Baritone Ali Rieger talks to Marie Benoît about his forthcoming concert at Sala Isouard where he will be singing with tenor Joseph Aquilina. He also shares the story of a Viennese piano and how he came to own it

A concert organised by The Friends of the Manoel Theatre will take place at Sala Isouard on Thursday 27 March at 7.30pm.

Ali Rieger, whom we last heard perform at the Waterfront Chapel last November, will sing with tenor Joseph Aquilina. They both study voice with Maestra Juliette Bisazza. Says Ali: “We know each other and we really harmonize very well together. Joseph has a very beautiful tenor voice and I enjoy singing with him.” Ramona Zammit will accompany them at the piano.

They will be presenting a beautiful and different programme to that presented at the Waterfront Chapel. Says Ali: “I have studied wonderful pieces like the aria of Wolfram to the evening star from Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser.” Other arias which Ali Rieger will be singing are Deh, vieni alla finestra from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Tschaikovsky’s None but the longing heart, Donaudy’s O, del mio amato bene and Tosti’s L’ultima canzone among others.

Tenor Joseph Aquilina has a number of very fine and popular arias up his sleeve, among them La mia letizia infondere from Verdi’s I Lombardi, Massenet’s Pourquoi me reveiller from Werther, Questa o quella from Rigoletto. They will also be singing a number of duo’s from La Forza del Destino, La Bohème and Il Pescatore di Perle.”

How has he been getting on in Milan since the last time we heard him? Ali comments: “I have been receiving a great deal of encouragement lately there but the most ‘miraculous’ event happened, one day, during a voice lesson. We had had a difficult day and we left the window open, as it was pleasant outside and suddenly the doorbell rang. A gentleman, a stranger was so touched by my voice, that he was asking whether he could come and listen in. My teacher and I could hardly believe it when we finished our arias, to see him so happy and full of inspiration. It seems that he enjoyed my singing so much that he offered to help me. After a while he told me that he has an antique grand piano – an Austrian “Felix Grossbuerger Wien”- at home and that he would like to give it to me! What a wonderful surprise. I really couldn’t believe it!”

So there was Ali Rieger, the promising young baritone, practising with his Maltese teacher Juliette in Milan receiving an Austrian piano from an Italian gentleman! “So, I had to be living in Milan and not Vienna to receive an Austrian piano as a gift! I don’t believe in mere coincidence as you know…” And so, Ali received a beautifully restored piece of great art as a present from someone who heard his singing through an open window. “Of course, I don’t have a place for it at present but you cannot begin to imagine how happy I am to be the owner of such a lovely instrument. All I need now is a great career and a beautiful home to put it in and it will accompany me as I practise day and night!”

The gentleman lives in Bergamo, near Milano and there Ali went to get his piano! “He comments: “One thing is certain about Italians when they love you they truly love you!”

He is completely in love with Italy and its people. “I receive support and encouragement for my studies and work. This is so important for a young artist. I really want to make a career here in Italy and want to remain here.”

Ali is happy to be back in Malta to perform at the Sala Isouard, Teatru Manoel. “Malta is a small treasure in my heart and I am impatient to come and sing with Joseph Aquilina. We shall be accompanied on the piano by Ramona Zammit Formosa.

(Entrance to this concert is free of charge and everyone is welcome to attend).