An engaging smile is one of the many
characteristics that draws you to Yuri
Sharygin. He is (I later learn) Malta’s only accordion player, and manages to earn a living through various engagements all over the island and is quite in demand. We met here at The Malta Independent for an informal chat about his career and life in general.
Yuri is from Murmansk in Northern Russia and his musical talents were recognised quite early in his life. “When I was five years old I used to enjoy playing tunes on my uncle’s accordion and I was packed off to music school to study the violin.”
However, Yuri didn’t take too kindly to his teacher and eventually he ‘left’ the school, as he explained with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. He continued perfecting his musical skills, at home and at 12 years old he was studying the piano and accordion. Yuri was also deeply interested in jazz, rock, and funk-rock, and at moscow University he took up the bass guitar.
“I came to accordion playing by chance as I was extremely active as a bass player, travelling to Norway, Finland and even Hanoi in Vietnam to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.”
This was in 1997 and a couple of years later, Yuri found himself in Malta studying English for three weeks. Or so he thought...
After meeting his future wife Silvana, the English course soon turned into a fully-fledged romance. Yuri prolonged his stay for six months, after which the Maltese/Russian couple decided to get married. The problem now was to find a suitable occupation and Yuri obviously turned to his musical skills. He began playing at The Labyrinth, the popular Valletta haunt with another local star, Ira Losco (then quite unknown), performing Edith Piaf songs with accordion accompaniment.
“I then met the violinist, George Curmi, ‘Il-Puse’ and there was no holding back. We really hit it off together and for the past four years I have been extremely active with Il-Puse’ playing in several five-star hotels and also touring London for a year”, says Yuri with evident relish. Yuri and his flamboyant violin partner are regulars at the Hilton every Saturday. The charismatic Russian accordionist also plays at the Crowne Plaza where his shows are very popular on Wednesday.
Yuri is now extremely keen to be able to share his talent with the locals. “I’ve now established myself and would really wish to teach young Maltese students the beauty of accordion playing,” he says with visible enthusiasm. He is also eager to display his talents on TV, appearing on a few programmes which were apparently quite a success. As there is only one accordion player in Malta at the moment, there appears to be quite a demand for this pleasant instrument.
The quiet accordionist has composed his own music and also sings, as is demonstrated in a CD of songs released in 1995. Yuri also wrote a children’s musical that was successfully performed at the Russian Embassy, and he hopes to build on that in his future engagements.
Naturally, this interview would not be complete without an impromptu performance. It was a memorable way to end our encounter. I sat transfixed as Yuri played for my benefit a stirring medley of moving tunes... demonstrating in the process the quite extraordinary range of this little-known but marvellous instrument.
Anyone who wishes to learn how to play the accordion should really give Yuri a call on 99880564. He is eager to teach and spread the notes.