Music has been the go-to refuge of many anxious souls during this pandemic. And there’s nothing like a virtual recital of beloved iconic tunes to calm and soothe every lover of good music during these challenging times.
In what has turned out to be the first of at least two well-received performances (so far), acclaimed pianist and Steinway artist Dr. Raul Sunico together with New York’s Mannes School of Music student Adrian Nicolas Ong along with guest performers Martin Lopez and guitarist Lance Capitan delivered a memorable performance that had appreciative online audiences craving for more.
For Adrian, who has been performing since the age of 17, seasoned with impressive collaborations with top-notch musicians here and the rest of the world, the February 18 concert, dubbed as A Concert for FCCP Scholars for the benefit of the scholars of Friends For Cultural Concerns of the Philippines (FCCP), was a showcase of his mastery of the violin.
There were two performances but this writer chose to catch the 7:30PM show which was probably more ideal as it did add just the right hint of romance to a lovely dinner that night.
It was a marvel to watch and listen to Adrian’s “weeping” instrument—a modern Heinrich Gill violin and an early 20th-century Louis Henry Gillet bow—aid the classical sensation in his soulful interpretations of a largely diverse repertoire that included Bach’s “Sonata in A Minor,” Ernani Cuenco’s “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal,” Jules Massenet’s “Meditation from Thaïs,” and Mike Velarde, Jr.’s “Minamahal Kita.”
An FCCP scholar himself, Adrian had the solo spotlight to himself with a spellbinding take on Paganini’s violin tour de force, “Caprice No. 17” that pretty much brought the virtual house down.
In largely complementary roles, Lopez, Capitan and Sunico had their own moments during the recital. Lopez provided the perfect counterpoint to Adrian’s rendition of “Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal” while Capitan was a standout in Adrian’s reading of Astor Piazolla’s “Café 1930” and was even generous enough to deliver a solo encore with finger-plucking intensity in Agustin Barrios’ “Una Limosnita Por El Amor De Dios.”
For his part, Dr. Sunico, who like Adrian and the other performers were casually dressed to underscore the informal mood of the evening. Sunico played with keyboard precision and in tandem with Adrian delivered fresh takes on standards like Fritz Kreisler’s “Liebesleid” and “Tambourin Chinois,” Franz von Vecsey’s “Valse Triste” and even the serenading vibe of Antonio J. Molina’s “Hatinggabi.”
Dr. Sunico did have the last say of the recital, and closed the show recital on a relaxing, somber note with his performance of Claude Debussy’s “Arabesque No. 1.”
The show was such an instant hit with the virtual crowd that there was a strong clamor for a repeat performance. Happening this Friday, February 26, the recital dubbed as A Concert for FCCP Scholars will once again take place online and as the title indicates, is again for the benefit of FCCP scholars.
Music fans are enjoined to support young Filipino performing arts students by sending ticket payments for a minimum of P1,000 only to receive a link to the recital. Deposit them to FCCP’s Metrobank account number 2923292800453 and email the transaction slip to fccpoffice@yahoo.com.ph.