THE CEBU Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) under Rodel Flores made music history last week.  It premiered in Cebu the complete movements of Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21, and Lucrecia Kasilag's "Philippine Scenes."...

...A day later, back in Manila, Tita King [Kasilag] and I were invited to the homecoming recital of pianist Jonathan Coo (brother of cellist Victor Michael) at the Greenhills Music Studio of Carmencita Guanzon-Arambulo.

Like Makie Misawa, Coo is a first prize winner of the Rosario Picazo Piano Competitions and a mast of music candidate of the Eastman School of Music, where Kasilag studied as a composition major.

Four movements of Schubert's Fantaisie Sonata, D. 894 (op. 78) opened the program, and here Coo displayed his inherently fascinating lyric gifts limned with soulful insight.

Chopin's "Nocturne" in B Major, Op. 62, No. 1, was another showcase of lyricism.  But, as in the Schubert piece, I had the feeling the piano was not responding very well to Coo's gentle touch.

But in Kasilag's "Rondeau" in E Flat Major, Coo revealed his virtuosity as he explored the piece's unconventional tempo with dazzling aplomb and brought the house down with its dazzling finale.

Liszt's "harmonies, Poetiques et Religieuses" brought back Coo's monumental tones, and its interpretation left a lump in one's throat:  The pianist is at ease with his music and, to a great extent, with his Creator.

His brother Victor Michael, accompanied by their mother Corazon, rendered Abelardo's "Romanza" and Saint-Saens' "Allegro Appasionato" during the intermission.

The response was deafening, and here I am convinced the Coos--as a family ensemble, with their sister Cecile on the violin--are musicians to reckon with on the local music scene.

Jonathan, Victor Michael and Cecile will have a one-week engagement in Bangkok in June.  The three performed in the Heritage House of Odette Alcantara on May 28, with National Artist Lucrecia
Kasilag as guest of honor.