Pablo Tariman’s Great Performances Series concluded in a dazzling performance by Russian pianist Ilya Rashkoskiy early this month at the Philamlife Theatre.
It was a return engagement for Ilya, whose spectacular 2006 performance sent Filipino music lovers asking for more. As expected, Ilya did not disappoint fans the second time around.
His December 8 concert was dedicated to dance. He started with Frederick Chopin’s “Waltzes”, followed by Alexander Scriabin’s “Valse”. He closed the first half with an energetic performance of Maurice Ravel’s La Valse that left the audience breathless.With all the musical pyrotechnics, it was like New Year in early December.
He started the second half with a gentler Ravel (Valses Nobles et Sentimentales), then followed it with Franz Liszt “Soires de Vienne:valse Caprice No. 6” and concluded the program with the spellbinding “Mephisto Waltz” No. 1 by Liszt.
The audience, who gave up Christmas parties to see him perform, showed their appreciation with a standing ovation.
Ilya, 23, is a joy to watch. When he bows to the audience, he does it with a shy smile; he looks angelic.
Pablo attests to Ilya’s endearing humility. He said the handsome artist is not demanding, a refreshing trait in a world where egos are in abundance.
The performances of Ilya and violinist Alvaro Pierri, who performed at the Philamlife Theatre on Dec. 4, were courtesy of the Chopin Society of Hongkong, dedicated to the promotion of classical musical activities. The Society organizes public recitals and concerts, master classes and a major international piano competition which have helped to augment further the reputation of Hongkong as a major cultural center in Asia.
In 2005, the Society held its first Hongkong International Piano Competition. It was where Asia discovered Ilya, who won first prize. Chang Tou Liang, artistic director of the Singapore International Piano Festival, wrote why Ilya won in that contest.
“When Ilya came to Hongkong in 2005, his chief objective was to reach the grand finals and to perform the entire program he had chosen for the competition. His wish was granted but the finals required a pianist to play two full-length concertos with barely minutes break in between!
“Fifteen minutes would have been a sufficient interval, he felt. However, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in literally one sitting, a first time experience, was a great test of concentrationa and enduracne that left him totally exhausted. But he responded magnificently.”
It’s a credit to Pablo’s reputation in the world of classical music that Chopin Society of Hongkong shares famous artists to Filipino audience.
Despite the artistic success of the Great Performances Series, Pablo said he will have to stop for awhile to re-assess his life. The series that started in January 2005 gave the not- so- big Filipino audience of classical music outstanding foreign artists, aside from Rashkovskiy and Pierri, Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu, Russian pianist Sergey Kusnetsov.
Pablo also brought home Filipino artists who are enjoying successful careers in the international scene like US-based pianist Cecile Licad and cellist Victor Michel Coo and Germany-based tenor Otoniel Gonzaga.
Pablo also showed that the country is not short of outstanding artists. I remember having a wonderful time with the artistry of tenor Noel Azcona, sopranos Rachel Gerodias and Camille Lopez, flutist Christopher Oracion. In the Christmas 2005 concert, we were treated with the guesting of Dulce who captured our heart with her powerful rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables.
Pablo said despite the limited audience who patronize his concerts compared to pop concerts, he still believes that Filipinos know what is good music. The problem, he said, is funding.
The sad reality is, there is no money in promoting classical music. “I can’t live on standing ovation. I have to stop this madness,” Pablo said.
We lament the end of the Great Performances Series. But we are happy that we didn’t miss those wonderful performances. Thanks, Pablo.
Its so sad I missed those performances, I didn’t have any clue that there was any really. I am partial to Mozart’s piano concerto no 21 in C major. It was used in an old James Bond movie, very nice, the scene was an underwater city rising to the surface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HOyPO5GGis
And I still have the tape of the Theme from Mad Woman of Chaillot by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
And who could forget Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQVeaIHWWck
Mornings are not complete if not started with Vivalde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St9wYu_WeAM&feature=related
Our very own Cecile Licad playing Tchaikowski
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysewnfBkgig
Or the poet pianist Chopin’s Nocturne as played by Rachmaninoff?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj3CHx3TDzw&feature=related
Sayang Jug, I had extra tickets then.
