A Little Night Music: In conversation with Cecile Licad, ‘the pianist’s pianist’

An exceptional gathering of artistic talent, the guests who attended the event were dressed elegantly and included dignitaries from the Senate, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, socio-civic stalwarts, young artists, music students and educators from various state colleges and universities.

“Our dedication to promoting the unparalleled talent of Filipino artists is a testament to our enduring legacy,” Legarda added. “This event underscores the essence of Filipino creativity and highlights our unwavering passion for nurturing world-class talent.”

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On the song dedicated to Nedy Tantoco

Since her benefit concert with the rising stars of the American Ballet Theater Studio Company, Licad has been busy recording albums and exploring new kinds of music. “I always improve that way—getting out of my comfort zone,” Licad tells Tatler.

During her concert with the PPO in celebration of Women’s Month, her encore performances included Dedication (Widmung), a German song beautifully written by Robert Schumann and set into music by Franz Liszt. “Its lyrics are so profound that his songs always make me cry whenever I play them. I thought of Tita Nedy, of course, while playing it,” she recalls.

Licad further described Liszt as one of the greatest pianists in the world, the “rockstar of the 1800s”, and Robert Schumann as having powerful and visceral music. “I like to cry when I play—if I feel what I play,” says Licad.

Read more: A pas de deux and ballet of music and ballet by ABT Studio Company’s “Rising Stars” and Cecile Licad

“This concert was very emotional for me because Tita Nedy was a big inspiration for my artistic growth,” Licad shares. When they were conceptualising the show, Tantoco gave her the freedom to choose which piece she wanted to play. The Tchaikovsky concerto was at the top of her mind because she felt ready to tackle it again. “It’s a very difficult concerto that requires physical and emotional power. It’s full of different emotions. So, when you play it, you have to be alert,” she continues.

Licad admires Tantoco for her simplicity, taciturn character, and sincerity in what she would say. “She had some kind of innocence and humility. I feel like she was all for it—in everything I did [in my career]. And she never stopped wanting to learn,” Licad says. 

Now on to continuing the legacy of Tantoco with her son Anton, Licad praised the orchestra scene in the Philippines today. “The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra was tremendously good during the concert. And I think the new conductor, Maestro Nowak, inspires them,” Licad says.

Licad remembered liking the conductor’s tempo when she first heard them at a rehearsal for the show. The pianist finds the maestro admirably dedicated to the craft, which keeps the PPO on their toes during rehearsals. Licad shared that she understands Nowak’s work ethic because she couldn’t stand mediocrity. “Repetition during rehearsals is repetition. That’s how we get things done. You go for perfection,” she says.

Ultimately, striving for excellence is a character trait Licad associates with the maestro and her patroness, in addition to herself. 

On playing for fellow Filipinos

Licad admits that every time she performs in front of a Filipino audience, she gets even more nervous. Perhaps it’s because her family and friends are here. But it’s also for this reason she continuously gets inspired to come home every year to play.

“I am inspired because I also inspire people with my music. This is my home country, so I would always want to be at my best. Not trying too hard but just be myself, surrounded by everyone I know,” she says.

Licad, having played all over the world with the greatest conductors and orchestras, entered the male-dominated scene of classical music with much confidence and courage. “You just have to do what you’re good at and show it as an example. You cannot empower people just by sitting. Just like Tita Nedy, for instance. How do you think she managed to be a stellar example of an empowered woman? It’s work. It’s action,” Licad says.

On the essence of failures and defying expectations

When she arrived at the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow in April 2011, Licad was the first Filipino soloist to perform with the Russian State Symphony Orchestra. To everyone’s surprise, she chose to perform Brahm’s Piano Concerto No. 1, which was extremely difficult and demanding. “They call it the ‘man’s piece’,” recalls Licad. But after the rousing applause and praises, a person walked up to her and said, “Wow, you really can sound like a man”.

But Licad chooses to brush off the idea that there is a difference between the tones a man and a woman can produce on a piano. She credits this to her great teacher, who helped her hone her skill in producing tone when she was just five years old.

“I don’t believe in failures that much anymore,” thought Licad out loud while putting out a cigarette during our conversation, eyes at the sprawling garden of Tantoco’s house, with the grand piano in our peripheral view. “I like failures. I like a bit of imperfections because that’s just the only way one learns,” she continues. “When I was a kid, almost everything had to be perfect, but I was not afraid to fail. We’re humans!”

When she’s trying to learn a new piece, Licad wouldn’t listen to any rendition but learn it from scratch. Intuitively, she plays the song from the heart. “I have a feel for what kind of music I want. I make the song my own. The goal is to channel the composition while making it sound like my own,” Licad explains.

Licad believes that each of us has our own calling. She understands that not everybody else would be gifted with the same blessings she had, most especially the opportunities that gave her international recognition. But she advises young aspiring pianists to “Listen to your own calling and not to anybody else who looks down on you. Listen to your teachers, but have a good sense of what is good and what is good for you. Otherwise, why would you play the piano if it doesn’t give you pleasure? You have to be excited and enthusiastic.”

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