She makes the music her own

At the rate tickets are moving for the Sept. 15 to 16 concerts of celebrated pianist Cecile Licad and German cellist Alban Gerhardt at the CCP, the much-awaited concerts will be sold out three weeks before the opening night. (In March last year, hundreds were left gawking at the CCP lobby when they found out tickets disappeared a week before.)

This is not surprising. Licad is the box-office queen of classical concerts in Manila and she is duplicating that feat in USA and Europe where her recital and orchestra concerts are sold out months ahead.

But what about Gerhardt? He is a prize winner of several international cello competitions, much younger than Licad but both share the highest passion and musicality associated with the best of chamber music.

Over the past decade, Gerhardt has established himself among the great cellists of our time.

Here’s how a cello connoisseur describes him: “His sound is unmistakable and he distinguishes himself with interpretations of great originality; the cello simply sings under his hands, familiar works are reborn and unknown works come to life with vibrancy and flair. One of those rare artists who fascinate audiences with unerring musical instincts, intensity of feeling and an arresting stage presence.”

The musical partnership of Licad and Gerhardt was born less than a decade ago and on the day they debuted in USA and Europe some years back, the acclaim just came pouring in like an avalanche.

From German critic  Christof Jetzschke came this assessment of a festival concert: “The festival chamber music series was not short of perfect pairing this year. One such presented itself on Sunday evening in the Ordenssaal: cellist Alban Gerhardt and his partner at the piano, Cecile Licad. Words cannot really express what happened on this memorable and stirring evening. And there is also no sense in talking at large about the faultless technique of both artists, their clear sense of order, and their deeply inward, intense and variable tone, from Gerhardt’s immaculate fingering and Licad’s phenomenal touch. The frenetic applause of the audience left no possibility of doubt that, on this evening, the festival owed a magical moment of chamber music to Gerhardt and Licad, whose performance could barely be improved in any way.”

Cellist Gerhardt tells a music magazine why he likes Licad: “My favorite musician right now is Cecile Licad, a pianist who practically creates the pieces as she plays them. She studies the scores very carefully, but then she makes them her own and comes up with something new. For example, we rehearsed the Chopin sonata intensely a few years ago in preparation for our New York debut as a duo. During the performance, she did things completely differently from what we had discussed, but it worked!”

So when you watch the CCP gala anniversary concert next month, you will see one of Germany’s best  plus our own national treasure in music. By the way, Licad agreed to play solo (and so did Gerhardt) in the first part of their joint concert on Sept. 15. Licad has a surprise number dedicated to the late President Cory Aquino. For tickets, call 900-7023 or 0906-5104270.

This one I will surely not miss.

Julia Abueva, child prodigy

Julia Abueva according to Oprah is one of the most talented kids in the world. Recently, Encore!, Pocketful of Kids welcomed Abueva as part of its creative team. As creative consultant, Julia shares what she has learned and how best to develop and inspire kids her age. Encore!, Pocketful of Kids performance school seeks to develop children and teens with the passion for the performing arts.

Julia has also done concerts here and abroad. She has been labeled a “child prodigy.” She first performed before a public at age 7. She was introduced into the Singapore music scene in 2004 as the youngest member of the JazzKids, the first group of children in Singapore performing to big band, swing and jazz standards. Her first performance in the Philippines was when she was eight as guest artist in Monique Wilson’s 25 Years of Theatre. In that performance, she caught the attention of Lea Salonga and mom Ligaya who then guested her the following year in Lea Salonga’s concerts in Manila and Cebu. At nine, Julia was performing for hundreds of thousands for the opening of the 23rd SEA Games and had become one of the most sought-after performers in Singapore.

Julia dreams of performing on Broadway and West End.

For details, call 634-7888 and 634-2888 or log on to www.pocketfulofkids.com.