Corrections: In last week’s column, the tyranny of the deadline led to this mistake: To the music was (should have been were) added percussive effects. Princess Aurora talks (should have been walks). The proofreader forgot that in ballet, dancers don’t talk.
* * *
Of late, I have been reviewing the performances of very young, exceptionally gifted pianists.
Andrei Ave, six, played the first movement of Haydn’s piano Concerto in D Major with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra under Rodel Colmenar assisting. I ended my review thus: “If Andrei persists, he will be winning prizes in international competitions.”
I herewith quote a letter from Andrei’s mother Minnie Ave: “We are pleased to inform you that your prediction has been realized. Andrei won Second Place, Piano and Strings Competition 2012 of the American Protégé and Third Place, Passion of Music 2012 of the American Association for the Development of the Gifted and Talented. For placing second, Andrei has been invited to perform at the Winner’s Concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall this April. Andrei’s main entry was Debussy’s ‘Arabesque No. 1, an extremely difficult piece for a seven-year old. He would probably have placed higher in the latter contest if he had mastered the more difficult piece, Bach’s ‘Sinfonia No. 2 or 15’. But we ran out of time, and this led us to change at the last minute to what Andrei was more familiar with, the less difficult piece Prokoffief’s ‘Tarantelle’. So it probably pulled down Andrei’s rank.
“Neverthelesss, Andrei’s accomplishments are already significant considering his fellow performers being the world’s best for their age group. Incidentally, 2011 has been quite good for Andrei, as 2010 was. He guested at the 160th BPI Anniversary Gala where he awed fellow musicians. He was the only child performer in a program which featured Rachelle Gerodias, the Manila Philharmonic among others. Andrei also performed at the National Museum as guest of the National Book Awards.” Mrs. Ave ends her letter thus: “Your piece in the STAR was the very first about our then six-year old Andrei, and for this we shall always be grateful.”
Much earlier, 16-year old Arianda Abello Korting gave an impressive recital. Ma. Regina Montesclaros, 18, ended her formidable concert with Rachmaninoff’s ‘Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor’ with the MSO under Arturo Molina.
Teen-aged pianist Elielle Viaje is a Vienna Conservatory scholar, one of 22 out of 200 contestants.
More recently, Lorenzo “Enzo” Medel, 14, magnetized his listeners at Heritage Library; I gave his extraordinary gifts glowing praise.
Last week, “Diwa” featured 16-year old pianist Chance Elan C. Israel who, with only three pieces made a tremendous impact.
Mozart’s sonatas are relatively lightweight compared to his concertos and symphonies. However, they show complete command of the piano’s entire resources in Mozart’s time. Chance conveyed tonal clarity, sparkle, buoyancy and playfulness in true Mozartian spirit in ‘Sonata in C Major’.
It was in Chopin’s Etudes in C Sharp Minor and E Major, and Scherzo No. 2 in B Flat Minor that the pianist showed a virtuosic approach. The Etudes were meant to widen the range of piano technique, each designed to overcome a specific difficulty. Chance understood the aim of the first Etude through his amazing deftness in the very rapid runs. But the Etudes were also meant to go beyond mere exercises, each being an artistic, felicitous composition. Thus, Chance displayed sensitivity in both Etudes, delicately etching the exquisite melody of the second.
Power and dexterity characterized the ‘Scherzo’, the accents strong and arresting, the runs swift and seamless, Chance’s fingers extremely nimble.
Mendelssohn’s piano concertos, e.g., No. 1 in G Minor don’t rank as highly as Beethoven’s, but Mendelssohn had a mastery of orchestration, this reflected in the arrangement excellently played by Carolyn Kleiner Cheng on the second piano. Chance revealed himself as a rising virtuoso in the opening movement (molto allegro con fioco) and the last (presto) - his chords fiery and powerful - imbuing the melodic middle (andante) with an expressivity surprising for his years. What lusty applause ensued!
Owing to his considerable talent, Chance has a scholarship to Lynn U. endorsed by the eminent pianist Roberta Rust. Welcome contributions for Chance’s travel and other expenses may be sent to his top-rated mentor Carmencita Arambulo of Greenhills Music Studio.