Special Concert Series I: Diomedes Saraza Jr.

Violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr.

Featuring:

Diomedes Saraza Jr., violin

Greg Zuniega, piano

Programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005

Alvin Zhu Poeme

Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 Kreutzer

Jiulliard trained violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. opened the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Special Concert Series in spectacular fashion. Performing the same programme he did for his graduation recital, Diomedes showed the audience that filled the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) that he is indeed one of the country’s leading violinists in this generation.

Diomedes started the concert with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005 and despite my general disinterest with Baroque era music, he was able to amaze me during Fuga, the piece’s second movement. His deft touch made the voices in the fugue come out with such clarity. And I was astonished by Bach’s ability to craft a piece with an intricate architectural structure. For the next piece, collaborating pianist Greg Zuniega joins Diomedes on stage for the Philippine premiere performance of Alvin Zhu’s Poeme. Diomedes told me that Alvin Zhu was his roommate and one of his bestfriends, and that the piece was composed for the both of them for a theory class. It was originally made up of only the first movement, Appassionata, which is a sweeping, impressionistic work (especially the piano part) reminiscent of Claude Debussy. The teacher said that it was too good so Zhu added two more movements, Water and Sailing, to the piece. The whole version had its premiere last December 2012 at Juilliard’s Paul Hall for Double Vision where composers get to premiere their works if they are good enough.

Then it was the highlight of the evening for me which was Ludwig van Beethoven Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major, Op. 47 also known as the Kreutzer Sonata. An imposing work that feels more like a concerto rather than chamber music, Diomedes handled it like it was a walk in the park. I particularly liked the second movement Andante con variazioni which is the longest movement in the entire sonata. I find it a lot easier to appreciate variations when I see them performed rather than just by listening to it. And Diomedes, being a rather animated performer, not only did I hear the variations; I was also able to see it. And he didn’t let up when he got into the frantic tarantella rhythm of the final movement Presto. I’ve waited a long time to see a performance of the Kreutzer Sonata once again and seeing Diomedes deliver it pleased me a lot. Equally pleasing was his encores, Cavatina by Nicanor Abelardo and Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas by Willy Cruz. It was really nice to see him pay tribute to his Filipino roots by playing these favorite local pieces of music.

It would’ve been a lot more awesome if violinist Diomedes Saraza Jr. was able to fly everyone to the US to watch his graduation recital at the Juilliard School. But still, it was still awesome that he brought his graduation recital programme here instead to the Philippines. The only thing I felt that was missing during this evening was a concerto. But that would be remedied a lot sooner since there’s a concert featuring Diomedes coming very, very soon.