The Piano of Christine Utomo

Do you like classical music; those of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Debussy, Schriabin or even Barber the American composer?

If you don't---preferring the electric hip hop pop or other instead---imagine to get a Doctorate of Musical Arts in classical piano performance?

That is Christine Utomo, a shy looking pianist completing her top-level doctoral education at the University of Southern California, through her soft fingers running wild, say, in the tune of Samuel Barber---The Piano Sonata.

Yes, classical music is indeed the elite of any kind of music finesses of civilization.

This is indeed the kind of music by invitation, of which you should really be willing to come in order to enjoy it. Otherwise, you'd better off to associate yourself just to an easy listening program or the like at a local FM radio channel. It seems almost absolute that we really need to be mentally ready, and by letting go all other things around, in order to enjoy it, since it is precious like a antique porcelain. Be careful; otherwise, it will break.

Then again, that is only the way I see it every time. I am no expert on this but a regular man in the street. Yet, once a while I do like to sit and listen to the numbers by a genius, even long dead, like Mozart. Or of else.

I am so much a regular guy who does not even have a special pick to mention. Any pick goes just fine. In fact, apart from a rare, quite listening of a classical CD in the living room, the classical distance I have may just be listening to an open concert presented in a public hall.*

But, invited to the recital by Christine Utomo in the evening of January 18 as a presentation by the Flora L. Thornton School of Music, USC, I was so much engulfed sitting in the back row listening attentively to every tune played by her.

This is the Christine who started playing piano so very young and even performed a recital in public at the age of five. She was the award holder of prestigious piano festivals and earned a Dean Scholarship in her USC education.

There performed skilfully were Debussy's Image Book II, Schriabin's Sonata No.9, Beethoven's Piano Sonata op. 109, Mozart's Piano Sonata K.332 and Barber's Sonata for Piano.

Up in the front center, the glowing Christine commanding the piano under a single spotlight was really catching the breath of the audience. One thing about classical music is its magical lure stiring you heart into many kind of feelings. The soft and longing tunes would fly you far away, the sad turn could even bring you tears, while the forceful glares would wring your heart in turbulence. Very often in a composition, all together would just take turn to play you.

And watching Christine playing, while she was so playful---even child-like---in soft tunes and jumped up from the seat for Barber's four parts Piano Sonata, was really a due treat for me. Perhaps even for everyone.

When she elegantly bowed upon finishing the whole performance perfectly, the room was full of applauses. As an encore, she also played a piano improvisation of the joyful “Kopi Dangdut”.

I am not only happy for the chance of being there, but even proud knowing that she is not just an excellent pianist, but an Indonesian talent completing a doctoral degree and anxious to go back home.

Congratulation, Christine!

*) Even that, was already far back to 1996-1997 when I studied in Brisbane, Australia. There a concert performed once a week at the heart of Queen Elisabeth Mall.