Young, brilliant pianist / Envoy Zaide on the Madz

Young, avid admirers of pianist Oliver Salonga listened at the Philamlife Theater to a fascinating program – the same one Oliver played in the Pasig Museum last February of 2005: Beethoven’s seldom-heard classic Sonata in A Flat Major, Prokofiev’s modern Sonata in B Flat Major and Chopin’s romantic Sonata in B Flat Minor.

Oliver made Beethoven sound fresh and exciting, infusing the sonata with his keen sense of drama which I had noted in a much earlier performance. Delicate lyrical passages would be followed by sudden vigorous thrusts. Certain contrapuntal passages seemed to reflect Bach’s own, with the pianist making the proper stylistic approach. Phrasing was often beautiful, and there was a palette of rich tonal colors. Nimble fingers evoked fire or gentleness.

Oliver, in bravura fashion, made the sonata a symphony for the piano – indeed, all Beethoven sonatas are symphonies for a solo instrument, as a musicologist observed.

The arrestingly percussive Prokofiev opus demonstrated Oliver’s impressive strength and force as well as dexterity. The overall rendition was an eloquent expression of the composer’s provocative, saucy, impudent, tart, unconventional style is demonstrated by the wide leaps, disjointed harmonies and abrupt changes from the most simple to the most complex. Oliver consistently surprised or amazed as he sprang the unexpected on the audience, such as the lyricism of the opening notes of the second movement, the andante caloroso, a stark contrast to the outer movements.

In still another manner, Oliver again conveyed his sensitivity and a sense of drama in Chopin’s Sonata. Technique and temperament were combined, the latter conveying an exquisite elegiac feeling in the Funeral March. The Scherzo and final Presto sparkled, the double runs showing remarkable agility of both hands.

Resounding shouts of adulation brought on Rosendo Santos’ rapid, unmelodious and consistently percussive Bontok IIi and Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu with Oliver’s dazzling pianism.

The brilliant pianist was congratulated backstage by his first mentor Prof. Arambulo, presumably with justifiable pride. Twice winner in NAMCYA competitions, Oliver is now furthering his studies under Roberta Rust of Lynn U. in Florida. He has performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, and given a preview performance of Grieg’s A Minor Concerto in Singapore.

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In the following letter, RP Ambassador to France, Jose "Toto" Zaide, writes on, among other events, the triumphant engagement of the Madrigal Singers in Tours, France, under choirmaster Mark Anthony Carpio.

Dear Rosalinda,

Greetings from Paris! You may be pleased to learn that the Philippine Madrigal Singers (predictably) topped the 15-international choir competition in Tours, which earns them the right to vie against five other regional champions for the European Cup 2007 in July next year in Arrezo, Italy.

Fresh from its conquest, the Madz was featured as the piece-de-resistance of our commemoration of the 108th anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence at a concert which I co-hosted with General Robert Bresse, Director of the French Army Museum, at the Invalides cathedral (where Napoleon Bonaparte is laid to rest) last Tuesday, 6 June. The deputy museum director Mme Hefrich said that she has never experienced as enthusiastic a standing ovation at the cathedral; and she posthaste asked to book the Madz for a concert performance next year. (Conveniently, Madz will compete next year at Arezzo, and it can be featured for the 60th anniversary of Franco-Phil bilateral relations on 26 June 2007).

On 11 June (Sunday) the Madz will accompany (with hymns in Latin, French, Spanish, Pilipino, Italian and Russian) the high mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral celebrated by Fr. Gil Apuli, chaplain of the Filipino community in Paris.

On 7 June, I unveiled the painting exhibit at the Gallerie Etienne at the posh St. Germain district by two Filipino expat artists, Joon Claudio and Ed Wiwayco.

On 12 June the Embassy staff will begin the day with a flag raising ceremony and coffee-and-croissant breakfast. An evening soiree follows with the Filipino community and the discriminating neighborhood of Hammeau de Boulainvillers at the Embassy Chancery, with jamming by local artists with the Madz.

In a bow to pop, ABS-CBN Europe promises an SRO performance on 17 June by Piolo Pascual, Rica Peralejo and Pokwang before the Filipino crowd at the Salle Carre.

Finally, on 9 July the Filipino community will hold its annual Barrio Fiesta at the Stadt de Muette where we expect participation by some 35 Filipino community associations from Paris.

This is all aside from work and UNESCO.

Affectionately,
Toto