The opening concert in October, at the Manoel Theatre is one not to be missed. The press release accompanied by a picture of the handsome Charlie Siem - wearing NO SOCKS - was impossible to ignore in our newspapers. As someone remarked on Facebook "an already attractive Charlie made my heart beat faster at the sight of those feet bereft of socks!' Those of us who love beauty in whatever form it happens to be, were certainly not disappointed. If he had just sat there with his violin and played nothing we would still not have been disappointed. He owes his good looks to a Norwegian father and British mother. Charlie has snob value too - Eton and Cambridge.
These matters go down well in Malta. I am surprised that those of his generation did not turn up at the door of the Manoel in droves as they would if he were some minor Rocker with unkempt hair and jeans full of holes.The concert was well advertised and very well attended. The only problem with concerts in October is that at this time of year inside the theatre it is still stifling.
There has been talk in the press of air conditioning being introduced but I cannot imagine that it would be allowed in our Baroque theatre. So I asked Kenneth Zammit Tabona, Artistic Director to explain: "Not air conditioning,' he gasped in horror , 'but climatization which is an eco friendly noiseless system that is specially designed for old theatres like ours. What is essential is that it is constant and not switched on and off. This prevents the damage caused by abrupt changes in temperature which we would have with air conditioning. They are radically different systems. Hopefully my colleagues on the board of the Association of Historic Theatres of Europe did not see some of the reports in the local press mentioning airconditioning or they would have my guts for garters." So, the sooner we have the theatre acclimatized the faster we can do away with our fans.
The programme that evening, could not be faulted. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra did us proud with Brian Schembri conducting and Carmine Lauri as Guest Leader. From Beethovan's Overture to Egmont we cruised to the famous Max Bruch's Violin Concerto N. 1 in G Minor for which at last we could behold Charlie in flesh and blood as he was soloist. Impeccably dressed and poised wearing socks - his 1735 Guarneri del Gesù violin (known as the d'Egville according to the programme notes) in hand he bowed and placed a white handkerchief on a music score stand at the ready to wipe his brow. It must have been very hot on that crowded stage especially if you are not used to our humidity and high temperatures. Next was Camille Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28 in which Charlie too, starred and finally Beethovan's Symphony No. 8 in F Major.
Somebody said of Max Bruch: 'In personal appearance, Bruch is by no means as majestic as one would suppose from his works.' Well, you cannot have everything. He was precociously talented and by the age of 14 he had already penned his first symphony. Although he may not have been lucky in the looks department nevertheless he received much attention from the young ladies of Liverpool where he was Principal Conductor of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for a good three years. Although he did not marry a Scouser his German wife was only 27-years-old and considerably young as he was forty-two when they were engaged.
The violin concerto played that evening is his most popular work. Those who know a great deal more about music tell me that it is certainly the most beautiful of all violin concertos. I can well believe it.Max Bruch is a Romantic composer as is evident from his Violin Concert No 1. The second movement is pure romance with beautiful and heart breaking themes and then there is the glorious finale. Yehudi Menuhin played it alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, when he was but 15-years-old. The recording is still available on the bargain-priced Naxos Label as part of its Historical Great Violinists series.The second piece in which we could admire Charlie Siem playing was the Saint-Saens Rondo Capriccioso Op. 28. This French composer could play tunes on the piano when he was just two years old. He was a clever kid and even mastered lepidopterology - the study of butterflies and moths for mere mortals like me - to his considerable talents. His other areas of expertise included geology, astronomy and philosophy. Possibly his best known work is Carnival of Animals which he banned from public performance during his lifetime as he thought he would not be taken seriously as a composer once the critics heard it.
The expectations of the audience were high but judging from the talk at the interval where we went out to enjoy a little more air than there was inside and finally during drinks afterwards, it was obvious that the evening had been most enjoyable and worth the effort of having to cope with parking in Valletta. Charlie, who also models for Dior, Dunhill and Armani came to say hello to his admirers. He had changed from a suit to a grey teeshirt. He was continually surrounded by people of all ages and both sexes while he signed autographs. I believe the two robust young men who were hanging around him must have been his bodyguards. He happily posed for me while I managed to take a couple of photos for my diary page. Our gifted pianist Charlene Farrugia was there. She told me that she had practised with Charlie Siem before his first rehearsal with the MPO. "We met with Mro Brian Schembri, and together we went through the Bruch and Saint-Saëns. This rehearsal serves as a first encounter between conductor and soloist.
It is always very interesting to be part of what goes on behind the scenes."The Manoel Theatre is doing very well thanks to so many hardworking and dedicated people like Dr Michael Grech, Kenneth, Sigmund Mifsud, Chairman of the Philharmonic Orchesta, Ray Attard who can now concentrate on the Manoel and not on the Mediterranean Conference Centre as well, Michael Mangion the PRO and Marketing Manager, Rosetta Debattista who is responsible for the Toi Toi project which is so popular with children and so many others who work behind the scenes and who do not come to mind immediatly.We look forward to a brilliant season which will attract new patrons too.
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