Thanks, Ilya Rashkovsky, for a spectacular evening of music.
It was a delightful respite from the emotionally-draining battle against forces that want to bastardize the Constitution to suit their own selfish agenda. Now we are re-charged for Sunday’s big rally and for other battles ahead.
We are glad that we decided to watch the debut performance of the young Russian pianist Ilya Rashkovsky at the Philamlife auditorium in Manila. “He is phenomenal,” enthused concert pianist Ingrid Santamaria.
While he was playing, Franz Schubert’s “Wanderer Fantasy in C Major”, his second piece after Mozart’s Fantasy in C minor, KV 475, Prof. David Lapuz, whispered to me, “Look at his face. The intensity of his notes is reflected on his profile.”
Former Energy Secretary Geronimo Velasco, who plays a mean cello, said, “That’s presentation!”
Aside from his phenomenal, spectacular piano playing, Ilya is very good-looking. He looked sweet with his wide, shy smile when acknowledging the applause. The girls in the audience swooned. “Ilya, will you marry me?”, shouted the more outspoken ones.
After the show, many of them went backstage for his autograph and to have their pictures taken with him. At the dinner later at Bistro Remedios, writer Pablo Tariman, who produced the show, kept getting endless text messages asking him to “kiss Ilya” for them. The 22-year old artist blushed when told of the messages.
Bad news, girls, Ilya has a girlfriend.
Ilya has “fantasy” as his theme for his Manila performance. Aside from Mozart and Schubert’s he also played Scriabin’s Fantasy in B Minor, Liszt’s Fantasia quasi Sonata –Dante Sonata, Chopin’s Fantasy in F minor, and Balakirev’s Oriental Fantasy.
The spellbound audience couldn’t get enough of him, he played two encores: Chopin’s Fantasie Impromptu and Schumann’s Toccata.
After the concert, Pablo was asked, “Where did you discover him?”
Pablo got to know about Ilya though Dr. Andrew and Annabella Feris of the Chopin Society of Hongkong. Ilya was the grand prize winner in the First Hongkong International Piano competition last year.
Singaporean Chang Tou Liang, artistic director of the Singapore International Piano Festival, has this to say of Ilya’s performance in that competition: “Ilya Rashkovsky
is without doubt the most polished and competition-savvy of all the candidates. He looked the part, and his every move and act suggested a winner. There was never an ugly sound in his playing every thing tasteful and no hair out of place in his reading of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K 491. He also wrote his own first movement cadenza; it was idiomatic and oozed elegance from every pore.”
Ilya is used to winning piano competitions. He was a second as well as public prize winner at the renowed M. Long-J. Thibaud competition in Paris.
Born in Irkutsk,Russia in 1984, Ilya was into piano since the age of five. In 1992, his family moved to Novossibirsk where he continued his studies in the famous music school for musically talented children with Professor M. Lebenzon. At age ten, he won his first international competition for young pianists in Marsala, Italy.
In 1998, he got the first prize at the International Vladimir Krainev competition for young pianists and was invited by the chairman of the jury, Prof. V. Krainev to study with him at the High Music School in Hanover, Germany. He said he still has one- and- a half years to go for his Bachelor of Music.
At such a young age, Ilya has performed in many of the world’s important music venues. He has been to United States, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, Amsterdam, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Hongkong.
Ilya said the Filipino audience is “the best.”
Pablo said he is negotiating for Ilya’s return to Manila. That would be another musical event.
(Pictures taken at Bistro Remedios after the concert. In second photo, lady to Ilya’s right is Gemma Cruz-Araneta, first Miss International. Gemma has a column in the Manila Bulletin and hosts a radio program.)
He reminds me of then popular pianist Van Cliburn (correct?) who was rumored to be Imelda’s man those days.
But npongco, Van Cliburn was a badaf. Meaning babae, dapat. Baka what you mean was George Hamilton,who was the rumored..Oy, tsismaks toits.
Anyways, the name Ilya reminds me of pa-ilya sa Dona Nena’s long time ago. Di ba Ate Helen? Wala kasi akong alam sa music lalo kapag classical. Pero kapag Ang Bakya Mo Neneng, Sa Lumang Simbahan, yan type ko, palibhasa promdi.
Kahit maganda ang experience ni Ate Ellen by attending the concert of lya Rashkovsky, hindi talaga maalis sa isip ko na talagang dedbol na ang con-ass.
