It was a return engagement for Ilya, whose spectacular 2006 performance sent Filipino music lovers asking for more. As expected, Ilya did not disappoint fans the second time around.

His December 8 concert was dedicated to dance. He started with Frederick Chopin’s "Waltzes", followed by Alexander Scriabin’s "Valse". He closed the first half with an energetic performance of Maurice Ravel’s La Valse that left the audience breathless.

With all the musical pyrotechnics, it was like New Year in early December.

He started the second half with a gentler Ravel (Valses Nobles et Sentimentales), then followed it with Franz Liszt "Soires de Vienne: Valse Caprice No. 6" and concluded the program with the spellbinding "Mephisto Waltz" No. 1 by Liszt.

The audience, who gave up Christmas parties to see him perform, showed their appreciation with a standing ovation.

Ilya, 23, is a joy to watch. When he bows to the audience, he does it with a shy smile; he looks angelic.

Pablo attests to Ilya’s endearing humility. He said the handsome artist is not demanding, a refreshing trait in a world where egos are in abundance.

The performances of Ilya and violinist Alvaro Pierri, who performed at the Philamlife Theatre on Dec. 4, were courtesy of the Chopin Society of Hong Kong, dedicated to the promotion of classical musical activities. The Society organizes public recitals and concerts, master classes and a major international piano competition which have helped to augment further the reputation of Hong Kong as a major cultural center in Asia.

In 2005, the Society held its first Hong Kong International Piano Competition. It was where Asia discovered Ilya, who won first prize. Chang Tou Liang, artistic director of the Singapore International Piano Festival, wrote why Ilya won in that contest.

"When Ilya came to Hong Kong in 2005, his chief objective was to reach the grand finals and to perform the entire program he had chosen for the competition. His wish was granted but the finals required a pianist to play two full-length concertos with barely minutes break in between!

"Fifteen minutes would have been a sufficient interval, he felt. However, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 and Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in literally one sitting, a first time experience, was a great test of concentration and endurance that left him totally exhausted. But he responded magnificently."

It’s a credit to Pablo’s reputation in the world of classical music that Chopin Society of Hong Kong shares famous artists to Filipino audience.

Despite the artistic success of the Great Performances Series, Pablo said he will have to stop for awhile re-assess his life. The series that started in January 2005 gave the not-so-big Filipino audience of classical music outstanding foreign artists, aside from Rashkovskiy and Pierri, Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu, Russian pianist Sergey Kusnetsov.

Pablo also brought home Filipino artists who are enjoying successful careers in the international scene like US-based pianist Cecile Licad and cellist Victor Michel Coo and Germany-based tenor Otoniel Gonzaga.

Pablo also showed that the country is not short of outstanding artists. I remember having a wonderful time with the artistry of tenor Noel Azcona, sopranos Rachel Gerodias and Camille Lopez, flutist Christopher Oracion. In the Christmas 2005 concert, we were treated with the guesting of Dulce who captured our heart with her powerful rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables.

Pablo said despite the limited audience who patronize his concerts compared to pop concerts, he still believes that Filipinos know what is good music. The problem, he said, is funding.

The sad reality is that there is no money in promoting classical music. "I can’t live on standing ovation. I have to stop this madness," Pablo said.

We lament the end of the Great Performances Series. But we are happy that we didn’t miss those wonderful performances. Thanks, Pablo.