Enzo Medel: Virtuosic at 14 / Two more youths in concert

Fourteen-year old pianist Lorenzo “Enzo” Medel, taking his turn in the MCO Foundation’s Young Artists Series at the Filipinas Heritage Library, showed immense improvement since I last heard him perform, displaying a skill and a sensitivity way beyond his years. Indeed, he played far better than many older, much more seasoned pianists do.

The two Scarlatti Sonatas conveyed tonal clarity and richness of hues that were to significantly characterize all his renditions that night. Also consistently demonstrated was an inherent sense of drama that infused each piece with urgency and excitement, with sparkling spirit and throbbing life.

The chords that expressed the melody in the Moderato e Grazioso movement of Beethoven’s Sonata in E Flat Major — chords regularly followed by the most even runs — the glissandi in Debussy’s Prelude from Suite Pour le Piano and other complexities from “the greatest composer next to Chopin” were astounding. In Chopin’s own Scherzo in B Minor, Lorenzo exhibited considerable force, and an amazing bravura technique. Accents, phrases compelled attention.

Further shown was a firm grasp of school and style, the baroque Scarlatti, the impressionist Debussy, the romantic Chopin and Schumann, each school differing distinctly from the other in the impressively formidable program.

Kulintang by Ramon Santos and Malikmata by Antonio Molina, were intriguing native contributions, the former predominantly percussive and ethnic. The latter, revealing the influence of Debussy, had strikingly unmelodious opening passages alternating with beautifully lush, flowing lyrical lines.

Malikmata brought to my mind Leonor Orosa Goquingco, National Artist in Dance, who choreographed to the music “Maria Clara and the Leper” — a part of her Noli Dance Suite with me as Maria Clara and my brother Jose as the Leper. Malikmata was eminently suited to the choreography and vice-versa. As interpreted by Lorenzo, the piece vividly recreated the dance in my mind.

Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody in D Flat Major, with its thunderous chords, lightning runs and trills, was bombastic, stirring, dramatic, propulsive. How eloquently it proved Lorenzo virtuosic! The deafening applause and standing ovation led to Albeniz’s  Evocacion, as encore, a startling contrast in its gentle lyricism.

Lorenzo, who studied with Mauricia Borromeo and later, with a host of eminent concert pianists who trained abroad, has a brilliant future. May I modestly suggest that his parents Stephen and Ruth Medel send a recording of Lorenzo’s recitals to a reputable music school abroad, requesting admission or scholarship for their son, the recording to be accompanied by a VIP’s endorsement.

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Erratum: The huge cast of UST Conservatory’s ten-piano concert consisted of from four to five hundred participants, not four thousand five hundred. I misheard Dean Sunico’s brief welcome remarks.

The MCO Foundation closes its “Young Artists Series 2011” with promising tenor Nohmer Nival on March 17, 7 p.m. at the Filipinas Heritage Library. He will interpret Rossini, Tosti, Vaughn Williams and Donizetti.

A NAMCYA 2007 winner, and formerly with UST’s Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, Nohmer has performed in major productions including the zarzuelas Bukas May Liwanag by Rose Puertollano, “Something to Crow About” by Alejandro Roces, Tchaikovsky’s opera “Eugene Onegin” and Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.

Nival has attended masterclasses under US voice pedagogue Marcin Keenza, Austria-based Filipino tenor Abdul Candao, Italian tenor Gian Luca Pasolini and Filipino Scala tenor Arthur Espiritu. Nival is currently pursuing a Bacheor’s degree at the UST Conservatory under tenor Randy Gilongo.

Pianist Maria Regina “Inna” Montesclaros will give a concert with the MSO under Arturo Molina on March 20 at 6 p.m., Philamlife Theater. Inna will play Beethoven’s G Major Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Concerto in B Minor. Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture” and Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture” will complete the program.

Last year, Inna won the Silver Prize in the 1st International Piano Competition in Hanoi, Vietnam; she was the sole winner in the 4th International Chopin Piano Competition in Kuala Lumpur.

Concert proceeds will fund Inna’s schooling in the US for a bachelor’s degree in 2012. Currently, she is in the collegiate level under UST Conservatory Dean Raul Sunico.