MANILA, Philippines - Watch the concerts of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra?s 25th season (PPO 2008-9) and transport yourselves musically to Europe and the United States.

To underscore this theme of flight and departure, of voyaging through foreign lands, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) recently held a ?one of a kind? press conference at the Open Skies lounge, Cargo Bay, of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-I, to announce the PPO season.

Theater director Chris Millado, a CCP official, said the venue is also appropriate because the PPO is ?in transit,? that is, it is looking for a new music director to succeed California-based Eugene Castillo, who has just ended a four-year stint as the PPO?s principal conductor.

The sponsors are the embassies of the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain, and the US. Attractive magazine and brochures from the different countries helped to heighten the illusion of travel.

The season starts on Sept. 12 with ?Transyphonia: The World in Concert,? featuring the works of Wagner, Chopin, Strauss and Stravinsky, with PPO laureate Oscar C. Yatco as conductor and Aima Labra-Makk as pianist.

The first specific destination is the US, ?The Spirit of America,? on Oct. 10, highlighting the music of Gershwin, Williams and Bernstein.

?From the USA, we fly to Italy,? Millado said. ?Scenes from Italy? on Nov.7 celebrates the compositions of Rendine, Rossini, Mercadante, Albinioni, and Respighi. Conductor is Luciano Bellini, with flutists Enrique Barcelo and John Raymond Sarreal at center stage.

?We next move on to Spain,? announced tour guide Millado. ?Bravo España? on Dec. 5 showcases the music of Arriaga, de Falla, Chapi and Hallfter. Christopher Hallfter himself conducts, and the featured artists include pianist Rudolf Golez and the Philippine Madrigal Singers.

Concert V or ?Glimpses of Europe,? on Jan. 16, is a mélange of compositions by Sibelius, Liszt, Britten and Janacek. Ruggero Barbieri, former PPO conductor, again directs the orchestra.

Back home

With the next concert on Feb. 13, we are back to home base??Gabi ng Musikang Filipino: A Rendezvous with National Artists,? featuring the music of Buenaventura, Kasilag, De Leon, and San Pedro. The conductor is Agripino Diestro, with violinist Gina Medina and baritone Andrew Fernando as soloists.

We return to Europe with ?Pillars of German Music? on March 13, where Germany-based Yatco again conducts, with Annette von Hehn on the violin, interpreting the works of Mendelssohn, Widmann, and Beethoven.

?The French Connection? on April. 17 concludes the grand tour. Michael Cousteau conducts, with Dana Ciocarlie on the piano. To be highlighted are the compositions of Milhaud, Saint-Saens, Fauré and Bizet.

During the presscon, CCP President Nestor O. Jardin revealed that the painstaking search for a new PPO music director?with its criteria of musical ability, leadership and skill in interpersonal relationships?has narrowed down to three foreigners: two Americans and a Russian.

There is no Filipino conductor qualified for the post? ?The PPO members themselves asked that the search be open to foreigners,? Jardin said.

Hmmm. The PPO musicians prefer to be led by a foreigner. There must be a good reason for this.