As another week of classes ended, plenty of establishments offered refuge for those wanting to unwind and escape to a place where deadlines and syllabi didn’t exist. For the students who nestled among the nearly packed Mundelein Auditorium, refuge took the form of the performance by Loyola’s own assistant professor of music — pianist Anthony Molinaro, along with alto saxophonist Greg Ward.
The warning light dimmed to coax people to their seats as giddy audience members sat comfortably waiting for the concert to begin. Once it did, we were asked to hold our applause until each section ended. It wasn’t an easy task as people repressed the instinct to clap approvingly after each piece. The environment was an uncanny contradiction as some concertgoers sported fur coats, while others wore leather knee-highs or moose hats and scruffy Converses. The music was as diverse as its wide-eyed listeners.
The performance opened with one of Molinaro’s own pieces, “Canto per Mio Padre.” The passion of the composition kept audience members perched on the edge of their seats as the virtuoso performed superbly. The pieces ranged from classical compositions to melodious sounds that ignited nostalgia for Fantasia. If soft melodies aren’t your cup of tea, there were many other varieties of “goodies” left in the bag. Molinaro’s more jazz-influenced piece, “Redline,” took listeners along a particular CTA line.
Throughout the performance, bustling piano notes were beautifully accompanied by Ward’s command of the saxophone. Together, the sounds painted an image of the “big city, bright lights” mantra. The concert offered something for everyone, from Lady Gaga fanatics to classical snobs. For those whose musical palettes long to hear music for the sake of music, Molinaro’s performance was superb.
During an interview several days later, I found Molinaro very down to earth, a stark contrast to the concert program photo that featured him behind a piano with his face half-eclipsed in deep contemplation.
Molinaro, who has been considered “one of the hottest young pianists in the world,” wore jeans and a striped buttoned-down, a far cry from the black tailcoat he wore for the concert.
The Phoenix: When did you discover you had such an extraordinary talent for music?
Anothony Molinaro: I started piano classes at three-and-a-half years old. I considered myself advanced, but not precocious. There were definitely a few moments when things clicked and I realized I had the opportunity to do something unique, original and special.
I believe my success was due to really hard work. The key is finding that original thing, regardless of what it may be and how hard it is to achieve that.
PH: So your passion for music developed over time?
AM: It’s always nice when people say nice things, but when someone says, “you have such a gift.” It’s “thank you” of course. But like anything else, it’s work work work. It’s not uncommon to practice four to six hours a day sometimes.
PH: How often do you practice now?
AM: It will depend a bit, but recently getting ready for various things and doing the CD I did, four hours a day is common. I might take the next couple of weeks and go a little less, but I enjoy it.
PH: How important do you believe fine arts is in education?
AM: I think it’s completely undervalued. When we do have it, it’s usually only about playing an instrument. But what people forget is [that] listening is a skill and if that skill is not developed, you won’t listen at the same level as someone who has had that skill developed.
PH: Do you believe the younger generation still has an appreciation for the classics?
AM: Well, the first thing I do with my students is I try to get rid of the word appreciation: I really want people to enjoy it. If anyone goes to see a movie in a language they don’t speak, how are you going to enjoy it? It is impossible to understand what is being said.
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