Dazzling, brilliant, and exciting – terms which could all be used to describe the extraordinary piano performance of Francilia Agar on the night of Saturday, July 16, 2022, at the UWI Open Campus. The audience was awe struck by the masterful musical skill demonstrated by Francilia who exuded such confidence and poise in her delivery of classical pieces such as “Fantasie Impromptu Op. 66” by Frederic Chopin and Beethoven’s “Sonata Quasi Una Fantasia Op. No. 2” and also modern pieces such as “Pirates of the Caribbean Medley” by Hans Zimmer and Klaus Badelt and “All Of Me” by Jon Schmidt.
What impressed me in particular was her ability and passion in handling very demanding and difficult pieces in terms of their speed of execution and also pieces that were slower yet filled with depth of emotion. There were so many times during the night when her playing literally had you spellbound, and one cannot forget when she placed her entire forearm on the music keys twice during the piece “All of Me”. She appeared to handle the wide variety of music with equal ease and yet with a professionalism that one could see came from years of experience and performance.
Francilia started learning piano from a very early age. She began piano studies at the age of seven with Mrs. Leng Sorhaindo and attained grade 8 level by the age of 17. At 19, she received her diploma in piano performing from the Trinity College of Music in London. From 1996 she pursued studies in Music Performance at the University of Ottawa in Canada. She moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona in 2003 where she now has her own private music studio and is very involved with music education activities in the community.
She performed with the Sierra Vista Symphony in 2013 and since then plays with them at special fund raising events.
On Saturday night it was obvious that Francilia had gained much experience in piano performance and had honed and sharpened her skill to the point where she has become a very accomplished and consummate pianist.
The warm and receptive audience at the UWI Open Campus was captivated by Francilia and responded to her pieces with applause after applause. At the end of the concert she received two standing ovations – the second one coming after she performed an encore piece.
Persons who attended the piano recital of Francilia Agar were all very impressed by the concert and were very appreciative of the fact that Francilia is indeed a truly remarkable Dominican talent!
To each his own and I respect everyone’s opinions.. however the belief that someone has to provide for others is a dangerous and wreckless trend of thought. Everyone must work to better their lives none more than the other. To sit and expect that some will work so others can eat is entitlement. We need to put our heads together and see what we been doing how we can do better. Start with your street or your own yard.
Francilia Agar no doubt is a very accomplished and brilliant pianist, and I personally wish her well.
But what Dominica needs right now is very talented people who can increase its Gross Domestic Product and make the country rich for all ordinary Dominicans.
Francilia reminds me of the saying about Maria Antoinette in 1789, when the starving French people wanted bread, she was reported (incorrectly) to have said, give them cake. France was bankrupt after bankrolling the USA to fight for its independence in 1776 from the UK. It therefore had no funds to buy the basic staples on which the poor survived.
This is the situation of Dominica now. We do not have the means to help the poor buy diesel, petrol, kerosene, electricity and food. Therefore the majority of the population are too hungry to appreciate Miss Francilia Agar’s artistry. Raymond Lawerence must be a rich accomplished Dominican, who is not affected by such mundane matters like bread, petrol and electricity…
The fact is, even if Francilia had not performed that night, Dominica would not have been any better or worse off. I am not sure what one has to do with the other.
You may have a legitimate gripe about the economic condition of Dominicans but there is a time and place for everything. This is not the time nor the place for your gripe.
Thanks Raymond for the excellent review. It was great having a review like this for those of us who were not present. So proud to hear how great she did – I didn’t expect anything less. Most of all, I am glad that she was well received – we need more and more music to keep returning to the island. Blessings to you Raymond for your commentary work and for showcasing Francillia.
I’m sure the piano recitals were excellent.
But what about a critical appraisal of the paintings, which were supposedly the key feature of the exhibition, and in particular, the paintings of Roseau?
Roger,
Why don’t you write a review of the art Exhibition? I cant think of anyone more appropriate since you are also an artist.
Actually Leng, a fellow artist is the person least qualified give the public a critical appraisal of another artist’s work.
Oscar Wilde touches on this in his two part essay, “The Critic as Artist”.
On the other hand, I am my own best critic in that I ruthlessly tear my work apart.