The Manoel Theatre’s spotlight this month turns to the works of 29-year-old composer and conductor André Paul Huber. He speaks to David Schembri about the importance of funding and why Malta needs a conservatory of its very own.

When André Paul Huber speaks Maltese, each syllable coming out of his mouth wonders why on earth Milan is so hot at this time of year.

People turn up for concerts purely for entertainment, whereas some music isn’t necessarily entertaining

Each word comes out strained through a mouth clearly more used to the more mellifluous sounds of the language spoken in the great peninsula to Malta’s north.

Hardly surprising, given Huber was born in Italy while his father – baritone Joseph Huber – studied voice at the Milan Conservatory, a move he would be set to follow 20-odd years later.

Having studied composition and conducted in the Lombard capital, following a degree and a teacher-training course in Malta, the tension of identity is not only present when he speaks.

“When it comes to my music, I feel it’s Mediterranean,” he says, “…even though Milan isn’t actually in the Mediterranean. I get my Mediterranean influences from Malta, and I’m also influenced by the Germanic way of doing things which we were taught in Milan.”

Huber’s contemporary approach to composition means he spends a lot of time researching sounds and textures, and works like In De Profundis Anima (for double bass and piano) exhibit a wide range of extended techniques that elicit high notes, rattles and drones from the bass, which in turn evince the composer’s mood at the time of writing.

“I wrote that at a time when I had emotions from times past clogged up in my system. This piece is my way of expressing those different emotions.”

He laments about people turning up for concerts purely for entertainment, whereas some music isn’t necessarily entertaining but requires listeners to think.

“I was a very melodic composer. In Milan I learnt extended techniques and I now try to combine the two. Music is organised sound, whether we are talking melodies, harmonies or pure sound,” the composer says of his own work.

The musician is now back in Malta teaching. How does he cope with the fact that he’s not composing and conducting full time?

“Only a privileged few – like Ennio Morricone – now make a decent living by composing and conducting. The rest have to find other ways of making ends meet.”

That said, he is grateful to be back within the economically safe environment of our island. Does he miss the Italian culture scene?

“What I miss mostly is the conservatory and, more specifically, its corridors. There, you meet brilliant musicians from all over the world and you could actually meet people who share your views who come from thousands of miles away,” Huber says.

“It is here that you see the different schools of composition at work, but whatever discussion you have, you are dealing with a person who has spent hours and hours researching a topic.”

Huber believes young Maltese musicians should be given their own music conservatory, on the lines of the newly-established National Sport School in Safi.

“The talent on these shores is unbelievable. These children used to attend a regular school with all subjects, having two days a week dedicated to music. If you look at models in Italy and Germany, you will see students who focus on music as their main subject, but then have other subjects, too.”

This month’s Manoel Theatre spotlight concert will feature three of Huber’s works: The Haunted Piano (for solo piano), Reflections of Life (for flute and piano) and Għanja tal-Milied (for baritone and solo piano), where his father sings to lyrics by Trevor Zahra.

The rest of the programme will feature Zauberlehrling and Arc en ciel by György Ligeti, as well as The Tin Drum by Huber’s former classmate Alessandro Baticci, who at 21 has over 400 compositions to his name.

Baticci will also be performing on the flute on the night. He will also be joining Gabi Sultana (piano), Marcelline Agius (violin) and Gjorgji Cincievski (double bass).

Spotlight on André Paul Huber is being held on Thursday at 9pm at the Sala Isouard of the Manoel Theatre, Valletta.

www.teatrumanoel.com.mt