Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings of Malta
The indefaticable duo, Peter and Alaine Apap Bologna have organized an exhibition of Paintings of Malta at St Patrick’s Sliema. All proceeds will go to St Patrick’s Salesian School. St Patrick’s provides a supportive learning environment to allow students to prosper academically and socially. We all know of the wonderful work which the Salesians do. Artists exhibiting include Austin Camilleri, Kenneth Zammit Tabona, Peter Quinn and Ruth E. Bacmeister.The exhibition ends on 5th June. Don’t miss it. There are some wonderful paintings on display and it is all for an incredibly worthy cause.
Berkovich’s piece. Dmitry played it with the energy and panache of a much older pianist.
Then onto Tchaikowsky’s The Seasons: March & April. This Russian composer who had a tortured life, mostly because of his homosexuality, had a massive talent for creating highly melodic, catchy tunes. These pieces are lightweight but attractively varied in character and style. Dmitry gave us an enjoyable interpretation of the three pieces.
Next came Schumann, another composer whose life was a tale of tragedy and early death. He spent most of his life in the shadow of his wife Clara Schumann, one of the most famed pianists of the day and who also wrote very attractive music. He suffered from syphilis and depression, trying to commit suicide by throwing himself into the River Rhine. He was placed in an asylum, where he died two years later. Dmitry played
Arabesque Op. 18 and brought out Schumann’s impulsive temperament and sensibilities.
The young pianist also had the courtesy of playing a piece by a Maltese composer Charles Camilleri, Circus Waltz. Doris Camilleri was present and I was very sorry not to have had a chance to talk to her.
I believe Dmitry is of Armenian descent. Russian Armenians are in
Fantasy Impromptu Op. 66 in C sharp Minor which we all love. Here is yet another composer who died young, claimed by tuberculosis at the age of 39, shortly after his relationship with George Sand broke up. Truly, Chopin’s life was a short poem but the pleasure his music continues to give us has immortalized him.
Dmitry is now studying in Germany. Some children his age, one of them his neighbour, went up to present him with small beautiful bouquets of flowers. It was a fine gesture. One of the girls who lives next door to him told me ‘We have a concert every day when he is in Malta as we can hear him practice.’ Dmitry was indeed, in the front row when God was giving out his gifts. But apart from the gift he was given there is also the discipline required to achieve so much at such a young age. Thank you Dmitry, I wish you a great career and an interesting life.
mbenoit@independent.com.mt