as the Delphic Lyra Award and the Presidential Award for Culture and the Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of the Philippines and a Master’s in Contemporary Music Performance from UC San Diego.

MARLON CHEN - CONDUCTOR

Known for his dynamic charisma and versatility, Marlon Chen has led performances across four continents in opera, ballet, and symphonic music. 

He was appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra in 2019 and holds guest conducting roles with leading ensembles worldwide.

The MANILA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (MSO), one of Asia’s oldest and the Philippines’ longest-running artistic institution, has long championed the performance and appreciation of fine music. Now nearing its 100th year, MSO has grown into a Foundation dedicated to discovering and training Filipino talent, aiming to make music a vibrant part of everyday Filipino life.

UPCOMING CONCERTS:

SEPTEMBER 07, 2025

“BUTTERFLY LOVERS YELLOW RIVER CONCERTO”

Philippines-China Friendship Concert

ALIW THEATER, CCP COMPLEX,

PASAY CITY

Wang Yimi (China), erhu

Oliver Salonga (Philippines), piano

Chen Shushu (China), soprano

Zeng Xin (China), tenor

Young Voices of the Philippines (YVP)

Maestro He Jianguo (China), guest conductor


SEPTEMBER 27, 2025

“DANCING WITH TCHAIKOVSKY”

ALIW THEATER, CCP COMPLEX,

PASAY CITY

Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations for Cello and Orchestra

Suite from the Ballet “Sleeping Beauty”

Damodar Das Castillo, cello

Alexander Vikulov, guest conductor


JANUARY 22, 2026

“THE MSO 100ᵗʰ ANNIVERSARY CONCERT”

SAMSUNG PERFORMING ARTS

THEATER, CIRCUIT MAKATI

Muyu Liu, piano

Darrell Ang, guest conductor

Philippine Madrigal Singers


*Program, dates and venues may be subject to change. 


For tickets, check via TicketWorld.com 

VIP P3500

Premium Patron P2800

Regular Patron P1700

General Admission P800

Visit www.manilasymphony.com for more information.

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