Fête de la Musique at The Writers Bar

French pianist Maxime Zecchini brings his repertoire to a special performance at The Writers Bar.

Words Art+ Magazine Team
Photos courtesy of Alliance Française de Manille
June 28, 2026

Pianist Maxime Zecchini

Fête de la Musique Philippines returned this June, once again transforming venues across Metro Manila and the country into live music spaces. Originally launched in France, the festival continues to champion accessible music, with free performances staged everywhere from large outdoor venues to smaller, more focused settings.

This year’s edition ran over several days and featured a wide mix of artists and genres. While the Main Stage at Ayala Triangle Gardens drew large crowds, smaller pocket stages across the city offered a more intimate listening experience.

Internally Acclaimed French Pianist Maxime Zecchini

One of these was The Writers Bar at Raffles Makati, where internationally acclaimed French pianist Maxime Zecchini performed on June 14. The afternoon set was paired with La Prairie Afternoon Tea.

The Writers Bar presentation of Fête de la Musique was made possible through Raffles Makati, in partnership with Alliance Française de Manille and the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia.

Martin Macalintal, Culture Attaché, French Embassy

Zecchini is a classically trained pianist who studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. He is best known for performing repertoire written for the left hand alone, a highly specialized niche in classical music. He is widely recognized for his technical precision and clarity, particularly given the demands of one-handed performance.

(L-R) Alliance Française de Manille_s Executive Director Olivier Dintinger, French concert pianist Maxime Zecchini, Cluster General Manager Bernd Schneider of Raffles & Fairmont Makati

Having performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, La Seine Musicale, and Salle Gaveau in Paris, as well as in over 80 countries, Zecchini presented a program of iconic film scores and classical works by Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone, and Joe Hisaishi at The Writers Bar.

His appearance added a distinct dimension to the Fête de la Musique lineup, which is often dominated by bands and contemporary acts. It also reflected the festival’s broader approach of bringing together different musical styles—from mainstream performances to more specialized programs—within a citywide celebration.