MCO Foundation Young Artists Series 2013: Jeline Oliva

Violinist Jeline Oliva

Featuring:

Maria Jelina Llorin Oliva, violin

Mary Anne Espina, piano

Programme:

Tomaso Vitali Chaconne in G minor

Ludwig van Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 Spring

Ernesto Vallejo Habanera Filipina No. 2

Angel Peña Philippine Serenade

Potenciano Gregorio Sr. Sarung Banggi

Niccolò Paganini Caprice No. 20 in D major

Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 

Pablo de Sarasate Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43

Violinist Jeline Oliva showed not just tremendous growth and maturity but also grace under pressure when she opened the MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series 2013 at the Ayala Museum. Jeline played on the violin accompanied by pianist Mary Anne Espina a bunch of difficult pieces that would’ve given college level music students a difficult time.

It had been over a year since I last saw Jeline perform on stage so I was really curious to see how much she has grown since then. I noticed right away during her opening piece, Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor that she has developed more presence on stage. If she had butterflies prior to her concert, then no one in the audience knew. After this, she performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24 or more popularly known as Spring. I think that the lightness and freshness of this piece was a good fit for a young violinist such as Jeline. In a normal recital/concert, this piece would’ve been the finale piece but this was how she just ended up the first half.

The second half had Jeline playing pieces by Filipino composers that weren’t included in the earlier version of the programme: Ernesto Vallejo’s Habanera Filipina No. 2, Angel Peña’s Philippine Serenade and Potenciano Gregorio Sr.’s Sarung Banggi giving the concert a much welcomed local flavor. And then it was time for Jeline to be on her own when she performed Niccolò Paganini’s Caprice No. 20 in D major. For most members of the audience, Jeline’s final two pieces were the most highly anticipated of the evening: Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 and Pablo de Sarasate’s Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43. Jeline was going through the Saint-Saëns well until she entered the capriccioso in which her shoulder rest slipped from her violin. But she showed calmness and great presence of mind, and quickly put the shoulder rest back into place without letting panic get in her way. And she was able to recover quickly from this very brief interruption and resumed playing like it never happened at all. But I had to note that it was during these two pieces also when I noticed signs that she was getting tired and weary. It was understandably so because she ended up performing for around two hours which is quite long for a concert that is supposed to be featuring young artists who are still on the rise.

One cannot deny that Jeline has improved tremendously since her Pilipinas Got Talent days. I just wish to see her play pieces that are lighter and fun, featuring less drama and tension, so that she can remind everyone that despite being a music prodigy, she is still a teenager.