Hehehe. Inindiyan ko kasi si Ellen, di ko tuloy napanood. Isa pa, wala ako sa mood noon dahil bwisit pa ako noon sa Manila Pen.
Teka, crush pihado ni Ellen si Ilya…
Pero, Jug, classical-inclined ka rin pala kahit pa yung video sa blog mo e Yngwie Malmsteen!
Oo nga, Tongue. There were so many vacant seats. A number of friends I know preferred Christmas parties than the concert.
Hindi lang naman ako ang may crush kay Ilya. In last year’s performance, there were girls who were shouting, “Ilya, will you marry me?”
He was amused.
Sayang, I’m already taken, hindi ko na mapipikot si Ilya. heheh!
Isingit ko lang ito para tawanan tayo sa Bagong Taon:
Bisaya 1: ” Gara ng kutsi, siguro kay Miyur iyan.”!
Bisaya 2: ” Dili bay!”
Bisaya 1: ” Kay Hipi?”
Bisaya 2: ” Tuntu ka man. Kay FATHER iyan. Gisulat niya sa likud o,
“‘SAFARI’.”
Misis: ” Sir, mananawagan po sana ako sa mister ko kasi dinala niya ang limang anak namin.”
Radio Host: ” Ok, go ahead!”
Misis: ” Honey, ibalik mo na ang mga bata, isa lang naman ang sa iyo diyan!”
Hello! Heto na naman ako. Gulung-gulo ulit ang isip ko. May nais lang sana akong itanong sa inyo. Alam ko matutulungan niyo ako.
Ang BIRDS FLU ba ay past tense ng BIRDS FLY?
Nakasakay ka sa FX, ng ikaw ay mautot. Buti na lang malakas ang tugtog. Bawat pag-utot, sabay sa tugtog. Nang ikaw ay
bumaba, ang sasama ng tingin nila sa iyo, bigla mong naalala…naka Walkman ka pala!
WIFE: Himala! aga mong umuwi ngayon.
HUSBAND: Sunod ko lang utos ng boss ko. Sabi nya “GO TO HELL”, kaya ito uwi agad ako.
Lasing (takot): may multo sa banyo natin!
Wife: ha? Bakit?
Lasing: kasi bumubukas yung ilaw pag papasok ako ng banyo eh.
Wife: punyeta ka! ikaw pala umiihi sa ref!
1st night lola wore see thru dress, lolo didn’t react…
2nd night lola wore t-back, lolo still deadma…
3rd night lola all naked, lolo said “anu yan suot mo, gusot-gusot! !”
AMO: sagutin mo ang telepon inday!
INDAY: (baligtad ang hawak) hilo ? hilo ?
AMO: baligtarin mo!
INDAY: lohi? lohi?
AMO: telepon ang baligtarin mo!
INDAY: Puntili, puntili
Juan: bday ng asawa ko
Pedro: ano regalo mo?
Juan: tinanong ko kung ano gusto niya.
P: ano naman sinabi?
J: Kahit ano basta may DIAMOND.
P: ano binigay mo?
J: Baraha.
Pedro: Galing ako sa doktor, nakabili na ko ng hearing aid. Grabe! ang linaw na ng pandinig ko!
Juan: Talaga?! Magkano bili mo?
Pedro: Kahapon lang
Teacher: We are descendants of Adam and Eve!
Student: That’s not true! My dad sez we are descendants of an Ape!
Teacher: We are not talking about your FAMILY!
Wife: Lab, may taning na ang buhay ko. Huling gabi ko na to, let’s make love.
Husband: Heh! tumigil ka nga. maaga pa akong gigising bukas, buti ikaw hindi na.
KRIMINAL1: “Pare, sigurado ka bang dito dadaan yung papatayin natin?”
