‘Classics in Sunshine Place 2026: Take 2–Quintessential’ takes place on Nov. 23, Monday, 5 pm, at Sunshine Place, 56 Jupiter St., Makati.
A power outage nearly forced pianist Mariel Ilusorio to call off her Nov. 8 concert at Sunshine Place. Quintessential, featuring the music of Czech nationalist composer Antonín Dvořák, was supposed to be the final concert in her Classics in Sunshine Place 2026 series. With the venue’s elevators and air-conditioning out of service, and the performance scheduled on the building’s fifth floor, there was no telling whether the concert could proceed.
The emergency team tried to get the generator working, while audience members began arriving. Ilusorio and the organizers asked the guests to stay in their air-conditioned cars along Jupiter Street, Makati, while they waited for an update. The situation was particularly difficult for senior citizens, some of whom could not manage the climb up five floors.
But nine ambassadors and even some octogenarians made the climb, much to Ilusorio’s admiration. Her aunt brought bottled water for guests who were thirsty after the ascent.
With so many people already at the venue, the musicians decided to go ahead with the concert. The musicians had barely managed to prepare. At 5 pm, the scheduled start of the concert, they were still in their regular clothes. Ilusorio changed hurriedly, skipped her makeup, and went onstage wearing her glasses. She later tried to put on makeup in the bathroom with only a flashlight. The show eventually began at 5:30 pm, half an hour behind schedule. Despite the dimness and the uncomfortable conditions, the musicians played on for the audience who willingly climbed five floors to hear them.
The sliding doors of the roof garden were opened to let in some air, while the performers sweated through the program. As the room remained dark, the musicians relied on their iPads for light, and Ilusorio used a small lamp to read her sheet music.
The outage meant that some of the guests had to miss the concert. Ilusorio was particularly concerned about those who could not manage the stairs or were unwilling to watch the show without airconditioning. The building management was supportive and helped arrange another date for a repeat performance.
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- Miguel Estrada, violin
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- Naobe Lim, violin
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- Kenneth Laron, cello
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- Mhaze Lim, viola
On Nov. 23, Monday, at 5 pm, Ilusorio will restage Classics in Sunshine Place 2026: Take 2–Quintessential, which will feature Dvořák’s Humoresque No. 7, Song to the Moon from Rusalka, a Slavonic dance, and the highlight of the program, Dvořák’s Piano Quintet, a masterpiece of chamber music.
Joining Ilusorio are violinists Miguel Estrada and Naobe Lim, violist Mhaze Lim, and cellist Kenneth Laron.
The repeat performance also offers an opportunity to introduce Dvořák’s music to a new audience. Ilusorio is inviting students from different schools to attend.
For tickets and inquiries, contact Mariel Ilusorio at tel. no. (0917) 709-2255.
