Yaron Kohlberg-Bishara Harouni Piano Recital

CEBU, Philippines - Music transcends race and color. You see, I’m not a fan of classical music. Always have a hard time understanding its motion and emotion even when I did try to listen to some Vivaldi and Handel. But, indeed, music (not necessarily chamber) goes past ethnicity and the continental color wheel.

Imagine what Holy Land might sound with a tickle on the ivory keys. That happened at the grand ballroom of the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel last April 29.

Yaron Kohlberg, born in Jerusalem in 1983, one of Israel's leading young pianists, shared the stage with Bishara Haroni of Nazareth. Their repertoire included Fantasia for piano, 4 hands in F minor by Franz Schubert; Concertino for Two Pianos by Dimitri Shostakovich which I learned was composed in 1954; and the Scaramouche by Darius Milhaud.                                                                                      

I readily admit that I find it hard to appreciate classical music, so the Arts Council of Cebu staff advised me to just enjoy and let the music guide me. As there are no lyrics that I can listen to, I am told to start by understanding the feelings behind the music. Still, it failed to sink in; however, the fact (and as proven by studies) that classical music enhances learning and the cognitive ability of a person is a health option.

“That’s why pediatricians recommend Mozart as best for kids,” the staff pointed out.

Another is that music is a universal language. The recital made it more interesting that two Israeli pianists have touched the Cebuano community with their “brand of music” despite their country’s involvement with some forms of hostilities.

It was also learned that Kohlberg is second prize winner in the 2007 Cleveland International Piano Competition where he performed in the final round with the Cleveland Orchestra. He has also won first prizes in the Parnassos International Competition in Monterrey (Mexico) and the Shostakovich International Competition in Hanover, and was a top prize winner in other international competitions such as Andorra, Tivoli (Copenhagen) and Grieg (Oslo). In Israel, he won the first prizes in the Clairmont competition, the Young Artist competition and the piano competition of the Jerusalem Music Academy. He has received many additional awards, including the Colton Scholarship of Tel Aviv University and a citation as the outstanding participant at the Tel-Hai Master Classes. From 1992 he has been a regular recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships (with distinction).

As for Haroni, he studied the piano with Esther Balasha at the age of 12 in Haifa and continued his studies for eight years with Dr. Eitan Globerson in Jerusalem. He finished his studies at the “Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover” in Germany with Professor Arie Vardi. He is currently taking private lessons with Maestro Daniel Barenboim. As a concerto soloist he enjoys associations with major orchestras in Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Norway, Britain, Israel and the United states. And he recently performed as a soloist with the London Philharmonica under the baton of Maestro Lorin Maazel, and under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic. Haroni was also invited in the coming season to play with Gianandrea Noseda and Maestro Riccardo Mutti.