Piano titans in concert / Blind Ibay reaps honors

Russian Sofya Gulyak and French Pascal Roge, two piano titans, will each give a concert at the Philamlife Theater, the former on Oct. 14, the latter on Oct. 18, both at 8 p.m.

Gulyak won 1st prize in the 2008 16th Leeds International Piano Competition, the first woman to earn the distinction. Gulyak also won 1^st prizes in the US William Kapell International Piano Competition, in Helsinki, Copenhagen, South Korea, 2nd place in Italy’s Busoni Competition (first not awarded) and 3rd prize in Paris’ Marguerite Long competition.

After studying in a Special Music College and in Kazan State Conservatory, Gulyak graduated from Ecole Normale de Paris Alfred Cortot with highest honors. Later, she studied in the Piano Academy of Imola, Italy, and in the Royal College of Music, UK.

Gulyak has performed in various cities of Russia, Poland, France, Italy, Germany, Finland, UK, Norway, USA, Japan, Portugal, Switzerland, Morocco, Greece and South Korea.

The pianist has been given the title “scholar” by the Rostropovich and Russian President Foundations and has served as jury member in international competitions in Italy, Serbia and Greece.

Future engagements are with the Rome Symphony, Rio de Janeiro Symphony, London Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony, London Chamber Orchestra, a tour with Halle Orchestra, recitals in Milan, Copenhagen, Kennedy Center in Washington, and in various European Festivals.

Pascal Roge, a dominant figure in the French music scene, specializes in works of Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, Fauré, Poulenc, and has made over 100 recordings of French music.

At nine, he was invited by French television to play Chopin Preludes in Chopin’s home and on his piano in Poland. Two years later, he learned all by himself the first and last movements of the second Chopin Sonata, playing these for his piano teacher. Ten years later, he won 1st prize in Paris’ Marguerite Long International Competition.

As a young pianist, he played mostly Chopin for the Vancouver Chopin Society and since then, he has built a program demonstrating all the links between Chopin and French 20th century music.

Herewith is a letter from blind pianist Carlos Alberto Ibay who incredibly continues to reap foreign honors for himself and his country despite his handicap.

Dear Miss Orosa:

First, I would like to thank God that you are still doing what you love to do in the arts, especially the performing arts. Thank you for your beautiful review of my debut at the CCP in 2004. I have used this review in my resumé throughout my performances all over the world. It was a privilege and a blessing for me to have met you.

Since coming back from Manila, I played at Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center. In successive years, I performed mostly Chopin and Liszt. I also participated in the 12th Arthur Rubinstein Master Piano Competition in Tel Aviv in 2008, rendering Chopin’s Prelude and Beethoven’s Appassionata. I did not win but got beautiful reviews.

The Israeli government invited me back and I performed with an Israeli pianist for Israel’s 60th Independence Day. That same year, I was privileged to perform in Modena, Italy, at the Teatro Luciano Pavarotti, playing Chopin and singing a duet with Italian soprano Cecilia Gasdia. Recently, I was engaged as a soloist with the McLean Symphony Orchestra in Virginia for the 2009-2010 season. I played Grieg’s Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No. 1 and closed the season with Beethoven’s rarely played Choral Symphony. In December, I will perform again with orchestra my piano transcription of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.

Last year, I played “Mi Buenos Aires Querido” highlighting the music of tango greats from Argentina and Uruguay. My dad put some video clips at YOUtube of some of my performances for the last five years. I have also a few CD recordings of Chopin and Liszt; and a DVD recording of my entire performance of Chopin’s Preludes, Beethoven’s Sonata, the Grieg and Tchaikovsky Concertos. I would like to send all these to you and I hope you will enjoy listening. I’m coming home in January, staying until February, and I may give a few concerts. I hope I can play for you privately. Meantime, I will continue to read your columns./Sincerely, Carlos Alberto Ibay.