Cecile Licad: The Pianist’s Pianist on September 24

I was about 8 old when my grandparents took me to watch Cecile Licad at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She was a celebrated teenage prodigy and Lola wanted me to be inspired to take my piano lessons more seriously. That never happened, unfortunately. 

Her performance, though, was unforgettable. I still remember the intensity on her face as she played “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns. Back at home, I recall poring over her biography and her photos in the souvenir program many, many times. 

On Wednesday, September 24, am very much looking forward to Cecile’s concert with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) and conductor Grzegorz Nowak at the Manila Metropolitan Theater titled The Pianist’s Pianist.

On the program are the two concertos from her acclaimed recordings with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under André Previn—Chopin’s Concerto No. 2, which earned her the prestigious Grand Prix du Disque from the Chopin Society of Warsaw, and Saint-Saëns’ Concerto No. 2.

Cecile has been applauded around the world as one of the greatest pianists of her generation. She was the first Filipino, and one of the youngest musicians ever to win the Leventritt Gold Medal in 1981, which counts Van Cliburn and Itzhak Perlman on its roster of awardees. 

Back then, the Leventritt was one of the most prestigious competitions for young pianists and violinists. It wasn’t an annual award, but given only when the jury believed there was a musician who was truly exceptional. Cecile’s win launched her international career. 

Over the decades, Cecile has been honored with the Presidential Medal of Merit (1991), the Gawad CCP Para Sa Sining in the field of Music (1994), and the Pamana ng Pilipino Award (2014). The New Yorker dubbed her “The pianist’s pianist.”

Presented by Rustan’s, The Pianist’s Pianist pays tribute to Filipino artistic excellence and continues the legacy of the late Nedy Tantoco, a champion of culture and music. Moving his mother’s vision forward, Anton T. Huang, President and CEO of Rustan’s and SSI Group, and Chairman of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. spearheads the initiative.

For tickets, visit https://www.ticketmelon.com/rustans/cecile-licad-concert/

Makeup: Lourd Ramos
Photographer: Medal Elepano
Videographer: Gian Escamillas