KRIMINAL2: “Oo, nagtataka nga ako, 1 oras na tayo dito wala parin siya! Sana walang nangyaring masama sa kanya.
Actually I’m quite ecclectic when it comes to music, I even appreciated the Crazy Frog MTVs. Lately, there has been so much “mental noise” because of everything that happened this year that I believe classical music is a welcome “mental balm” to at least for a moment, quiet the spirit.
hahahahahaha! Brownberry, baka pagalitan ka ni Pimentel dyan sa first joke mo? hihihihi
Pare, hindi naman galing sa pelikula nina Juday at Ryan iyan eh. Ang problema baka si Ellen at mga ibang Ilonggo ang magalit. But I have heard how Ellen speaks in Tagalog…very fluent. Kahit kaunting Bisayan accent wala.
Thanks ,Brownberry. But my Visayan accent is there. I don’t lose sleep over that. That’s my roots.
Ako nga bisaya din. Funny, some of us don’t really think much about it anymore, probably because there is much more bigger fish to fry.
Now this is an awesome medley! Plug in your Altec Lansings and try it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4CzJe17__E
Now for GLORIA’s theme song classical music version,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xui7x_KF7bY&feature=related
Okay, I have some Ilya Rashkovskiy for you girls who like him so much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxKkddmVv_s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbxPge45-OU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA10SJu2J5I
Also, one of my favorites FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y41DykcpgRg
Happy New To All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, Jug, thank you, thank you for the links.
Thank you juggernaut, the Canon in D by Pachebel is my favorite.
juggernaut:
You mentioned Mad Woman of Chaillot by Sergei Rachmaninoff. I think I already know her she’s evil and a liar, lives in a big house by the river he he he.
I like Canon by Pachebel too! I wanted it for my cellphone ringtone. it turned out to be too sedate for a ringtone.
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba is a better ringtone. Or the Ode to Joy. I know someone who uses the Marzo Funebre. I’m saving that for when GMA gets ousted. But the Canon is in all my playlists, from computer to MP3 to cellphone.
For ringtones? What about Handel’s Messiah?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHksDFHTQI
klingon,
Chopin’s marche funèbre reminds me of old Vincent Price movies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z29STlNh1w
Precisely (and I love Vincent Price too). Any of the Brandenberg concertos make for great ringtones.
Try Ride of the Valkyries.
indeed. Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’ is not only popular but among those considered unforgettable in the world of classical music. his ‘Song of India’, is another.
am partial to Richard Wagner these days; trying to unravel, and hopefully capture the secrets that made him the Nazi’s favorite. his orchestral music especially those from ‘Der Ring Des Nibelungen’, were the ones constantly played by Auschwitz prison commanders to temper, and dull the senses of those waiting to be led into the gas chambers–many of them, women and children.
parallel could be drawn to that of Armed Forces of the Pidals’ Camp Aguinaldo commander; who, faced with demonstrators demand to free Jonas Burgos—-the youthful farmer-activist, who disappeared after being abducted by armed state agents and brought inside the camp according to witnesses, not only ordered the marchers shooed away from the gates but let out at top volume a cacophony of lustful and vulgar sounds to drown away the victim’s family and friends cries of lament.
music is liberating for the soul for many amongst us, but for some on a different context, could bring unendingly painful memories.
For my message tone it’s a take from Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 (Used as theme for the movie Elvira Madigan).
For my ringtone , its from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. (Spring).
Ganda.
# Ellen Says:
December 31st, 2007 at 9:57 am
Thanks ,Brownberry. But my Visayan accent is there. I don’t lose sleep over that. That’s my roots.