Sumagi tuloy sa aking isipan ang different versions ng dedbol. Kinalkal ko tuloy ang aking old files ko post it here:
1. Suicide – when you kill yourself
2. Homicide – when you kill a fellow human being
3. Patricide – when you kill your parents
4. Fratricide – when you kill your fraternity brod
5. Sororicide – when you kill a sorority sis
6. Infanticide – when you kill a child
7. Genocide – when you kill plenty of pipol
8. Baycide – when you kill a hostess or when you kill fishermen or fishes, destroy marine life
9. Homocide – when you kill a gay
10. Insecticide – when kill a chinese after kidnapping him/her
11. Rivercide – when you kill a river
12. In Sex He Died – when a person died after having sex.
and the latest:
13. CON-ASS DIED- when the conning assholes committed comedy of errors and just before a prayer rally is held to pray for its death. (Inunahan)
==
How musicians do it…
Musicians do it with rhythm.
Musicians do it in quartets.
Musicians do it in rhythmically.
Musicians do it on a higher scale.
Musicians do it in the practice room.
Musicians do it according to the conductor’s instructions.
Drummers do it faster and faster.
Pianists touch, tickle, and titilate.
Jazz musicians do it with improvisations.
Band members do it in front of 10,000 people.
–
What’s the difference between a musician and a savings bond?
One of them eventually matures and earns money.
–
We know a guy who was so dumb his teacher gave him two sticks and he became a drummer, but lost one and became a conductor.
–
Anything played wrong twice in a row is the beginning of an arrangement.
When will the Philippines (well, RP Police technically) ever do this sort of thing, question Gloria over, say, over the Garci thinggy or some questionable transaction?
Banner story in UK’s The Times:
Police question Tony Blair
Tony Blair today became the first serving Prime Minister to be questioned as part of a criminal investigation when he was quizzed at No 10 about the cash-for-honours scandal.
Critics said that the development was a huge embarrassment for Mr Blair, who came to power in 1997 promising to be “whiter than white”.
Story in http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2503302,00.html
Buti pa si Ellen, nakakapagtiyagang manood ng piano concert, ako, siguro sa first movement ng first song tulog na. Hirap ako manood o makinig ng classical kung wala ako sa mood. Ang mga hilig kong panooring mga Pinoy na piyanista ay sina Bobby Enriquez(+), Boy Katindig, at si Kumpareng Bong Peñera – mga di na makikita ng mga kabataan ngayon at kasama na ring malilimutan ng mga tao ng dahil sa hirap ng buhay sa Pinas. Yung dalawang huli, OFWs na. Yung nauuna, sumakabilang buhay na.
Ellen,
Please inform me if they gonna produce the piano concert in CD. I’ll get some copies.
Wow, inggit ako sa ‘yo. We usually go to concerts featuring compositions of Chopin, Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and others. Mahilig kami sa classical music kaya ang tawag sa amin ng mga kaibigan ay ‘antique couple’.
Anyway, masaya ang kwento mo about Ilya’s performance, at mukhang re-charged ka na para sa rally. Good Luck sa inyong lahat, we are with you in spirit.
Mabuti pa nga si Imelda at kahit papaano ay nagdadala ng mga de klaseng pianista sa pinas noon. May napapaglibangan ang mga mahihilig sa musica. (BTW, ano ba ang itsura ni Cliburn?)
Itong si Glueria, ang libangan ay mangurakot sa pera ng bayan.
Si Ate Ellen, trycle na nga lang ang sakay papuntang doktor eh nakapanood pa ng piano concert. Atin-atin lang Ate, huwag mong sabihin sa kanila na ako ang nagbigay ng ticket sa iyo ha!
I wonder, nanonod din kaya si Glueria ng mga concierto. Baka pelikula lang ni Lion King Mickey ang pinapanood niya!
Gloria was not there. It was not a highly-publicized concert. That’s why we appreciate Pablo Tariman for taking the risk of bringing an unknown talent (unknown here in Manila) in Manila.
Tongue,
I’m not also knowledgeable in classical music but I think the beauty of really good music is that it transcends barriers. Be it cultural,social,economic,social. With Ilya’s music, you can just sit back and listen and watch and have a good time.
David Lapuz said, “Wow, he makes the piano sing!”
Ate Ellen,
Di mo napansin, pagka mga classical music ang pinaguusapan, matumal ang dating ng customer dito sa blog, di ba? Nag-rest ako ng 6 hours, halos ilan lang ang pumasok at dati nang customer, bumalik lang.
