Superb concert enhances Israel's National Day / Wednesday Writers' Web

At the celebration of Israel’s 62nd anniversary in the InterCon ballroom, Ambassador Zvi Vapni, DFA Usec Esteban Conejos Jr. and Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Edward Adams went through the usual exchange of toasts, with Mrs. Limor Vapni and Deputy Yaniv Revach helping to welcome the guests.

None of them, least of all this reviewer, expected what would ensue next: superlative music-making by Israeli pianists Yaron Kohlberg, 27, and Bishara Harouni, 28.

The brief concert began with Shostakovich’s Concertino for Two Pianos. The composer’s music, at its best, has been described as “vital, fresh, spontaneous, infectious, powerful.” Also “fleet-footed, rhythmically dynamic, aglow with wit, full of spice and sting.”

Kohlberg on the Yamaha and Harouni on the Bosendorfer (this, courtesy of Ray Sison of ROS Music Center) reflected those aforementioned qualities: the vitality, sparkling and energizing the rhythms, sizzling; the melodic lines in glittering tonal hues.

In the Etudes, Chopin explored all pianistic devices for overcoming technical problems and difficulties. Starting with the Revolutionary — a “demoniac” test for the left hand — Kohlberg went way beyond hurdling the specific difficulties presented by runs, scales, chords, etc., infusing the pieces with arresting nuances, rubatos and dynamics. Combined with the most sensitive and sensuous ardor, produced what was arguably the best rendition of Chopin I had heard thus far, giving the Etudes — albeit only three of them to be sure — their due as the finest compositions ever created for the piano.

Liszt’s Campanella brought back youthful memories of my listening to the record of the fabled Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski playing it. Typically, Liszt put into the work all the clap-trap tricks he could devise to test a pianist’s extraordinary skill. Paderewski, for his part, was one of the greatest pianists of his epoch, an artist who could evoke “tidal waves of sound” and “cyclonic climaxes.”

To my immense surprise, Harouni’s amazingly swift, smooth, fluid, fluent runs and trills, overwhelming chordal passages brought back Paderewski’s as far as I could remember them. Comparing a live performance with a recorded one may not be justifiable, but Harouni’s was so impressive that it called to mind that of the legendary icon.

In Milhaud’s Scaramouche, a suite for two pianos, the duo conveyed rhythmic vitality and fire in the first movement, fascinating tonal sonorities and resonances in the second (an exquisite song). The third, a samba, again pulsated with electrifying power and vibrancy, every note, phrase, chord synchronized to perfection. Indeed, the duo works were characterized by such flawless, seamless rapport that it seemed to suggest Kohlberg and Harouni had been playing together since childhood.

The prolonged, hearty applause led to a repetition of the third movement played with the same infectious, thunderous vigor.

The duo illustrated such consummate mastery and artistic sensitivity — such singular virtuosity that one might ask: What trail will these youthful pianists blaze five years from now? Ambassador Vapni must have been vastly proud of them. Mr. Vapni, please bring them back soonest.

Among music lovers applauding were Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, Goethe Institut Director Volker and Mrs. Avenmarg, Grace Brunner, Consul Mike and Alice Guerrero, Consuls Fortune Ledesma, Evie Costa, Luis and Mellie Ablaza, Helen Ong, eminent pianist Nena Villanueva, Chloe Periquet, Rod Cornejo, Evelyn R. Garcia and Lulu Castañeda.

On the initiative of Susan Locsin, the Wednesday Writers’ Web came into being. Young authors and a sprinkling of senior ones who gathered at Susan’s apartment will be meeting once every two months thereafter.

Exchanging and discussing ideas (while relishing Susan’s merienda) were: National Artist F. Sionil Jose, National Historical Institute head Ambeth Ocampo, Charlson Ong, Sarge Lacuesta, Ricky and Bonbon Soler, Bum Tenorio, Evelyn Garcia, Amy Ylagan, Menchu Sarmiento, Shirley Lua and this columnist. Later, Susan’s husband Enrique and brother-in-law Cong. Teddyboy Locsin Jr. dropped in and enlivened the affair.