Close encounters with Simon Schembri at San Anton Palace
What is there left to write about ‘our’ Simon Schembri which has not been written before already? We are immensely proud of him and with reason. He is not a showman but such a artist. He sits there with his guitar and this beautiful music oozes out of it and touches your heart and soul.
The programme, that evening at San Anton Palace, two weeks ago, largely consisted of Isaac Albéniz and Astor Piazzolla, two composers with whom we are familiar. Albéniz is Spanish – and let’s face it – there aren’t all that many great Spanish composers. The ones that come to mind however, have composed beautiful music: De Sarasate, Granados, Manuel de Falla and Villa-Lobos, although the latter is really Brazilian. Albéniz was truly gifted, a child prodigy who made several attempts to escape from home and already playing the piano at just one year old. It is said that three years later he was playing in public and was brilliant at improvising and could make up tunes on the piano without a moment’s thought. He could stand with the keyboard behind him, and would play tunes with the backs of his hands. Try doing that! I like him. You couldn’t possibly fit him into a pigeon hole. He must have been quite a character. Just for good measure he used to perform his party pieces dressed up as a musketter. Independent minded by the time he was 15 he had already performed in countries as far afield as Argentina, Cuba, the USA and England. He travelled with his father whose job entailed travelling far and wide.
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Simon is in full control and each Albeniz piece from Leyenda to Granada, Mallorca, Cadiz, Sevilla and Tango was exquisite. Albeniz composed for the piano but it is said that he always had the guitar in mind. He said of his own music: “The music is a bit infantile, plain, spirited; but in the end, the people, our Spanish people, are something of all that. I believe that the people are right when they continue to be moved by Córdoba, Mallorca…Granada. In all of them I now note that there is less musical science, less of the grand idea, but more colour, sunlight, flavour of olives…music of youth.”
Yes, music of the Mediterranean which we understand. Each of these pieces was a pearl and so exquisitely played by ‘our Simon’.
There were also four compositions by Astor Piazzolla and no, the guitarist did not play
but – also a tango – and I wanted to get up and dance, if only I could tango. I liked this piece best of all. The others were
and Pizzolla was the child of Italian immigrant parents who went all the way to Argentina for a better life. He has been described as the world’s foremost composer of tango music and was born with that special gift. I could listen to his music all day and there is nothing like a Piazzolla tango to lift your mood. I had not heard these four pieces before so I have Simon to thank for introducing me to them. One always tends to listen to the familiar.
Another discovery for me that evening was Shaun Rigney’s
a gentle piece and a great tribute to this Spanish composer, so delicately performed by Simon.
It was a great evening. His parents were there, too. They must be very proud to have such a successful son who is respected particularly in France where he has chosen to make his home.