Ananda Sukarlan presents new works in Jakarta Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta Ananda Sukarlan, whom leading publications in the West have called "an exceptionally gifted and one of the world's leading pianists", never forgets to come "home" at least once a year. Although he lives in Spain and has concerts all over Europe, Indonesia, where he was born in 1968 and spent most of his life, never fails to be on his schedule. His program this year is inspired by the theme of freedom and the shackling of it. Now, after Bandung (on Dec. 22) and Bali (on New Year's Eve), Jakarta music buffs will be given the chance of being among the first to hear Sukarlan's latest compositions Wednesday. They were inspired by the poetry written by Ilham Malayu, a former drug addict, when in prison after he was caught with drugs in Thailand. Malayu's touching poetry led Sukarlan to compose the music for three poems, which will be presented as songs. The January 3 concert at the Graha Bhakti Budaya in Taman Ismail Marzuki will include a variety of interesting features as a result of intense delving into the issue of freedom, as well as cooperative efforts with other branches of the arts. To commemorate the victims of the Bali bombings of Oct. 12 2002, Sukarlan will play Alio Modo (Another Way) by David del Puerto. Interpreting del Puerto's Alio Modo in relation to terrorists taking away the freedom of other people by imposing fear and violence, Sukarlan says there are other ways of doing. But Alio Modo also relates to the composition of the piece, which includes the composer's inspiration from the gamelan, adopting its pentatonic system without using a gamelan orchestra. Thus del Puerto has made the wayang (puppet) technique his own. A special accent to the piece is given by Chendra E. Panaten's choreography, which blends Sukarlan's music with dance. Chendra, a graduate of the Victor's College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne, who is currently pursuing his master's in Middlesex, London, explains that del Puerte's six-minute piece will be expanded to 13 minutes in a choreography that will be preceded by a commemorative ritual of silence, in which Sukarlan interacts with six dancers before he strides to the piano. This collaborative piece will also be presented in London in the following weeks. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Princess Diana's death, Sukarlan will play Maurice Ravel's Parvane pour une Infante Defunte, which will be blended with a dance manifestation choreographed by well-known senior choreographer Farida Oetoyo. In this, Chendra, who has been into ballet since 1987, will be the dance soloist, supported by students from the Sumber Cipta Ballet School. Sukarlan does not only have Lady Di's death in mind, but also her life as a princess whose outer glamour was like a veil covering the golden cage that put an end to her personal freedom. Ananda Sukarlan also plays Tango & Piano Rag Music by Igor Stravinsky, who, according to Sukarlan, was the first who paved the way for composers to interact with the community and their cultural heritage. The January 3 concert also includes the presentation of the 2006 Yazeed Djameen awards to this year's winners. On this occasion, Sukarlan will premiere Variasi Selendang Sutra by Fauzie Wiriadisastra, the second award winner of the 2006 Yazeed Djameen Award 2006. Ananda Sukarlan New Year's Concert Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 Graha Bhakti Budaya, TIM Jl. Cikini Raya, Jakarta
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