Arianna Abello Korting: Phenomenal pianist at 16!/Regalado Jose remembered

The credentials of 16-year old pianist Arianna Abello Korting so impressed me that I re-arranged my schedule so I could attend her invitational recital.

Here are a few highlights of her credentials. She started studying the piano at three, and at seven made her debut as soloist with orchestra. As a piano scholar of the Cleveland Institute of Music, she won several awards including first prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, which prize earned her a Carnegie Hall recital in New York — at age 13! Two years later, she won first prize in three national tilts. In 2007, also at age 13, she was invited to perform at the opening ceremonies for the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Nixon Hall.

In May of 2010, Arianna was selected a junior jury member of the 2009 Cleveland International Competition — perhaps the youngest jury member of any international competition. Arianna has appeared as soloist of several major orchestras including the International Music Festival Orchestra. In 2008, she appeared on National Public Radio’s “From the Top” and performed in Boston’s Jordan Hall of the New England Conservatory. She also performed at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival.

As an avid chamber musician, she was pianist of prize-winning quartets, among them the Zingaro Quartet named “Rembrandt Young Artists for 2009-2010” in a chamber music competition in Chicago. In 2009, Arianna became one of the youngest pianists to make a solo debut at the Cleveland Institute of Music. On Sept. 12, 2010, she garnered first prize in the Julia Crane International Piano Competition, the first to win by unanimous vote from the international jury, having been selected from 15 of the world’s best 13 to 18-year-old young artists.

At St. Cecilia’s Hall, in Arianna’s first performance in the country, she fully rose to expectations. Her interpretations were those of a very mature pianist in Bach’s Praeambulum from Partita No. 5 in G Major, Haydn’s Sonata No. 6 in E Flat Major, Chopin’s Ballade in G Minor, Rachmaninov’s Etude Tableau in A Minor, Scriabin’s Nocturne in D Flat Major (For the Left Hand Alone) and Liszt’s Rhapsodie Espagnole.

Already in the opening Bach piece, Arianna revealed a magical touch in her rippling runs, her tones of crystalline clarity — hands ever so graceful — her pauses highlighting her elegant phrasing. Producing music of rare quality, she came up with memorable measures and notes of grandeur.

Just as she did with the Bach selection, she conveyed the keenest musicianship, a correctness of approach to Haydn’s classicism, a deep respect for his style which is akin to Bach’s.

In Chopin’s Ballade, the insinuating melodies in valse rhythm, the vibrantly diverse dynamics were given dramatic expression. Indeed, the pianist soared in one of Chopin’s finest works.

Rachmaninov disclosed that his A Minor Etude Tableau, one of nine in a series, is the fairy-story of Little Red Riding Hood. The late romantic piece thus presents scenes from the fairytale. Its profusion of harmonies characteristic of Rachmaninov, its rapid staccato chords and swift scales were brilliantly played.

The presumed aim of Scriabin’s Nocturne for the left hand alone is to give the impression that the piece is for two hands, covering as it does the entire keyboard — but focusing on the bass and middle registers — lush harmonies conveying passions and hidden desires. Arianna gave the impression that she fully grasped and understood these, her fingers eloquently fast and furious, or exceedingly slow.

Liszt’s virtuoso dance piece was performed with virtuosic éclat which was again evident in the encore, De Falla’s “Fire Dance”. Much older pianists have played the piece; how Arianna’s tremendous vigor and fiery temperament matched theirs!

Arianna thanked those present and Sr. Mary Placid Abejo who organized the invitational recital. The winsome, slim-as-a-reed Arianna, daughter of a Filipino mother and an American-German father, is a phenomenal pianist at 16. In a few years, what magnificent heights will she reach? We anxiously await her return!

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Nov. 30, the first death anniversary of Regalado Jose, eminent pianist and excellent assisting artist, will be marked by a community mass at the UP Chapel and a dinner at Bahay Alumni. Reggie’s widow Remedios T. Jose will welcome guests.