On Sunday, June 29, an enthusiastic audience heard an exceptional recital given by gifted young pianist Sergio Parra, who last year received a scholarship from both Viva la Música and the Northern Lights Festival.
Currently taking classes from Professor Anatoli Zatin in Colima, Parra will soon begin a master’s program in composition at the University of Illinois.
Parra opened the Viva la Música recital with “Toccata in G major BWV 916” by Johann Sebastian Bach, one of his Baroque pieces which unusually, influenced by his interest in Italian composers at the time, is in concerto, three-part form, rather than the the more conventional German four.
The “Sonata in F major KV 332” by Wolfgang Mozart followed and Parra handled all three parts – the Allegro’s very dramatic flourishes, strong chords and multiple repetitions; the beautiful melody of the slow and melancholy Adagio and the fast and exciting Allegro assai – with consummate ease.Before the intermission, Parra’s sensitive interpretation of the cadenza-laden Sonetto 104 del Petrarca by Franz Liszt was extremely dramatic and very moving, conjuring all kinds of images. It’s based on the Sonnet “Pace non trovo” (I find no peace) by Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) about his love affairs, which perhaps accounts for the emotional roller-coaster portrayed by the rapidly changing mood of the music, from contemplation to agitation, deep sorrow and back again.
After the Intermission, some sections of Claude Debussy’s Suite “Pour le Piano” were strongly reminiscent of George Gershwin’s |Rhapsody in Blue.”
The bitonal Prelude is very fast and dramatic with undercurrents of uncertainty and doubt, slowing a bit in the middle and then building with renewed energy, while Sarabande, the slowest movement in the suite, at times feels sacred while at others it has an air of sadness or depression.
Toccata is also bitonal. Ever the rule-breaker, Debussy’s tempo here is often fragmented. It’s a happy piece that culminates in strong and triumphant parallel chords, which inevitably sparked a huge wave of applause.
“Two Motions in One Movement” by prolific Mexican composer, Samuel Zyman was an impressionist work with what appeared to be a strong Bartók influence. Extremely energetic it was an exciting and vibrant work.
When the applause faded, Parra stood and spoke to the audience. He thanked Viva for their support and the audience for their very enthusiastic response, before introducing the final piece – his own composition written especially for the occasion. Unfortunately he did not name it, but the audience left him in no doubt that it was extremely popular with everyone present, as was the entire recital.
The next Viva concert will feature bass baritone, Cesar Becerro, who will sing operatic music accompanied on the piano by Tim Welsh, on Sunday July 20, 4 p.m. at the Auditorio.