A 'KONSIYERTO' SHOWCASE OF THE MAGNIFICENT FILIPINO MUSIC ARTIST

When the bravos and the applause died down, remarks of "amazing, ang galing, astounding, what a show, parang nuong nanalo si Carlos Yulo, so proud of Filipino music" and even a loud "magnificent" followed.

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That was last Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. They were talking about "Gabi ng Piyano Konsiyertong Pilipino," where pianist Raul Sunico as soloist and the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO), conducted by Jeffrey Solares and Herminigildo Ranera, performed three piano concertos by Filipino composers.

Sunico, looking deceptively relaxed, had strong but nimble fingers expressively traipsing through lyrical and pounding passages with ease. Solares and Ranera stood their ground, leading the 56-strong MSO in involving conversations with the pianist. It was an incredible interchange.

But Sunico, Ranera and Solares, plus the MSO, should not let all the bravos go to their heads. All those happened because they were given the privilege of performing those concertos that most of us did not even know existed. This is why the evening was also a time for discovery.