Review by Lesley Wells
On Thursday evening I was invited to attend “A Date with Francine Chicard and Music” in which Francine Chicard Essential Oil Company cooperated with competition judges and previous award-winning young musicians of the 26th Santa Cecília International Piano (SCPC) Competition Finals of China International Piano and co-hosts the Macau Music and Art Space (MMAS) and the Porto Silva Monteiro Music School (CMSM), for an immersive event of music and aromatherapy, at Clube Militar.
Not being an aficionado of classical or piano music as the only piece I can profess to like is Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica’s version of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s (1844–1908), written for his opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, “Flight of the Bumble Bee”, I was not sure what to expect.
First up was Chopin’s” Ballade No.3 in A flat major, op 47” played by Zhao Mingshu. Audience members were handed a scent strip with Somali Frankincense essential oil on it. During the performance, most people wafted the scent strips under their noses.
Next up were Chan Chon Teng and Wong Sok Ian playing Carlos Gardel and Kyung Hong Kim’s “Por una Cabeza for Piano Duo” (“To Lose by a Head”) and Moritz Moszkowski’s “Danses Espagnoles Op.12 No.1 & No.3” (“Spanish Dances”) accompanied with a scent strip of Rose Geranium essential oil.
These pieces came under the theme “Youth Years”.
Thirdly, under the theme “Enthusiasm for Music” was Luis Costa playing Bach’s “Schafe können sicher weiden, (“Sheep may safely graze”) BMV 208”, Costa’s own “Roda o Vendo nas Searas” (“The wind spins through the corn-fields”) and Liszt’s “Liebestraum No. 3” (“Dreams of Love No. 3”) accompanied by a scent strip infused with Thymus Mastichina (commonly known as Spanish marjoram).
Under the same theme Igor do Amaral and Catarina Amaral played three arrangements for four hands by Bach, “Herz und Mund und Leben, (“Heart and Mouth and Life”) BWV147”, “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, (“Awake, the Voice is Calling Us”) BWV140” and Astor Piazzola’s, “The Piazzola Libertango (“liberty tango”), for four hands”. This was followed by “Romance for six hands” played by Igor do Armaral, Catarina Amaral and Luis Costa. This performance was accompanied by scent strips infused with India Dark Rose.
Finally, under the theme Perfect Cooperation came the traditional Chinese composition “Jasmine” with Anthony Cheong Wai Leong on violin, Chris Fang on erhu and Luis Costa on piano, followed by Huang Huai-hai’s “Horse Racing” played by Costa on piano and Fang on erhu, with obviously Jasmine oil the accompanying scent.
My mixed reaction
As I said previously I am not an aficionado of classical music and know nothing of the pieces that were played, I am not sure if it was relevant but with each piece and the various scents I found myself enjoying each piece a little more.
The various musicians and the audience overall were enjoying themselves and feet were tapping and bodies were swaying so I am sure that each piece was played to perfection.
I really enjoyed “Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV140” by Bach played by Igor do Amaral and Catarina Amaral and thoroughly enjoyed “Jasmine” and Huang Huai-hai’s “Horse Racing” played by Luis Costa on piano and Chris Fang on erhu. These two pieces were my favourites of the evening.
All in all, I feel that the unique idea of pairing music with essential oils was a brilliant idea and made for an enjoyable evening.
The intimate setting of the concert and an enthusiastic audience made for an unforgettable evening.
The musicians who performed at Clube Militar on Thursday evening – Zhao Mingshu (from right to left), Catherina Amaral, Wong Aok Ian, Anthony Cheong, Luis Costa, Igor Amaral, Chan Chon Teng and Chris Fang – pose after the show. – Photo: Lesley Wells
