Oliver! at Odette’s

My favorite piano prodigy is home for a break from studies at the Music Conservatory of Lynn University in Florida. The last time I saw him was three years ago, at the Pasig Museum, where he enthralled me with his keyboard genius. At 13, he played one of the master’s pieces with such power that there could never be room for doubt that he would be one of the country’s greatest pianists.

Thursday evening, he had become taller and less plump, and impish, too; his playing in the home of Odette Alcantara could be heard I believe throughout the Blue Ridge subdivision in Quezon City. He played J. S. Bach’s Partita No. 2 in C Minor, PWV 826, L.V. Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 57 in F Minor, and F. Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in G minor Opus 23. I could listen to him the whole night, if he could just go on and on and on . . .

After a change of clothes, he sat at our table for a chat. He had finished high school at the Philippine High School for the Arts where he graduated with top honors. His tutor was Prof. Carmencita Arambulo, who had honed his talent to get him the first prize in the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) twice. He also won the University of the Philippines College of music-sponsored Piano Concerto Competition. He performed at music festivals and master classes in Japan, Taiwan and Singapore and gave successful outreach recitals in Northern Luzon.

For his graduation recital, he was soloist in the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Grieg’s A Minor Concerto, under the baton of Itlaian conductor Ruggero Ruggero.

When he played Bach’s Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in C sharp Minor, at a CCP concert, music critic Rosalinda L. Orosa of the Philippine STAR wrote about Oliver’s "sense of drama that made his interpretations so different, so unique." And Juan Lanuza of Business World wrote that Oliver "plays with power, technique, clarity, precision and coloring."

He was discovered by Prof. Roberta Rust, who helped give him a full scholarship at the Music Conservatory of Music in Florida. At Lynn he has bested other pianists in a concerto competition He lives in an apartment and takes his meals at the school cafeteria. In the morning, he goes to humanities and arts classes, takes a rest in the afternoon, and for hours in the evening, he is at the piano. Frankly, he said, "I get very, very tired from practicing for so many hours," he said. But, he said in the same breath, "Practice makes perfect."

Oliver returns to Lynn in September, and we admirers of his back home will welcome him again with open arms, ears, and hearts.

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Now, a word on Odette, the environ-mentalist, chess player, lover of the arts – and with the reputation of hosting intimate, informal dinners where great artists, striving artists and those trying very hard, play the piano, sing and dance and read poetry. Thursday night, Odette was able to gather music lovers and media persons for music and food cooked in her kitchen. (Odette boasts that her zero waste management style makes it impossible for anyone to see a cockroach in her kitchen.) The gathering, she said, was not only for everyone to listen to how much even more powerful Oliver’s playing had become, but also to raise funds for a new project – a radio program every Sunday at 11-12 noon, over DWBL, or 1242 AM on your radio dial.

Ramon Flores, program director, talked about the program, "Balik Aral Sa Kalikasan" or Earth Management 101, as wanting to make every listener aware of their being part of nature – "Para Sa Lahat." The radio hosts, Bert Robledo and Penny Reyes Velasco, interview people who have a deep commitment to nature conservation. In their first program, last Sunday, interviewees were Narda Camacho and Juanita Abaquin. Tomorrow, the guests will be Bing Girl Clemente who will talk about Sagada province, and Jazmin Acuna, about Mother Earth Philippines.

Singing at Odette’s was the "Prince of Operatic Pop," Jonathan Dado, whose rendition of "Granada" was as breathlessly dramatic as the town of Granada in Spain. Jonathan will be performing at the Funnside Cafe on Timog Avenue 9 p.m. on July 16, and at the Lupe Cafe on Guadalupe, Makati, also at 9 p.m., on July 30. In these shows, he mixes pop, classics and Broadway – to make people appreciate different forms of music.

Also performing at Odette’s were Allan Cosio, Ivy Cosio and Mimi Sison, Esther Vibal, Lina McKenzie, and Ambassador Jimmy Yambao, with accompanists Julie Mendoza and Jude Areopagita.

The night’s emcee was pianist-singer Bert Robledo, of Bravo Filipino fame. He said two events commemorating the legendary fame of the late National Artist, Col. Antonino R. Buenaventura, will be a book launching, at 6:30 p.m., and a concert, at 7:30, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP Main Theater, on July 15. The public is invited to both events.

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