Last Thursday, a few friends and I decided to attend a piano workshop & concert by the Spaniard; Mr. David Gomez, as a celebration for the end of the monthly test. Here's the introduction I've taken from the concert leaflet, if you don't know who the hell this guy is. ( NOT to be confused with the Malaysian Indian David gomez, the jazz musician, mind you..)
"Spanish pianist David Gomez, born in 1974 first received his professional concert piano diploma from the Conservatorio de Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Giving his first concert at the age of 15, David further perfected his performance under the guidance of many famous pianists.
This pianist has gained international recognition and has played in legendary theatres such as National Concert Hall in Dublin, St Martin in The Fields in London, Cairo Opera House, Chicago Cultural Center, Pushkin Museum in Moscow and more. "
Well, honestly, I've never heard of the guy. Until I saw the advert in the small corner of the Tempo section from the NST newspaper. Constance asked me if I wanted to go since she had 6 tickets to the concert. What made me say yes, was when she told me it was absolutely free! So I happily skipped my Maths tuition class with Syahira and tagged along with Connie, Shaz, Fiona, and Soo Teng.
When we got there, the hall was filled with a disappointing number of people clumped here and there. . Then, BOOM! As we took our seats, we caught sight of the gorgeous and breathtaking view of the grand piano ( The guy actually..haha). He looked so much better than the picture in the leaflet!. It says he was 32 this year but he looked as though he was 23..And the beige suit he wore over a striped business shirt made us giggle with glee...Well, you know how we, the local girls act around those Europeans..
He came over to ask for volunteers to play the piano. I said I couldn't play without a score ( Later, he reprimanded the crowd for not bringing their scores) and encouraged SooTeng to play instead. A girl whom later I got to know as Sherleen, 16 got up to play first and BOY, was she good or what..I got to know that she is currently finishing up her diploma course and waiting for her SPM before she takes up her job offer to teach music in Singapore. How lucky is that?Soo Teng played a Japanese piece she was supposed to perform at a Yamaha concert back in Kajang on Friday. Real nice. She's taking her diploma too this year in practical. Both girls are not quite done with their theory in music yet. Like Sherleen's father said " You're either good in practical, or theory." I guess that applies to me. I'm too lazy to practice my piano pieces.
David Gomez was helping those who went up to play better. I muffled a laugh as he began to push the girls on their backs to apply more pressure on the keys as they play the songs. So I guessed those who went in front were the only one that benefited from it.
from left: Me! , Sherleen & soo teng
Anyway, we got a 3 hour brake in between before the concert. So the whole of us started arguing on whether we should go to Sogo or just plain McD. I wanted to go to Sogo to redeem a three-piece gift set from Shisheido. The girls want to go to Mc D because they say the streets of KL look scary at night..bullshit, we ended up at Mc D chatting until 7.30. After a little shopping at Watson's, we walked back to the Panggung Bandaraya to find the handsome David Gomez in a sleek black tux, talking to the Spanish Ambassadors in Spanish. I noticed Syahira and Shazwani swooning already beside me. The effect of watching too many Spanish telenovelas.. Got his autograph before anyone else. Had a little chat with him before we proceeded to the concert hall. This man is really friendly!
We were supposed to sit in the back row, but somehow, the concert turned into a free-seating thing, so Soo Teng, Sherleen & father, and I sat in the second row..The rest sat in the middle because they felt 'shy'..And the maestro started playing..Oh, it was lovely. Far beyond any word I can come up with to describe it. It was aneccentricc mix of jazz, romantic period music, and a bit of tango here and there. Though it was rudely interrupted with his sharp, buzzing breathing and the creaking piano chair..hahaha..it was a night to remember for a singleton like me.
You can hear some of his work here :www.davidgomezpiano.com
At the end of the show, we managed to snap some photographs with him and slip him a thank you card. He says he would reply, but you know it never happens..
-Michelle & Sherleen getting all flabbergasted with David!-
The next day at school I fell terribly sick..The friends who were busy teasing me (Ooh, michelle's completely in love with this guy & she's flirting back with him the whole time) ;were now gushing over how manly and gorgeous he looked. Now the whole class wants me to wash the pictures as soon as possible. I went back home with a M.C after recess feeling sicker than ever..
Well, after all that, I realised that all I need to do is to practice more. I have to play the piano as though I am making love to the piano. Another part of me inside is telling me to ignore all that, and just continue listening to my favourite jazz hour on the radio, Tuesday nights..
