Insider Spotlight
The big picture“Legacy” brings together two generations of concert pianists, pairing veteran artist Carmencita Sipin-Aspiras with multi-awarded pianist Inna Montesclaros, under the baton of Maestro Darrell Ang and the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
The concert underscores mentorship, heritage, and the passing on of artistic values through shared performance.
Why it matters
The Manila Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1926, is among Asia’s oldest orchestras and continues to position itself as a steward of Philippine symphonic tradition.
By programming Legacy as a benefit concert, MSO reinforces its mission to nurture Filipino talent while honoring artists who have shaped the country’s cultural landscape.
By the numbers
The concert is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2026, Sunday, at 7:30 p.m. at the Proscenium Theater, known for its state-of-the-art acoustics and intimate performance setting.
The artists
Carmencita Sipin-Aspiras first performed as an orchestral soloist in Manila at age 10 before earning a Philippine government scholarship to study at the Vienna Musik Hochschule in Austria.
Her career has spanned Europe, the Philippines, and the United States, earning international critical acclaim, including praise from Germany’s Rheinische Volksblatt, which described her as “a pianist of extraordinary capabilities and refinement of taste.”
Inna Montesclaros, a Filipina pianist recognized from an early age, made her premiere recital at eight and debuted with orchestra at 11 performing Mozart’s D minor Concerto with the Manila Symphony Orchestra.
Known for her warm tone and sincerity, she has since built a steady concert career after early recognition as a Promil Kid.
At the podium
Darrell Ang, one of Asia’s most sought-after conductors, leads the evening. He currently serves as artistic director and chief conductor of The Sichuan Orchestra of China and is a regular guest at the Mariinsky Theatre by invitation of Maestro Valery Gergiev.
The repertoire
The program features works by Johannes Brahms and Frédéric Chopin, including Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, solo piano works performed by Sipin-Aspiras, and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with Montesclaros as soloist, highlighting both orchestral breadth and intimate lyricism.
What’s next
Tickets for Legacy are available through Ticketworld, positioning the concert as both a cultural event and a statement on the enduring legacy of Filipino classical musicianship. —Ramon C. Nocon | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
