International piano festival Opusfest: Nov. 20-Dec. 3/Search starts soon for ‘The Ultimate Pianist’

Opusfest, the 12-day International Piano Festival, will be held from Nov. 20 to Dec. 3 at the Filinvest Corporate City in Alabang. Concerts will be at the Insular Life Theater.

Master classes will be conducted by eminent piano pedagogues Solomon Mikowsky and world-renowned concert pianist Josef Stompel. The faculty will consist of acclaimed concert pianists and pedagogues of their generation: Muzaffar Abdullah (Malaysia/France), Gila Goldstein (Israel/USA) Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy (Germany), Yuan Sheng (China), Tara Hofmeister-Sheng (USA) and Jovianney Emmanuel Cruz (Philippines).

Cruz, founder, president and artistic director of Camerata dell’Arte Foundation, in his printed message, (herewith reproduced) gives the reasons for the Opusfest, primarily its salutary effect on the unrecognized musical talent of the Filipino.

Opusfest was designed to mirror the most important piano festivals in Europe and the United States. It has invited faculty from the most important schools of thought – those of Josef Lhevinne, Isabelle Vengerova, Heinrich Neuhaus, and Alfred Cortot. Master Classes and lessons will feature different methods of teaching hardly known to Southeast Asia but widely propagated in New York, Paris, Berlin, and Moscow, among others. All will witness the multi-faceted practices of Classical Piano Performance without the frills. And most importantly, it will bring people together at work and play, breaking all borders and barriers.

We are committed to Opusfest because we will not allow Arts & Culture in the Philippines to die! The musical talent of the Filipino Artist has ceased to be recognized and the image of the Filipino has been painted as corrupt, politically chaotic, and even immoral! It is due time to revolutionize our culture and renovate our image with the highest form of Art and our nation’s true identity: Music!

Many will benefit from Opusfest, especially those who could only dream of making Music in the highest standard possible. To send a Music student from the Philippines to go abroad and experience a two-week music festival of the highest caliber will cost roughly $5,000 for tuition fees, accommodation, food, and airfare. It only benefits that one person. It is more practical to invite a few of the best to teach many rather than send one to learn from a few.

While listening to a concert or a master class at Opusfest, remember to smile and say a prayer of thanks that it is accessible to every Filipino and invites people of different cultures to realize our true identity. And that it erases the bad image created by un-nationalistic, self-serving politicians. Smile further that the young Filipino Artists will no longer have to hide their treasures or their unimaginable abilities but instead they will be discovered and honed!

Opusfest is open to all pianists of all nationalities. Each of the 24 chosen festival participants will receive four lessons and attend two master classes. There will be performance classes, pocket performances, solo recitals. The last night will be a culminating recital featuring the participants.

Recitals will be given at 8:30 p.m. by Goldstein (Nov. 20), Sheng (Nov. 22), Abdullah (Nov. 24), Schmitt-Leonardy (Nov. 28) and Cruz (Nov. 30).

N.B. Each applicant should know at least four works covering at least three main periods of piano literature: a Baroque or Classical work, a major Romantic work, and a work by an Impressionistic or 20th Century composer. The applicant’s program may include a set of virtuosic etudes and/or of lyrical works.

Search for the Ultimate Pianist

The search is from Nov. 13 to Nov. 18. The competition aims to discover and promote young pianists in the Philippines and identify their role in the world’s artistic and cultural map by providing performing opportunities and help in the enhancement of their careers. The competition aims to simultaneously propagate the talents of the Ultimate Pianist as a recitalist, accompanist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestra.

The tilt is open to pianists of all nationalities born after Nov. 1, 1966 and residing in the Philippines.

Preliminary round, maximum performance time, 30 minutes: a) a work containing a fugue such as a toccata, fantasia, etc. or any prelude and fugue from J.S. Bach’s Clavier Vols. I and II; b) a nocturne by Chopin or Faure; c) a virtuosic etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Mozkowski, Debussy, Bartok, Stravinsky, Ligeti or Prokofiev; d) a published Filipino composition; e) vocal accompaniment requirement: choose three songs: one German, another French, and an opera aria as specified.

Semi-final round, maximum performance time, 60 minutes. Choose two from a, b, or c, and one of the chamber works herewith listed: a) a complete classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert; b) a major Romantic work by Brahms, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Tchaikovsky; c) a significant 20th Century work by Albeniz, Barber, Bartok, Berg, Berio, Bernstein, Carter, Copland, De Falla, Debussy, Dello Joio, Ginastera, Granados, Hindemith, Ives Ligeti, Messaien, Milhaud, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Ravel, Schonberg, Stravinsky, Villa-Lobos, Webern; d) chamber music: a major collaborative work for violin and piano or for cello and piano by Beethoven or Mozart (classical), Brahms, Chopin, Faure, Franck, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius (romantic), Barber, Britten, Prokofiev, Bridge, Debussy, Ravel (20th Century).

The final round – a work for piano and orchestra from the following: Bartok No. 3; Beethoven, Nos. 1-5; Chopin, No. 1 or 2; De Falla, Noches en Los Jardines de España; Franck Symphonic Variations; Gershwin Concerto in F or Rhapsody in Blue; Haydn; Kabalevsky No. 3; Liszt No. 1, Mendelssohn, No. 1 or 2; Mozart, Nos. 16-27; Prokofiev No. 3, Rachmaninoff No. 1 or 2, or Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini; Ravel G Major or Concerto Pour La Main Gauche (Concerto for the Left Hand); Saint-Saens No. 2 or 5, Schumann A Minor, Shostakovich No. 1 or 2, Tchaikovsky No. 1.

All works are to be performed from memory except for the vocal accompaniment and chamber music. All concertos will be with the Metro Manila Community Orchestra under Conductor Josefino "Chino" Toledo.

Venues: preliminary round, Nov.13-14, F. Santiago Hall; semi-final round, Nov. 15, Crossroads Convenarium, Mother Ignacia Ave., QC. Final round and awarding ceremonies, Nov. 18, Philamlife Theater. Awards: The Ultimate Pianist will receive the Lourdes L. Villanueva Cruz Memorial Award, and P100,000; the First Laureate, P50,000; the Second Laureate, P35,000; the Third Laureate, P25,000.

There will be special prizes for best performance of a Mozart work, of Chamber music and vocal accompaniment, and best performance of a Filipino work.