MANILA, Philippines - The Friends of Insular Life Culture Foundation (FilFest), with the Insular Life Assurance Co. Ltd., brings to the stage the concert ?Of Czechs and Euros? on Aug. 16 at the Insular Life Theater in Alabang.

With multiawarded and renowned cellist Renato Lucas and CCP Gawad for Music awardee Nena del Rosario Villanueva on the piano, ?Of Czechs and Euros? promises yet another evening of mood, music and refinement.

?This is hardcore classical music, but it is still ?accessible? because of its tuneful melodies,? says Lucas, who describes the cello as the instrument closest to the human voice. Besides, ?it?s something you can hold and put between your legs,? he quips.

Villanueva is the country?s first acknowledged Filipino piano prodigy. She first began tinkering with the piano at 2 ? years old and gave her first public performance at 5.

The duo will play Dvorak?s ?Silent Woods and Rondo?; Martinu?s Sonata No. 3 for Cello and Piano, H. 340: Poco Andante, Andante and Allegro (ma non Presto); with intermission of Grieg?s Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Minor, Op. 36: Allegro Agitato, Andante Molto Tranquillo, Allegro-allegro Molto.

On Aug. 30, Insular Life Theater will also witness the performance of the laureates of the Ultimate Pianist 2006 competition: Luci Magalit, Geraldine Conzales, Somang Lim and Michelle Nicolasora, with Gerard Salonga conducting the FILharmoniKA.

Program includes compositions of Bach (Piano Concerto in F Minor); Chopin (Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11); Schumann (Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54); and Beethoven (Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58).

Patterned after the concert schedule of Carnegie Hall in New York City, Filfest offers a season of four concerts: solo piano recital; chamber music; chamber-orchestra music; and a minimalist opera.

For tickets and season ticket subscriptions, contact 0918-9419472 or 0918-9419474.