PIANIST Roberto Berrocal got a standing ovation whilst baritone Luis Alberto Llaneza sang on tiptoes with whirling arms at a Lyrical Evening at King’s House on Tuesday to commemorate the Spanish Presidency of the European Union (EU).

Berrocal performed Spanish Rhapsody (Rapsodia Española) by Franz Liszt at the speed of cascading dominoes but with the assurance of a player aware five domino moves in advance. The short man’s long fingers spidered up the piano’s far right, creating the twinkling wave effect within the introduction. He then leaped across octaves executing arpeggio inversions, resulting in listeners searching for sound, like those without sight. Within the tenth minute, Berrocal banged a series of scale inversions in which his left hand jumped over his right continuously inching to the piano’s far right. It was in preparation for the final finger dash across all 88 keys during the twelfth minute. Liszt’s compositions were calculated to woo listeners into standing, but many pianists view them as too risky to justify the praise. Liszt, the 19th-century Hungarian virtuoso and composer, broke musical sound barriers with compositions as difficult as they are romantic.

Berrocal had turned down operatic performances with famed tenor Placido Domingo in order to concentrate on solo piano during his off-season. Berrocal, born in Spain, currently holds the post of pianist with the Florida Grand Opera in Miami, USA. He holds two Master degrees in opera and piano.

At the concert, Berrocal mainly accompanied Llaneza who sang whilst enacting messianic poses with divided arms, matadorial waves and frowns throughout the 13 arias or songs. These poses were not mere entertainment but communication for the audience’s non-Latin speakers. Llaneza’s voice filled the narrow hall of thunder and grace. The programme had works by Spanish, Argentinean and Cuban composers including Aquel sombrero de Monte by Obradors, Tus Ojillos Triana by Iradier, Servillanos del Siglo, Garcia Lorca, Pueblito mi Pueblo, Guastavino and others. Llaneza, born 1964 in Spain, has travelled the world — performing twice in Jamaica. His repertoire includes operas of German, French and Spanish origin. He has attended master classes with Carlo Beronzi, Elly Ameling, Alfredo Kraus, Victoria de la Angeles, Gino Bechi and Magda Olivero.

The performers used the first aria to negotiate the hall acoustics; initially Berrocal heavy-pedalled on the piano and notes lingered beyond phrases, due to the natural echo.

In the third segment of the programme, the Friends of the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica (15 members, mostly young women) played Serenata Española, Suite-Habanera from Carmen, Tango, and Jammin’ by Bob Marley.

Spain will hold the EU presidency for six months this year — its fourth time in 50 years. It is a position that encourages European integration. “Culture and music are among the best expressions of mutual understanding and inter-relationships; for this reason, the Spanish government has decided to give a strong cultural content to its tenure as head of EU, while at the same time underlining this new era that has begun for the EU,” stated the concert’s programme.