By Benny YP Siahaan
What are you going to do if the devil (Dedemit) is in the room? Run or scream right? But the people at Carnegie Hall that night in silence, stayed, and enjoyed it.
In collaboration with Indonesian Consulate General in New York, Jaya Suprana together with his current and former students held a concert titled The Indonesia Pusaka at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York on Oct 20, 2015.
The concert features 12 young Indonesian pianists, mostly from Jaya Suprana School of Performing Arts, Jakarta.
Locals and Indonesian diaspora from New York and surrounding cities packed the 268-seat hall. Desra Percaya Indonesian ambassador to UN, former Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and several members of diplomatic circles in New York were also seen attending the concert.
In her opening remarks read by Indonesian Ambassador to US B. Bowoleksono, Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi congratulates Jaya Suprana for his effort in promoting Indonesia to the world trough arts and culture.
She also underlines the importance of cultural diplomacy in promoting Indonesia’s State philosophy, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (one out of many).
Bedhaya, the sacred dance from Central Java, kicked off the show performed by eight female dancers symbolizing various acts of adolescence girls.
The centerpiece of the show was the piano concert which featured among others Jesslyn Handoko, Evelyn Abidin, Randy Ryan, Ryan Ferguson, Gabriela Handoko, Viona Sanjaya, and Gillian Gani.
Whist Suprana informatively yet entertainingly explains each of his compositions and introducing the pianists who are mostly in their teens except Jesslyn Handoko, age 9. All the performers are award winning pianists and have performed in other world class stages like Sydney Opera House.
They played Suprana’s favorite compositions like Tri Reminiskenza, For Ayla III & XI, Aforisma& amp; Geguritan, For Ayla IV, Fantasi Arum Dalu, Sonata Sekar Setaman, Fragment Dolanan, Variasi Gethuk, Aforisma, Rhapsodia Lir-Ilir, Uro-uro and Dedemit.
The audience seemed to drift in the inner emotion of each composition, from cheerful and witty (Fantasy Arum Dalu), romantic (For Ayla) to melancholy (Aforisma).
Hendrata Prasetya performed the pinnacle of the concert by playing “Dedemit” (devil) composition. Suprana said that Dedemit is the most difficult composition he has ever made.
He even asked the technician to dim the lighting to create a creepy atmosphere. Yet Hendratta played it beautifully. It was crisp with beautiful control of the delicate repertoire.
The last part of the show, the audience heard Armonia Choir who performed Javanese traditional folk songs like Manuk Dadali and Jali-Jali as well as a special song composed by Suprana for the event called Indonesia.
The concert drew a mixed review. Joseph from Italy said that the piano concert was superb. He was so entertained by the young talented Indonesian pianists. Eugene from Singapore said that he was so surprised that he never heard of Jaya Suprana.
Lukewarm comments mostly went to dance and choir performances which they said that the performers need more practice to meet the high standard and reputation of Carnegie Hall.
In general, what spectators most appreciate was the piano concert. Some of the audience even said that without dance and choir the recital would be more focused and beautiful. Even some said the choir became the anticlimax of Hendrata’s excellent performance.
According to Suprana, with more Indonesian artists perform in world class stages like Carnegie Hall, he hopes that it will make more Indonesian young talents get worldwide recognition.
And surely this concert was a great opportunity to grow, to nurture their already innate talents to the next level, to even greater heights”, he adds.
Indeed, with their splendid performance, they showed us a hint of the direction they are heading.
All in all, it was an entertaining event.
New York, October 2015