Pianists predominated / Ellielle gives recital

Pianists dominated the musical scene in 2007. As in previous years, one might add.

Among the prodigious pianists was Reynaldo Reyes whose uniquely wide repertoire includes distinguished but relatively unknown composers like Valentin Aklan. Reyes’ interpretation of Aklan’s compositions at the A. Molina Hall was superb, staggeringly awesome, both technically and artistically.

Raul Sunico dazzled listeners in his rendition of romantic, impressionistic and contemporary music at the residence of Chito M. Collantes in February. Later, the versatile Sunico was presented in a Broadway program by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney. I missed the concert as also another in Quezon City where Sunico performed with virtuosos Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata, violinist and Tony Maigue, flutist. Presumably, Sunico dazzled listeners on both occasions in his usual manner.

In March at the CCP main auditorium, Cecile Licad, who has been performing with major US and  European conductors through the years, appeared with the PPO under Eugene Castillo while reiterating her rank among her peers. She contradicted the dictum “No man is a prophet in his own country” by filling up the hall with her unusually large following.

In pieces with her son Otavio, 20, she displayed much more power, technical skill and artistry than he. Nevertheless, Otavio demonstrated considerable promise.

Ambassador Kenney presented Jiovvanney Emmanuel Cruz at the US embassy residence to mark 9/11. Cruz displayed supreme technical mastery, breathtaking, awe-inspiring elan and expressivity, as he did earlier at the Insular Life Theater in Alabang, leaving listeners frenziedly applauding.

Ingrid Sta. Maria and Reynaldo Reyes embarked on their 14th Romantic Music Journey June 25, triumphantly ending the journey Aug. 6 while performing with brio and bravura. With compelling artistry, Ingrid then played two romantic concertos assisted by a string quartet, the innovative, visionary Ingrid thus introducing a new genre, a new auditory dimension to the standard idiom.

Cristine Coyuito conveyed superb pianism in an October recital and again in concert with the magnificent conductor Helen Quach who strongly admired Cristine’s “power and poetry”, her playing reflecting infinite nuances, and revealing secrets of the piano. In the previous Little Theater recital, Coyuito, delineating the keenest musical perception, performed with richly gifted cellist Antoni Josef Inacay, and ending the program with her 13-year old daughter, flutist Caitlin Alisa, who provided a refreshing surprise.

Interpreting Beethoven’s five concertos in two nights, Aries Caces proved to be in a class by himself, taking on the dual roles of pianist and conductor last October at the F. Santiago Hall. As pianist, Caces rose to tremendously challenging technical devices, conveying power, fire and dynamism, breezing through the bravura passages with astounding rapidity and agility while evoking the emotional content of each movement. As conductor, he wielded the baton in a magnetic, mesmerizing manner, leading each section of the UST Symphony Orchestra to respond marvelously. Indeed, there was a constant surge of energy from pianist-conductor to orchestra. The concert placed Caces in the ranks of both our top pianists and baton-wielders.

Victor Santiago Asuncion made his NY recital debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In his engagement at the GSIS Museum, he virtually made each composition a dramatic virtuoso piece while vividly and eloquently underscoring the contrasts between the turbulent and the lyrical. (To be continued)

On Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., the brilliant 16-year old pianist Elielle Viaje will interpret Bach, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt and Prokofieff in Pasig’s Word Community Church for whose benefit Viaje’s formidable program will be.