Sunico tames 3 Tchaikovsky concertos in single concert

Pianist Raul Sunico with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Featuring:

Raul Sunico, piano

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra

Herminigildo Ranera, conductor

Programme:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

     Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24

     Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op.44

     Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 75

     Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

Pianist Raul Sunico accomplished an unprecedented feat as he performed three of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s piano concertos in a single concert held at the Old Senate Hall of the National Museum of the Philippines. Accompanied by the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra led by its associate conductor Herminigildo Ranera, the fundraising concert presented by the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) raised more than P6 million in donations and pledges for the AIM-Felipe B. Alfonso President’s Fund.

The National Museum of the Philippines

The concert featured an all Tchaikovsky lineup opening with the orchestra’s rendition of the Polonaise from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, a great piece to start the event since the stateliness of the polonaise dance perfectly matched the historic Old Senate Hall that was just restored to its full glory back in 2012. Then pianist Raul Sunico went on stage to perform the first of the three Tchaikovsky piano concertos to be performed which was the Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op.44. Rarely performed, this concerto has one of the most unique middle sections as the concertmaster and the principal cellist play significant solos alongside the piano making it almost a concerto for a piano trio.

The second half of the concert had Sunico and the PPO performing the one movement Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 75. Posthumously published, this concerto originally started as a symphony in E flat before abandoning that work together. If the second piano concerto is rarely performed, the third is even more so and I bet that majority in the audience got to hear this piece for the first time during this concert. The very popular Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23 served as the evening’s finale. If the audience didn’t recognize the third concerto, I’m pretty certain that they’ve heard some parts (the descending horn intro, the ascending chords by the piano, the string melody one can hum to, the tranquil middle section with the flute solo, and the exciting final movement introduced by an accented timpani) of the first before. Probably owing to fatigue, the less than ideal acoustics, and also the weight of the pieces being performed, there were instances where the music wasn't as tight and precise as it could've been, as if the ends were starting to get frayed. But the VIP-filled audience didn't mind for as the piece reached its rousing and exhilarating end, they were immediately up on their feet showering Raul Sunico, the PPO, and Herminigildo Ranera with thunderous applause that reverberated throughout the Old Senate Hall.

I just have to say that the reverb was too much in the hall. I felt that the microphones used to amplify the sound were unnecessary as it brought about an overpowering sound. From where I was seated at the left side of the balustrade level, the lower strings were drowning out the violin sections. And the solo cello during the second movement of the second concerto was hardly audible. On several occasions, the piano parts especially during cadenzas, sound very muddled as if the damper pedal was always pressed.

RAd and Raul Sunico

I have to admit that the Old Senate Hall is not an ideal space in terms of acoustics to stage a classical music performance. But the architecture, the artwork/sculptures inside, and most importantly, the history surrounding the hall made for a very fascinating experience.