Rudolf Pelaez Golez: Pianist Par Excellence

It was part of his piano concert tour series, that memorable Wednesday night, August 3rd, two weeks ago. This was his first major performance in the city, after making the country proud at the First ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition in Kuala Lumpur last year. There, he was adjudged as the sole prize winner by a select international jury.

That recent victory alone was enough to jampack the 500-seater Marcelo B. Fernan Press Center in Lahug. More seats had to be pulled in as the crowd overflowed to the aisles just before show time. People waited, patiently, for the clock to strike 8 p.m. When the lights dimmed, a peculiar hush swept across the hall. It was time.

Rudolf Caesar Pelaez Golez. The name itself rings heavy. That, too, fuelled the growing anticipation. As soon as a relatively small figure stood at centerstage, vigorous applause burst. The young man was charming but unassuming, absolutely devoid of any pomposity which is the mark of most virtuosos. He instantly became everyone's darling. That was only the beginning.

His fingers then tiptoed and jumped and danced and glided on the piano keys in masterful ease and precision. The only uneasiness there was, if any, was perhaps in the angst of his playing. The piano roared, wailed, sobbed, hummed and whispered-always beautifully, always in enthralling fluidity and grace.

He played Franz Liszt for the next two hours, with incredible ability that would have made Liszt himself proud. Golez played Liszt so well, that effectively you got to feel the legendary Hungarian composer's various personal qualities: as nationalist, poet, dramatist, lover, virtuoso, philosopher, and as a deeply spiritual person. All throughout the concert, Golez played from memory, like Liszt did, no note sheets whatsoever.

It is a curious thing to note that Liszt and Golez, whose lifetimes are separated by almost 200 years, share some distinct similarities. List was recognized as a child prodigy at the age of six; Golez began piano studies at age four. And both of them have an instinct for engaging showmanship. Liszt performed to a broad mix of audiences, not just for royalties. Golez's audience that night consisted of the city's elite, music scholars, office workers and students. One big difference between the two, however, could be that perhaps Franz Liszt only played Liszt while Rudolf Golez plays them all: Liszt, Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and the rest.

The whole night Golez "possessed" the grand piano. There were distinct sounds of nature, and haunting echoes of life in the timelessness of the pieces which he played with sheer virtuosity. It was not necessary to understand the music, although Prof. Russell Brandon, noted musicologist and pianist, was on hand to give short introductions to the pieces in order to guide the audience.

The experience was spontaneous. It was so universal, something so sophisticated yet so fundamental. The melodies just gripped your heart and soothed your soul. You didn't need a mind in the experience. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride, leaving you either completely at peace or exuberantly fired up at the end of every piece.

It was noticeable that, at times, Golez would lose himself into his playing. Focus, some would call it. Or, maybe, the young maestro was going through an entrancing journey back in time in order to bring Liszt back to life-and virtually performed that miracle. "Rudolf Pelaez Golez Plays Liszt" was an Arts Council of Cebu presentation. The Arts Council regularly brings in world-class performances by outstanding home-grown and visiting artists, often for free. Personally, I still have to see an Arts Council show that bores me. They are ever so discriminating in their selection of art events to bring to town. Rudolf Golez's piano concert was one shining proof.