Pero ito, baka mabuhayan ng dugo ng naghihintay ng kaganapan. Malayo sa classical music na topic sa thread, pasensiya na, pero kapag nabasa ninyo ang mga pangalan, parang music to the ears, funeral music nga lamang dahil galing sila sa lamay sa pagkamatay ni con-ass baby.
Ayon sa isang sumulat sa Inquirer, House has gone down to lowest level of disrepute. Parang prosti house ang dating, no?
“At no time in the history of the Philippines has Congress sunk into its lowest levels of disrepute, corruption and greed. The present crop of politicians making up the membership of the current Congress is a disgrace to their forebears and Filipino people.”
Tapos, sinundan ni NEAL CRUZ sa kanyang column: “Our own most-hated/distrusted list” na puro mga taga House ang nangunguna at medyo nakaiwas pa raw si GMA dahil alam natin nitong huling araw, she’s hardly seen or heard. Iwas pusoy.
We may agree or disagree with his list pero heto sila:
1. JDV
2. Luis Villafuerte and Edcel Lagman of the Bicol region.
3. Tow Prosperos — Nograles and Pichay.
4. Douglas Cagas
5. Constancio Jaraula,
6. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.
7. Raul Gonzalez and Norberto Gonzales.
8. Eduardo Ermita
9. Michael Defensor
The rest of the story, please read the Inquirer.
Except for JDV, lahat ng mga yan ay gustong mag senador. Si Pichay, pagkaalam natin ay nasa No. 47 sa survey. Si Mike D lang ang nasa ika 20.
—
Weird Meaning for Today:
CONGRESS – A body of men brought together to slow down the government. It is a place where a man gets up to speak, says nothing, nobody listens – then everybody disagrees.
joeseg,
Mabuti itong paminsan-minsan e may musica, merong pahinga sa problema natin kay Glueria. :).
Korekek ka dyan, Chi!
Napapagusapan din lang ang music, according to my compilation of WEIRD MEANINGs, here’s some definition related to music.
1. Music – Liquid architecture.
2. Music (classical) – The kind that we keep hoping will turn into a tune.
3. Music Lover – A man, who upon hearing a soprano in the bathroom,puts his ear to the keyhole.
At ang pinaka weird:
4. Chewing Gum -The national anthem without words.
Hahahah! Saan mo pinagkukuha ang mga meaning na ‘yan, joeseg?
Mga kathang-isip mo ba? Nakakatawa!
Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit nagugustuhan ko ang classical at operatic music. Si Pavaroti at Placido Domingo nga ay madalas magsisigaw sa bahay namin, heheh.
(BTW, ano ba ang itsura ni Cliburn?), asked chi..
Chi, check the Web and you’ll see lot of pixs of Van Cliburn during his younger days. He was a damn good looking man, and the very first winner (I believe of the International Tsaikovsky award) and a musical legend not just for Imelda, but for the whole world and been very popular in Russia (USSR). Now he’s an old man and lives quietly in Texas. Never married a woman and later admitted to being “gay”, but it was never an issue in his musical fulfilling years and a very talented pianist and you should watch and listen to him if you have a chance. there maybe a lot of his works in Public Library, that’s where I get my free tapes and musics and videos of just about everything..kasi bata ka pa nang panahon no-on paalagi lang yon sa Pinas, courtesy of course of Taxpayers Money..
Ganoon naman talaga Joeseg. Dapat mag-recharge. Or else your energy will be depleted.
Thanks Vic.
Just checked his web. Damn, Cliburn was sooo good looking as you said! Nakakabakla pala talaga. heheh!
Yeah, my exposure is more bata-bata pianists. It’s so unfortunate that I missed this guy, ehe gay pala!
There’s no public library near us, so I just placed an order at Amazon.
Chi, si Ilya naman has that angelic mien. He is so unassuming. And I think that the audience sensed it in the way he acknowledged the applause. He is only 22. Still a rising star.
Oy, meron kalalabas na pictures si Ilya dito. Ay maryosep, napaka-guapo! Nakakabakla rin ang gandang lalaki!
Thanks Ellen, maghahanap ako sa Amazon kung meron siya doon na tapes.
Ay totoo Ellen, mukha siyang angel of music! He said pinoy is the best audience. Ang sweet pa n’ya!
