JP/YKLASIK

JP/YKLASIK

Classical music scene remains a vibrant niche

One among many recommendations issued during the annual
meeting of the Youth Music Orchestra (JMI), an international
organization that promotes classical music to young people, was
that JMI affiliates in member countries should go online to
promote as many classical works as possible.

Such a recommendation is a telling indication that rather than
preaching only to the converted -- namely playing to those who
are already well-acquainted with classical music -- promoters and
musicians alike should exhibit more of their work to the general
public.

The JMI and its new strategy represent one group in the
classical music world, those who strive to promote the genre to
the fullest as opposed to puritans, who cry foul whenever
classical music is promoted for the masses to enjoy.

The latter groups for instance, have denounced crossover
performers such as Vanessa Mae or British Trio Bond, whose
modernist instrumentals make pop of classical music.

However, it is these two opposing tendencies that have made
the classical scene in the capital interesting this year.

Composer Adhie M.S. of the Twilite Orchestra for instance is
among those who believe that classical music is for everyone to
enjoy.

Twice this year, Adhie, along with his orchestra, performed in
concerts featuring music from popular culture.

In September, the Twilite Orchestra performed music from Teguh
Karya's films.

Most of the songs from Teguh's films such as Badai Pasti
Berlalu (The Storm Will Pass) and Matahari (Sun), which in
themselves are orchestra-ready, were brought to full majesty by
the Twilite Orchestra.

For the performance, Adhie invited opera singers Christopher
Abimanyu, Aning Katamsi and Berliana Hutauruk to sing onstage,
creating the morose atmosphere that Teguh wanted for his films.

It was a full house at concert venue Balai Sarbini with even
the most unlikely of celebrities putting in an appearance.

Two months later, at the same venue, the Twilite Orchestra
staged another classical-pop concert.

This time, the orchestra rehashed tunes from sci-fi films,
like George Lucas' Star Wars, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: Space
Odyssey and hit TV series Star Trek.

Adhie had apparently obtained, in preparation for the concert,
original copies of the sheet music used by Star Wars music
director John Williams.

Aficionados

At the other end of the continuum, however, there were those
who stayed true to the classical music ideal of performing for a
small circle of "educated listeners".

With little fanfare, these classical music aficionados took
pains to invite world-class musicians to perform, with limited
resources at their disposal.

In July, the city's Vienna Music Conservatory had the honor of
staging a piano concert by Esther Budiharjo, an award-winning
pianist.

Budiharjo -- who was born 33 years ago in Cawang, East
Jakarta, and graduated from the Boston-based New England
Conservatory of Music -- delivered a riveting performance at the
Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ).

The GKJ, on its part, deserves credit for being one among
cultural institutions that support the classical scene. The
others being the Dutch cultural center, Erasmus Huis, and the
German cultural center, Goethe Haus.

For the 478th anniversary of Jakarta, the GKJ was the venue of
two concerts from Italian classical guitarist Stefano Cardi and
pianist Adela Martin.

In spite of the city's menacing traffic congestion and limited
publicity from the organizer, the GKJ was full to capacity for
both performances.

Then there was the Guitar Maestro Series, a four-month
series organized by Sudirman Leman.

A number of world-class guitarists including Canadian Alvaro
Pieri and Italian Aniello Desiderio performed over the months.

The performance of Desiderio on Dec. 1 was a revelation.

His flamenco-inspired music was as tonally rich as it was
complex.

Another noteworthy classical series was the Chamber Music
Series, which kicked off on Oct. 24.

Bringing together consummate musicians from both here and
abroad, the series was the stuff of dreams for classical music
lovers.

Who could resist the country's leading soprano Binu D.
Sukaman, trumpeter Eric Awuy and Japanese pianist Miwako Fukushi
-- all household names in Jakarta's classical music circle.

The series opened with a performance from a group of European
instrumentalists, the Akademia Quartet.

The best in the series is yet to come.

The European Camerata chamber music orchestra will perform in
May -- standing, and with no conductor, we are told.

Next year holds much in store, both for those who like their
Mozart straight up and those for whom a contemporary take on the
classics appeals.

(M Taufiqurrahman)