Virtuoso youths on fire at NAMCYA's winners concert

Whoever said that classical music is now only for the old and that young people are no longer interested in it should’ve watched Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang. at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He or she would’ve seen five promising young musicians who performed alongside the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, were met by a very enthusiastic audience and therefore would’ve dispelled the notion that classical music doesn’t connect with today’s youth.

The five young musicians featured in this concert, namely Andrew Constantino, Aaron Rafael Aguila III, banduria player Nikki Zen, Mishael Romano, and Gabriel Paguirigan were top prize winners at the annual National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA). 

The PPO, led by Herminigildo Ranera, set the tone with Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture from Der Freischütz, Op. 77, J. 277 and Gioacchino Rossini’s Overture from L'Italiana in Algeri to start each half of the concert.

Clarinetist Andrew performed the Allegro from Carl Maria von Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 74, J.118. He had a presence on stage as he stood tall and was in great command as he went through the fast and difficult passages in this movement. I am more relaxed and not nervous at all whenever he had solos at the UST Symphony Orchestra. And seeing him as a soloist performing a concerto, I was very much at ease that he would nail everything. After his performance, I felt bad and disappointed with myself for abandoning learning how to play the clarinet.

Guitarist Aaron slowed and quieted things down with the very nostalgic Adagio from Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. This movement may not be the flashiest but sometimes, the quiet moments are the most emotionally affecting. In fact, I heard some audience members getting stirred as the popular theme reached its dramatic crescendo. I for once, wished that Aaron was able to play the entire concerto so that not only he would be able to showcase a wider range of technique and emotions but would also satisfy my craving for a live performance of the complete piece.

My unfamiliarity wih Nikki and the rare sight of the banduria playing alongside the orchestra made her performance of Niccolo Paganini’s Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11 one of my most awaited moments of the concert. It was the shortest piece of the night among the featured soloists but the constant flurry of notes with almost no chance for her to rest throughout the entire time. All these factors resulted with the audience bursting into applause and cheers once she was done.

Violinist Misha may be tiny but he was quite the showman as he performed the Allegro molto appassionato from Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64. Looking very confident and playing without any inhibitions, he, at times, even played to the audience. I’ve told myself prior to the concert that I am still not yet ready for another dose of this piece after hearing around five violinists play this during a NAMCYA competition some years back. It was the only thing that held me back from truly enjoying Misha’s performance but it also made me await which piece he would perform with an orchestra next. That’s how confident I am with his chances of doing a concerto again.

While Misha’s music has been overplayed Gabby’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major, Sz. 119, BB 127 by Béla Bartók is definitely not. In fact, it was my first time to see this piano concerto performed live. And as expected, Bartók is not everyone’s cup of tea: a Philippine High School for the Arts told me after the concert that he liked it while an elderly concert organizer said that she doesn’t like Bartók. As for me, this piece may not excite me that much but I’m always up for piano concertos beyond the Rach, Tchaik, Schumann, Chopin, and the rest of the usual repertoire. I also wished that Gabby, performing like the veteran that he is despite his young age, played the entire piece instead of just the two movements of what I think is the most digestible among Bartók’s three piano concertos.

All five young musicians performed in a manner that was beyond their years. But the awkwardness that exhibited while entering and exiting the stage, shaking the hands of the conductor and concertmaster and taking their bows, reminded me that they’re all still young and had very little concert experience. But all is forgiven as this concert is just their starting steps towards becoming the future of classical music in here.

More NAMCYA excitement is on the way as the National Final Competitions happen this November 21-26, 2017 at various CCP venues.