Cecile Licad’s Solo Recital at AMTL’s 80th Season

The 80th Season of the Associated Music Teachers League (AMTL) was celebrated with a special recital on April 8, 2006, featuring the exceptional pianist Cecile Licad. Known for her extraordinary technique and emotional depth, Licad presented Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 (Original Version, 1913), captivating the audience with her performance of the Allegro agitato movement. The recital took place at Steinway Hall in New York City during a General Membership Meeting of AMTL.

 

The performance highlighted the league’s longstanding tradition of bringing world-class musicians to their events, enriching the musical community and inspiring both teachers and students alike. Licad’s masterful interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s work, known for its demanding technical challenges and expressive intensity, made this event a standout during AMTL’s 80th season.

 

This video serves as a significant historical artifact, capturing not only the performance but also the enduring relationship between AMTL and leading figures in the world of classical music.

 

 

Cecile Licad is an internationally acclaimed pianist known for her extraordinary technical skill and interpretive depth. Born in Manila, Philippines, in 1961, Licad started her musical journey at a very young age. By the age of seven, she had already performed as a piano soloist. She later honed her skills at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied under legendary pianists such as Rudolf Serkin, Seymour Lipkin, and Mieczyslaw Horszowski.

Licad has a diverse repertoire that spans classical, Romantic, and modern works. She has performed concertos by composers such as Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff, among others. Her collaboration with renowned orchestras includes performances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and Boston Symphony, often under the baton of famed conductors like Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, and Kurt Masur.

In addition to her orchestral performances, Licad is passionate about chamber music and has collaborated with notable groups such as the Guarneri Quartet and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She has graced the stages of prestigious festivals, including Tanglewood and the Mostly Mozart Festival.

Her artistry has been celebrated worldwide, and her recordings, especially of Chopin and Rachmaninoff, have received critical acclaim. One of her most famous recordings, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Claudio Abbado, is a prime example of her mastery.

Licad’s influence on the classical music world continues to grow, making her a celebrated figure both in her home country of the Philippines and on the global stage.

 

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecile_Licad, https://www.bechstein.com/en/the-world-of-bechstein/pianists/cecile-licad/, https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/pianist-cecile-licad-is-a-national-treasure, https://www.barrettartists.com/cecile-licad/