Artsee, you wonder how I can watch these concerts when i’m an impoverished journalist who has money only for a tricyle ride?
Pablo Tariman is my friend. I admire his dedication and crusade to make Filipinos appreciate classical music. In my own small way, I try to help him. So I get free tickets.
Chi, Filipino audience by nature is demonstrative. The artists love it.
Ilya was telling us during dinner (siyempre kasama ako because I’m Pablo’s friend. We were together with Gemma Cruz-Araneta ,pianist Ingrid Santamaria and Prof. David Lapuz)that the Chinese and Japanese are timid audiences. They are rather suppressed in their reactions. I understand perfectly considering their culture.
Ang Pinoy talagang nakakatuwa.In between numbers,he had to bow twice because the appause was thunderous. They were shouting “More!More!”. After two encores , naawa na ako. Pagod na siguro.
That was also the same with Andrea Bocelli when he performed here. He also did two encores. Ayaw siya pakawalan ng mga tao. And to think that we are not liberally exposed to classical music the way they are in Europe.
It just shows the power of good music.
Ellen, I don’t play piano but I love pianists especially when they play Mozart’s Fantasy in C minor. Hay, para akong nasa heaven! Kaya hahabulin ko si Ilya sa Amazon :).
chi what about gma’s fantasy in any major or general.
speaking of concerts, xmas season is concert season here in oslo, mostly in churches where classical music is naturally designed for.it is also quite good in bringing classical music to ordinary people.
Chi,
I learned to play piano to exercise my fingers, but I learned to love classical music after being exposed to “Hooked on Classics” which is a modern adaptation of all the classics by Beethoven, et al. Imelda introduced me to the ballet when she invited the Bolshoi at the inauguration of the CPP way back in the late 60’s after I graduated from college. I used to go to concerts even then as a matter of fact because of my deaf boyfriend who loved to death me to concerts even when he could not hear what were being played. He said he could feel them even when he could not hear.
I, too, have a collection of Chopin’s and Beethoven’s. Gotta hear this new guy.
Sorry, this should read: “my deaf boyfriend who loved to DATE me to concerts even when he could not hear what were being played. He said he could feel them even when he could not hear.”
Ellen:
I don’t think riding those tricycle is a sign of poverty. I’d rather take them if I were living in Manila than take a cab with dishonest drivers.
Sobra namang mang-insulto ang mayabang na nagpapanggap na beho na ito! Pwe!
i have not taken a tricycle in manila but i thought it is more expensive than ordinary cabs. i normally just walk if in walking distance.anyway i think artsee is just joking as always.
Norpil,
Hahah, Glueria has no class and artistry. I doubt if she has the right ears for any kind of music.
Music transcends the soul. And Glueria has no soul.
Baka hindi pa niyan alam kantahin ang “Lupang Hinirang”.
***
Yuko,
We went to a piano concert in London featuring Beethoven’s masterpieces, isang minuto ng tapos ang concierto ay wala pang pumapalakpak. Pero ng pumalakpak naman, nakakabingi tapos bigla ring hinto. Uwian na. Sabi nga ni Ellen, iba-iba ang kultura pag dating sa appreciation ng musika.
Believe you me, I have a picture taken in Vienna with my fingers caressing Beethoven’s piano. Nobody’s allowed to touch it, but I told the guard “Master Beethoven is my favorite composer, could you allow me to go near his piano even for a second?” Tuwang-tuwa yong guard, siguro dahil kami lang ng hubby ang nandoon sa room, and he allowed us to take a lot of photographs.
Tricycle? Oy binili ko ng tricycle ang tatay ko at iyon ang kanyang kotse to check on his farms!
Mas gusto kong sumakay sa tricycle kasi maraming kwento ang mga drivers, nakakatuwa!
Tama ka Ate Ellen, dapat mag-recharge with music and some jokes kaya please bear with me kung I always inject some jokes. Masyadong tensionado ang sitwasyon going to Sunday’s big event.
Back to music. Not to singing or in the likes of Ilya’s piano rendition but an item which music to the ears.This is stolen from an internet group, patatawarin po.
WHAT IS PINOY?
1. Pinoy is that person whose Asian-Malay DNA has been blended mostly with Spanish & American blood – not excluding other visiting foreigners;
(Chinese mostly, I think)
2. Pinoy is the gracious Host to well-meaning Visitors – but, a fearless Fighter against Invaders;
(from Lapulapu, Katipuneros, Guerillas and lately, invaders from CON-ASS planet)
3. Pinoy is he who believes in the blessings of his Elders – and more so, of Divine Providence;
(Amen, Praise the Lord!)
