Putting your money where your mouth is

It was the perfect setting for a balmy Mediterranean summer night: the slight whiff of sea-breeze, the moonlight and the stars festooning the sky, the sound of village feasts in the faraway background, and then, an open-air orchestra, a passionate conductor and a mighty voice, all of which hit you with tremendous full force leaving you staggering in raptures.

From the vantage point of my seat I could see what was going on backstage.

I could see the maestro going in to wipe his sweating face after torridly coercing every single possible note from his musicians. I could see the workout-effect on the orchestra members who were frantically turning the pages of their scores to keep up with his fiery conducting.

I could see the tenor nervously taking two steps forward one step back before he darted on stage.

And I could feel the frisson which rippled through the audience the minute the prima donna of the night, with her sensual attires, took to the stage. The air was filled with emotions.

I envy Brian Schembri and Joseph Calleja - not their success, - I am in awe of their talent - of the fact that at such a young age they are doing what they love to do, full time. Their work is their life and their life is their work. Their body and soul are giving it all. No wonder such electrifying passion in their delivery.

I think we should applaud them because they persevered in following their heart, they took a risk and are now living their dreams.

They should all be our role models in this sense. They inspire us to reflect on what we would love to do - be it tile laying, dancing flamenco or accounting - and work at making it our full-time job. I'm sure everybody would be happier.

The pity is that of course not everybody can afford to let themselves soar away on the music of the night, to be inspired to better one's life. Unless you are well off, or as in my case treated by a dearest friend, you cannot afford the luxury of the tickets.

And forget watching it on TV. It's not the same - without the setting, without the eager throng engaged in an act of collective will, emotions are elusive.

So what's the problem here? Classical music is very entertaining. It should target everyone. But let's face it, with the ridiculously priced tickets, which average family, like yours and mine, could afford to go? So these events turn out to be accessible only to the usual crowd: who enjoy turning up in their suits and ties and pearls. In the old days when classical music was pop music, concerts were big fun, like our rock concerts. Today they're at the other end.

Formality and ceremony seem to have taken over the true business at hand, which is listening and participating vicariously in the performance of a masterful human utterance.

You don't need pearls for that, you need ears. And anyway, formal dress makes relaxing and getting into the music much harder.

There seems to be an element of snobbery as well - as if classical music can only be appreciated by the intellectuals, by the music savants.

It is so not so. Classical music is meant to appeal directly to the senses and not to the intellect: it is not analysing the tuba's cadence (whatever that may be) but about saturating your senses, soaring melodies and exploring inner emotions - and anyone can do that.

I'm not saying these concerts should be free, but why, for example, not take the UK's lead? The Proms are much anticipated and awaited summer events in the UK.

They are held in different venues to encourage an audience which, though not normally attending classical concerts, would be attracted by the low ticket prices and more informal atmosphere and so increasing the appreciation of classical music.

Ticket prices in the standing area inside the arena are much lower than for the surrounding reserved seating and so families, kids, people on tight budgets, people affected by the credit crunch, flock to experience the delight of live classical music.

So I am going to make an appeal.

Not to the MPs, or culture directors and the other stiff necks sitting year after year in their (free) gold seats and who don't really give a hoot about making arts accessible.

I am making the appeal to the two people who I know have music at heart and who want everyone to share their enthusiasm.

Joseph and Brian - please let's put classical music back in the loop: give us a Prom in the Park at Ta' Qali next year.

krischetcuti@gmail.com