The celebrated international concertist captured and conveyed the spirit, essence and distinctive style of each piece. He was ineffably poetic in Chopin’s Barcarolle in F-Sharp, and the Etudes in A-Flat, F-Minor and E; he demonstrated sweep and flair in Granados’ Allegro de Concierto, intense emotion and lyricism in Schubert’s Impromptu in G-Flat, exquisitely and subtly graded tonal hues in Ravel’s Jeux D’eau (Fountains) and Debussy’s L’isle Joyeuse (Isle of Joy).
Sunico explained to his listeners that J. Rodis’ "Planting Rice" was planting done in water, and indeed there could not have been a more descriptive piece denoting the onrush of water. The native song was hardly recognizable in the florid arrangement.
Brilliance, brio and bravura characterized Liszt’s Funerailles, and it might have been Liszt himself producing those massive, surging chordal densities that created a virtual tornado.
Throughout the program, the dramatic vied with the lyrical, each creating a tremendous impact and compelling undivided attention.
The concert closed with Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, its syncopated rhythms, leaps and runs demanding utmost dexterity and lightning speed, with the chords, particularly in the end, thundering as though the piano would, if it could, give way.
Awed and dazzled, the audience gave Sunico a standing ovation. As a Valentine’s Day gift, he graciously played the love song, All the Things You Are.
The 3-movement work depicts a series of shifting musico-emotio relationships. These start with confrontational challenge in the first movement, accordance in the second, and forbearance in the third. The work is further divided into 11 segments or playlists. Though linearly connected, each segment is treated as an individual playlist and independently conceived. With this "mobile structure", rearranging the playlists’ order within its movement is possible. The non-descriptive title allows each listener to rely on his unique receptivity and imagination to appreciate and aurally explore the work.
"Evolution" will also present Bagong Kundiman, consisting of new works for symphony and voice by participants in the Music Underkonstruction project of the Institute for Orchestral Development: Nilo B. Alcala, Joel F. Cruz, Nelson O. Polvoriza, Reginald T. Tam and Louise L. Ybanez.
Other events
On Feb. 16 at 8 p.m., marimba player Deena Fernandez will perform with the Four Seasons Chamber Orchestra under visiting conductor Ruggero Barbieri at the Multiple Center, Bel-Air Park.
Also on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m., 17-year old Beah Darda Gumarang, Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, will give a junior recital at the Fleur-de-lis theater under the auspices of St. Paul U. Manila College of Music headed by Dean Sr. Anunciata Sta. Ana.
Beah’s formidable program will be works by Bach, Haydn, two concert etudes by Liszt, Bartok’s "Romanian Dance", Jose Rodis’ "Music Box", and Liszt’s Concerto in A Major with Ruth Quiñones on a second piano.