4. Pinoy is a good Politician but a bad Economist – with few exceptions;
(who else but, .. you know na.)
5. Pinoy is the Beauty Winner, the Sport Champion, the Artisan, the English-literate;
(no need to tell, sangkatutak)
6. Pinoy values Knowledge learned in formal schooling – or earned in the University-of-Life;
(kasama ang Promdi dyan)
7. Pinoy is the mobile Texter and the Computer-literate Internet-savvy Youngster;
(isama mo naman ang gurang, ano ka?)
8. Pinoy is in constant pursuit of a “Better Life” wherever it may be – here or elsewhere;
(like the millions of Ate Ellen’s bloggers)
9. Pinoy is the Balikbayan who returns to retire and to “expire” in his NativeLand.
(And send balikbayan boxes if they can’t go home. Take some respite, not “expire”. Nakakatakot naman ito)
May all Fil-Am Pinoys (and all other Fils as in FilCanadian, FilAustralian, FilSaudian, FilHispano, Filduras, etc) truly care and share in their Love-of-Country – without trying to be “preachy” than resident Filipinos. God bless. (Kaawaan ka ng Diyos, Hijo)
Thanks to Ernie del Castillo of USA.
In close parenthesis, my running comments. Di makatiis, eh.
ay merong bandang inimbitahan upang magkonsert sa malakanyang. ‘yung banda ng mga manonorotot at mga tinorotot! alay daw kina glorya, fatso at viki itoh! kaya sigurado akong riot ito!!
eto an maganda galing sa tribune:
Jobless rate at 7.3% but 1 in 5 underemployed
12/16/2006
The unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent in October despite shrinking work opportunities in the agriculture sector, official data showed yesterday.
One in five of those with jobs, however, worked less than 40 hours a week, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said in a statement issued yesterday.
It put the total labor force at 35.8 million, up from 35.494 million a year earlier, when the jobless rate stood at 7.4 percent.
Of the 7.4 percent of the labor force who had no jobs, around half were aged 24 or younger and one in three did not go to college.
The services sector added 305,000 new jobs to 16.1 million over the past year and accounted for 48.6 percent of all employed persons in the country.
Farm sector jobs fell by 7,000 to 12.16 million and employment in this sector accounted for 36.7 percent of the national total.
Employment in the industry sector rose by 12,000 to 4.895 million, accounting for 14.75 percent of the total.
*********************************************************
salamat kay gloria! salamat sa mahal naming pangulo! mabuhay ka! sana, humaba pa ang buhay mo! buwiset!!!
Tongue said:”Ang mga hilig kong panooring mga Pinoy na piyanista ay sina Bobby Enriquez(+), Boy Katindig, at si Kumpareng Bong Peñera”
They are jazz artists, right?
Kanya-kanya lang naman hilig yan, Tongue.
Except for Nat King Cole, Yanni and a few pieces by Earl Klugh, I’m not really into jazz. But if I get invited to some jazz concerts, I also go. Music is a balm to a tired soul.
I don’t want you guys to find out my age; but I wanna tell you about my old favorite singers and groups. Let me start with The Beatles, Herman’s Hermits, Bee Gees, The Monkees, Peter and Gordon, Stylistics, Cascades, Dave Clark Five, Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe, Perry Como, Elvis, Cliff Richard, Paul Anka, Andy Williams, etc. For the locals, my faves then were Eddie Peregrina, Diomedes Maturan, Jun Polistico, Ric Manrique Jr., etc. The popular bands and combos then were Orly Ilacada and the Ramrads, Tilt Down Men (Tito Sotto’s group), Hagibis, etc. There are lots more…
uy, si gloria, alam n’yo ba ang mga paborito n’ya?
heto: the monkeys, herman’s termites, the beetles, dave shark five, peter the robber, syle-in-sticks, carcasses, matt moonrobber, klepto richard and the animals.
katulad n’ya, di ba?
…style-in-sticks…..
Good one Mr. Rivera. I almost forgot there was one group called “Animals”. I think there was. Another group was The Association. Of course everyone knows Rolling Stones which are still popular today.
meron nga. kung hindi ako nagkakamali, sumilang ang bandang ito noong 1970’s.