Broadwood bequeathed
● Broadwood piano dates back to 1888
Nikolai Vukovic plays a Broadwood piano dating back to 1888, which was among the trove of musical instruments some dating as far back to the Baroque age - which were bequeathed to the Manoel Theatre by the late Dr George Debono. Vukovic performed one of his own compositions yesterday at the handover event, which he dedicated to Debono.
The Manoel Theatre has inherited a number of rare and valuable instruments, left by the late Dr George Debono, also a noted environmentalist, dating back to the Baroque era.
The instruments include a Broadwood piano which dates back to 1888, and has been restored with the financial aid from The Friends of the Manoel.
“We are pleased that this piano has been restored to its full glory and will be part of the Mozart Ensemble DeNote concert,” said representative Friends of Manoel Carmen Gatt Baldacchino.
The piano will be the first of the acquired instrument to be played at the Mozart Ensemble DeNote concert which will take place on Wednesday 13 November. The concert will be held in Dr Debono’s memory.
Alongside Gatt Baldacchino were two of Debono’s heirs, Marie Cabourdin and Paul Debono.
Other instruments include two viola da Gambas which have been dated back from the 15 Century. A bowed string instrument, played similarly to a cello, and was one of the most widely used instruments in the Renaissance and Baroque Period. There is also a Baroque style cello, which is bigger than the normal which is characterised for a lower pitch. Two beautiful clavichords is also part of the collection, string and keyboard instruments in a rectangular form which was used in the Late Middle Ages and throughout the Renaissance and Classical Eras.
Artistic Director of the International Baroque Festival and Manoel Theatre Kenneth Zammit Tabona is also the nephew of the late Dr Debono.
He explained how his uncle was a technical and unique person who always loved Baroque music, especially Bach. “Once I started the Baroque Festival, Uncle George became the ‘Doctor on call’ for the Baroque Festival.
“The first causality was a cello which was damaged on a plane coming over and we had to locate George, who peddled on his bicycle with a hot pot of glue to mend this cello!” Zammit Tabona recalled many memories of Dr George Debono.
He also explained that the two of the instruments were also on display most recently at the ‘Music in Malta’ exhibition.
“As part of our strategy to further promote culture and the arts, Manoel Theatre has put a lot of effort in putting baroque in the foreground of the island’s cultural activity, especially with the Valletta Baroque Festival,” said Culture Minister Owen Bonnici.
He stressed that it is important for people, NGO’s and art enthusiasts to continue to support the cultural sector so that there can be further initiatives.