—-Pero para sa akin, walang Visayan accent ang Tagalog mo. That’s what I observed when you spoke during the Senate hearing. Mabilis, malinaw at very articulate ang pagsalaysay mo ng mga pangyayari sa Manila Pen. Kung hindi ko pa alam na Ilongga ka, baka akalain kong purong Tagalog ka. There’s nothing to be ashamed of one’s roots. Kasalanan ba ng isang tao ang isilang at lumaki sa Visaya region o Mindanao. What I strongly disagree is for one to refuse speaking Tagalog even if he knows. Tulad na lang ng mga Ilokano (no offense meant), itanong mo sa kanila kung Pilipino sila at ang isasagot ay “Ilokano”. Many have this experience with them especially abroad like in Hawaii. On the other hand, eto naman si GMA nagyayabang na bihasa siya sa lahat ng dialect sa Pilipinas. If there are others who refuse to speak a dialect or dialects even if they know, this GMA claims to be fluent in all dialects. Iyan ang style niya kapag umiikot siya sa probinsiya na halatang pilit na gawin tanggapin siya ng mga tao. Plastik!
I did not know that there are classical music buffs here in Ellen’s blogsite. I like classical music …
Symphony No.40 in G minor (Mozart)
Sleeping Beauty Opus 66(Tchaikovsly)
Carmen Suite No.1-Les Toreador (Bizet)
Adagio in G minor (Bach)
Air on the G String(Bach)
Gabriel’s Oboe (Morricone)
…just to name a few,I also prefer the voice and music of Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Russel Watson, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Steve Tyrell,Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Horn, Nora Jones, Monica Mancini and the Cello of Yo-Yo Ma.
Since this thread is about music, I would like to know what you think about our very own 15-years old Charise Pempengco who is rising fast to become an international star. She recently guested at Ellen De Genarez Show in LA. Another girl who impresses the world is a six years old British girl who already has her album “Over the Rainbow”. I forgot her name.
I miss the Tv appearance of Charise Pempengco but I’ve read about her.
The discussion in this thread re-affirms Pablo Tariman’s belief that Filipinos appreciate good music. Talaga naman.
Ellen, you can see and watch it on Youtube. Happy New Year to you!
Ellen,
Check this out, Charise Pempengco clips! Awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUUh8YI_PwM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHdy-di5nNo
Thanks, Jug. Yes, impressive!
Here’s another one, a six-year old British girl named Connie Talbot. She already has an album. Check this out below and enjoy watching and listening:
Over the Rainbow
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FeOaxGNCAMI
Ben
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6RCb5H8BA
I will Always Love you
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2uSbY5RglAQ
ang hihilig n’yo sa myusik pero hindi n’yo alam na merong sikat ditong kasama kayo.
ipagtanong n’yo sa mga lamayan ng patay.
ako ‘yun!
he he he heeh!
hapi tri kings!!
From what little I know about classical music, I like Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture the most…
Mrivera, kailan ka namin mapapanood sa Youtube? Kung hindi, Iyong Tubo na lang ang hawakan mo. Do you know that music is a very good therapy? Kapag may problem ka at depressed, just listen to “Ave Maria”.
“Ave Maria,” Brownberry? Para sa patay iyan di ba? When I was a little kid, we lived in Sta. Cruz, and everyday, we would see a funeral parade or two to the cemeteries (Chinese and Filipino) at the end of the road. The music played was “Ave Maria” that I would have goose pimples everytime I heard it that I told my mother I would not like to have it played at my funeral.
Frankly, I have stopped thinking of it as a music of death but a Christmas song after hearing Barbara Streisand sing it in one of her Christmas concerts.
At least, I know for sure I won’t hear it in my funeral. Over in Japan, they don’t play any music in the car taking the corpse to a crematory, and during funeral services in our church, more often than not, we sing “Nearer, My God, to Thee” and/or “God Be With You Till We Meet Again.”
BTW, belated Happy Birthday to Magno! Ilang taon na siya?
BTW, Ellen, what’s the postal address of Malaya?
I was just kidding about “Ave Maria”. Speaking of funeral, more and more are into cremation these days. I think people have been practicing cremation since ancient times. However, some fundamentalist Christians warn that it’s against God’s teaching to cremate one’s body. They say that since our body is the Temple of God, we must not disfigure it but instead it be offered to God when the end comes…pure and holy…without stain and blemish. Ewan ko lang…para kasi sa marami, menos gastos ang cremation.