Up-and-comers Christine Zerafa and Fiorella Camilleri will be performing in this year’s Malta Arts Festival. Alex Vella Gregory interviews them, and finds out more about the musical powers of bananas.

Christine Zerafa

They had more in common than I expected, apart from being two young and beautiful musicians who will both be featured in this year’s Malta Arts Festival. In fact, there were moments where I felt that rather than conducting an interview, I was merely eavesdropping on a private conversation.

Those of you who have already had the privilege of seeing these two musicians in concert know full well the passion they invest in their performances. It is the result of years of dedicated hard work, and a struggle against many odds.

Both Christine Zerafa and Fiorella Camilleri had a very cautious beginning to their musical career. Zerafa originally wanted to focus on sciences, which is something she still does. She is passionate about chemistry and is currently researching for a PhD in Chemistry. I must admit, she explained (and spelled out) exactly what she is working on, but it only got a very blank look from my side.

My obvious lack of scientific enthusiasm was made worse by Camilleri’s keen interest in chemistry. It turns out she had wanted to take up restoration but lacked the necessary qualifications in chemistry. Camilleri’s interest in sciences also led her to write a dissertation on music and synaesthesia, a condition whereby the brain associates sounds with non-aural impulses such as colour.

You cannot limit an artist; an artist needs support and freedom

I tentatively suggest whether they would have preferred a career in sciences. Both of them are shocked, albeit in a very polite way. Music is still their first love. Zerafa makes it a point to get hold of a piano whenever she travels for research, and Camilleri managed to find a way to complete a Master’s degree in Modena while honouring all her playing commitments with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

Fiorella Camilleri

I wondered whether things ever got tough. Everybody knows that performing is a high-stress job, and not for the faint-hearted. Well, it seems that early on in their studies there were moments when they found no support and no adequate tutors and ended up studying on their own. Still they have always found the inner strength to carry on, with a little help from local and foreign tutors.

“Many musicians here in Malta end up giving up because of the stress of coping with a day job and a musical career,” says Zerafa. “We need to help artists, and we cannot limit the local scene.”

Camilleri also shares the same sentiments, and adds: “You cannot limit an artist; an artist needs support and freedom.”

An artist also needs to listen to and work with other artists. Both musicians have teamed up with other musicians to form established duos (Zerafa with saxophonist Philip Attard as Batera Duo, and Camilleri with guitarist Luca Lucini as the Camilleri-Lucini Duo). They are also very keen on hearing other musicians, not only because they enjoy hearing others play but also because it can help them discover new repertoire.

It is at this point that the conversation turns to bananas. I am seriously considering starting a campaign to honour the humble (and potassium-rich) banana. It is a well-known fact that most musicians indulge in a banana before a performance as it reputedly enhances concentration and energy levels. I swear, it is not an urban myth, and Zerafa confirmed the scientific basis behind it. I felt scientifically redeemed.

Of course, a banana on its own is pretty useless. So Zerafa and Camilleri like to combine it with physical exercise, good healthy food and lots of psychological preparation. And they also like to check out the smell of a venue. I’m not making this up. Scout’s honour!

If you are really curious to verify all this, you could always turn up a bit earlier to their upcoming concerts at the Malta Arts Festival. Zerafa will be presenting a solo programme composed of Beethoven, Scriabin and Schumann, while Camilleri will be teaming up with guitarist Lucini with music from Latin America and the Balkans.

But to be honest, I would just go for the music, because I can assure you that it takes more than a banana to perform music like they do. It takes years of dedication and lots of love.

Fiorella Camilleri and Christine Zerafa will be performing at the Malta Arts Festival on July 6 and July 13 respectively. Both concerts will take place at the Ambassadors Room, Auberge de Castille, Valletta, at 11am.

www.maltaartsfestival.org