Mesmerizing performance by violinist Chino Gutierrez

Violinist Joaquin Maria “Chino” Gutierrez’s performance Saturday night at the Insular Theatre at the Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang was mesmerizing; we forgot, just for the night, all the toxic reports that we have to deal with about our officials and other public personalities.

Gutierrez “Revelry” concert was a repeat of the successful concert he had last year at the Francisco Santiago Auditorium in Makati. With collaborating artist Corazon Pineda Kabayao in the piano, Gutierrez treated music lovers to Ysaye’s Sonata No. 2, Cesar Franck Sonata in A major, Suite Italienne by Stravinsky, Wieniawski’s Polonaise Brilliante in A major, La Deportacion by Dr. Jose Rizal-Kabayao and Tzigane by Ravel.

His rendition of “Bayan Ko” (one of the several encores) was nakakatindig balahibo.

Last Saturday’s concert is probably the last that Gutierrez will be giving before he leaves for Munich on March 3 to finish his Bachelor’s degree program in Violin Performance at the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater Munchen.

We are glad that the Gutierrezes were able to raise the one thousand Euros needed for him to be re-admitted to the prestigious State Academy of Music and Theater in Munich. But, as his patron, the eminent violinist Gilopez Kabayao, wrote in an open letter, “ The living expenses, however, come up to so much because Munich is the most expensive city in Germany and its standard of living is very high. “

Gutierrez has been on leave from his studies in Munich at the State Academy of Music and Theater (It’s not easy to be admitted to the school; the auditions are tough) because his parents could not sustain his studies.

There are scholarships available but usually they are given to students on their third year. Chino is almost there.

Kabayao, who was present in last Saturday’s concert (the pianist, Corazon Pineda Kabayao, is his wife) said in his open letter, “I had the privilege of having the young, brilliant Chino Gutierrez, come to Iloilo for extensive coaching and I can say with conviction that Chino is one of our most promising and exciting violinists who could be a big success in the international concert scene. A prodigy who could play difficult works at 7 or 8, and hailed as a young virtuoso at 16, he amazed me with his musical maturity, technical security, the mastery of his instrument and the passion to learn and perform the great works of the masters. He could practically play anything from the most virtuosic to the most classical, lyrical, romantic, contemporary styles.”

Opinion writer Belinda Olivares Cunanan said those who want to see this young gifted artist bloom and share his talent with the rest of the Filipinos are welcome to contribute.

“Revelry” notes tell us that Chino began violin studies to 7 and ½ years old under Alfonso “Coke” Bolipata. He made his orchestral debut at the CCP at age 10 in a performance of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole.

In 2002, he won first prize at the National Music Competitions for Young Artists, high school division.

After finishing high school at the Philippine Science High School, Chino left for Germany to train under renowned violin pedagogue Jens Ellerman, who instantly recognized him as “a major talent of the violin.” He was admitted to State Academy of Music and Theater in Munich where he studied violin while simultaneously attending a regular German high school.

When he is not performing in concerts here and abroad, Chino finds time to teach high school algebra and trigonometry and mentors younger violin students.

Chino was quoted by classical music writer Rosalinda Orosa as saying, “I am serious about pursuing a career as a concert violinist and I would like to do this for myself as well as for my country. After having made it to Germany, passed the tough auditions and fared pretty well so far, I suppose I am on the right track. In the future, I hope that I can help cultivate an atmosphere in the Philippines where classical violin playing is viewed as an enviable, lucrative career so that local talents will no longer be siphoned away to other countries or to other professions.”