R&R: Hard to match / Rodolfo, Elsa Pelaez: Visionary educators

The duo concert of international pianists Rowena Arrieta and Raul Sunico at the Fleur-de-Lis Theater was the second event marking the 70th year of St. Paul U. College of Music and the Performing Arts headed by Dean Sr. Maria Anunciata Sta. Ana.

As in their first duo concert in 1995, Rowena and Raul played the entire program without scores. Every note, every chord, every run, every arpeggio was executed in seamless, impeccable, perfect rapport. Combining vast technical resources with remarkable sensibilities and imagination, the two pianists alternately enthralled fascinated, excited and intrigued music lovers present, conveying the widest range of emotions, feelings, passions. From Rowena came the subtlest, most expressive nuances complemented by Raul’s fire and power, much of which Rowena herself manifested. Tonal balance and contrast were dramatically achieved.

Rich in colors, brimming with youthful charm, its dynamics widely diverse, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, its musical quality distinct for each movement, demonstrated the closest, indeed, perfect ensemble playing that would characterize the rest of the program. Mozart’s work, classic in form, poetically beautiful in content, was fully appreciated.

Strauss’ “Blue Danube Waltz”, with its lustrous embellishments, transported the listener to a dream world where people were tripping the light fantastic ecstatically.

Khatchaturian’s Suite from Gayane Ballet garnered a thunderous reception, particularly the familiar Sabre Dance, its pounding, propulsive, percussive rhythms faithfully projected by Raul and Rowena.

The blare of trumpets, the furious bull fight, Carmen’s flirtatious wiles came alive in the Carmen Fantasy by Bizet Popp, the foreboding of tragedy in each scene growing in intensity. Marvelously encapsulating the action of the opera Carmen as it became increasingly frightening, the bristling piano rendition was of an entirely different dimension. This so fired up the audience that its deafening applause continued long after Rowena and Raul left the stage, ceasing only when they re-appeared for the next number.

Benjamin’s Jamaican Rhumba was a pop piece to whose zestful rhythm listeners gyrated figuratively. Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances climaxed the glorious music-making by the two virtuosi — a feat not likely to be matched here or abroad.

Jovially, Raul announced for the encore “Name that Tune”. This began amusingly as “Chopsticks”, progressing to more daunting “tunes” including long, arduous passages from Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” which made the duo’s tour de force even harder to duplicate.

An announcement thanked Raymundo Sison of the Ros Music Center for the Bosendorfer piano used.

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Regretfully, I already had other commitments when I received the invitation of Dr. Rafaela P. Pelaez, board chairman of Liceo de Cagayen U. to be the inaugural speaker of the Rodelsa Centennial Lecture series for Aug. 10.

The invitation was mistakenly sent to the STAR, arriving too late at my residence for me to accept.

Dr. Pelaez had wanted me to give a one-hour lecture “on Arts Appreciation, especially Classic Music, in the context of educating the total person”. Her letter continues “The lecture series is in commemoration of the birth centenaries of the University’s founders, the much-loved, forward-looking Pelaez couple — lawyer Rodolfo and educator Elsa. Aimed at generating public discourse on the couple’s vision of providing holistic education to the general populace in Northern Mindanao, the lectures in the series will explore issues and topics of key relevance in today’s complexly constituted, multi-cultural world. Liceo is advocating the key role of arts and culture in community and nation-building and we hope you will play a pivotal role in pursuing our advocacy by accepting our invitation.”

I likewise deeply regret having missed the concert of the internationally-awarded young virtuoso pianist Rodolfo Pelaez Golez who played with the Manila Symphony Orchestra at the Rodelsa Hall, the first and only theatre for the performing arts in Mindanao.

My heartiest congratulations to the Liceo and, in particular, to Dr. Rafaelita P. Pelaez, for the Pelaez couple’s tremendous educational and cultural contribution to Northern Mindanao.