Hanging out with Christopher Janwong McKiggan

Pianist Christopher Janwong McKiggan

Some time have already passed since pianist Christopher Janwong McKiggan had his concert here in the Philippines but I think that it would be fun to post some crazy and not so crazy stuff that he did here aside from his one night only performance.

Chris at the Steinway Boutique, Manila

Despite having some serious jet lag, Chris conducted a couple of masterclasses at the University of Sto. Tomas very early in the morning after arriving late that night before. It had been a few years since I last set foot at the campus so it took me quite a while to get used to being at the Conservatory of Music once again. It surprised me to see that some of the little piano kids from years ago are now college students already and that made me feel very old. I thought that I would nod off to sleep during the masterclass (since it was very early in morning) but I was kept awake by Chris who kept amazing everyone with his sight reading skills. He told the students that he hasn't played most of the pieces that they've prepared and yet when he took to the keyboard to demonstrate his point, he played them as if they've been part of his repertoire for years.

RAd giving Chris a headache

After the first of two masterclasses at UST, we dropped by the Steinway Boutique, Manila. I was worried that Chris would get his first taste of the horrible Metro Manila traffic getting there, but miraculously, travelling that afternoon was a breeze. Boutique Executive Joyce Tan welcomed us graciously and gave both Chris and I the opportunity to play with the Steinway grand piano that I could only afford in my dreams. Chris played as if he was already having a concert on stage while my playing probably worsened his jet lag. Chris was very amused by the numerous security guards he saw at the malls especially those who were stationed at Landmark wearing Chinese attire.

RAd, Pim and Chris

Thankfully, Thailand is very near to the Philippines so it wasn't difficult at all for Chris' girlfriend Pim to fly here to watch the concert. She was also there to observe the second masterclass at UST that happened the morning after the concert. After the masterclass, Anthony Say, the head of the piano department of the UST Conservatory, Chris, Pim and I had lunch wherein we discussed a variety of topics ranging from the history of UST to Thai actor Mario Maurer. I told Chris and Pim afterwards that the two of them, a very attractive pair, could easily pass of as celebrities in here. I really hope that the two had a grand time during their very brief stay in here.

Chris' concert was also part of his promotional tour for his recently released album Paganimania. He played two tracks from it during the concert and afterwards, he signed CD's for those who bought it. In the album, Niccolò Paganini’s very popular Caprice No. 24 in A minor was given a different spin and take by composers from different nationalities. The tracks include Pag-Rag by Robert Beaser, Scène V by Moon Young Ha, Paganini Reverie by Karim Al-Zand, Pact Ink by Narong Prangcharoen, Jade Clappers by Zhou Jing, Niccolo by S. Peace Nistades, Capricious Invariance by James Mobberley. I asked Chris if it was his deliberate choice not to have any European composers in the album. I thought that by staying away from Europe, the resulting pieces would result in a more varied output. He responded that the composers he commissioned were those he already knew and have worked with before and it just happened that there were no Europeans among them. One of his conditions was not to do variations since it’s been done many times before. Listening to the tracks in the album, there are some tracks wherein the Paganini passages are very obvious while some, I think I had to ask the composers themselves how their works ended that way. And there's also a track (I'm not saying which) wherein Chris can be heard unexpectedly. Hearing Chris in this manner for the first time caught me by surprise and I had to tell him that I was relieved that I didn't spill my coffee.

Paganimania

Tracks:

1. Pag-Rag

2. Scène V

3. Paganini Reverie

4. Pact Ink

5. Jade Clappers

6. Niccolo

7. Capricious Invariance

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.

Violinist Jeline Oliva opens MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series 2013

September 5, 2013, 7:00 PM

Ayala Museum

Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street

Greenbelt Park, Makati

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

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

It’s now time for the young ones to shine as the MCO Foundation opens its Young Artists Series 2013 by presenting 16 year violinist Maria Jeline Oliva in a solo concert this September 5, 2013, 7:00 PM at the Ayala Museum. Collaborating with Jeline for this concert will be pianist Mary Anne Espina.

Violinist Jeline Oliva

Jeline first burst into the scene by becoming a finalist at the first season of ABS-CBN’s Pilipinas Got Talent in 2010. Now mentored by Manila Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster Gina Medina, Jeline has shown tremendous growth, polish and finesse as a violinist when compared to her PGT days. This growth enabled her to come out as the runaway winner during the 2011 National Music Competitions for Young Artists for Violin Category B. Now, people can see truly how much she has developed in her first ever solo concert.

For this evening, Jeline has prepared Tomaso Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Op. 24 Spring, Niccolò Paganini’s Caprice No. 20 in D major, Camille Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor and Pablo de Sarasate Introduction et Tarantelle, Op.43. Jeline is only 16 years old and is currently a fourth year high school student but the pieces she will perform for the concert are usually played by much older violinists.

The rest of MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series 2013 will include concerts by tenor Ivan Niccolo Nery on September 18, soprano Myramae Nemeses on October 2 and pianist Matthew Calderon on October 16. All concerts will be held at the Ayala Museum.

Pianist Mary Anne Espina

MCO Foundation Young Artists Series 2013 is made possible through a special partnership with Ayala Museum, together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, BusinessWorld, Lyric Piano and Organ, DZFE.FM 98.7 The Master's Touch, Her Word, Highlife, Development Bank of the Philippines, Sheaffer Fine Pens, National Bookstore and Titania Wine Cellars.  

Ticket prices:

P800

P500

For inquiries:

MCO Secretariat at 750-0768, (0920) 954-0053

COEA 782-7164 or (0918) 347-3027

TicketWorld 891-9999