Concert
Paolo Tagliamento, violin
Bir Miftuħ Chapel
Young Italian violinist Paolo Tagliamento performed the last concert of the 17th edition of the Bir Miftuħ festival, organised by Din l-Art Ħelwa in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and La Società Umanitaria di Milano.
Only 15 years old, the child prodigy gave a fantastic delivery of some of the most difficult repertoire ever composed for the violin.
The music performed spanned almost 300 years of violin literature, from Johann Sebastian Bach to 1998 film music. In a truly eclectic spirit, the pieces chosen called for a combination of virtuosity and emotional maturity which are not generally expected of a violinist at such a tender age. Though unaccompanied, Tagliamento managed to deliver a sonic palette which was varied enough to keep each piece in the programme interesting and distinctive.
The concert opened with Bach’s Sonata No. 1 in G minor BWV 1001. Tagliamento interpreted beautifully each movement of this magnificent work, which was among the first compositions that helped to establish the violin as a prestigious solo instrument.
The most obvious choice in a violinist’s programme, Niccolò Paganini was rendered far better than the audience might have expected. Tagliamento chose to play three of Paganini’s Capricci. The pleasant melody of Capriccio No. 13 came out unhindered by the level of technical difficulty, as was the playfully grandiose No. 14. Capriccio No. 24 is an extremely difficult piece which employs clever use of harmonics, pizzicato and spiccato. Tagliamento played it with impressive ease, making the audience burst into a spontaneous applause.
The second half of the programme was dominated by Belgian composer Eugène Ysaÿe’s second Sonata for Solo Violin, Op. 27. Ysaÿe was one of the most accomplished violinists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, earning the nickname of ‘king of the violin’.
Each movement of the sonata presents a particular mood. Obsession – Prelude is extraordinary for its sudden changes in direction and abrupt stops, followed by the slow and sad Malinconia. Danse des Ombres – Sarabande opens with mildly playful pizzicato passages, while Les Furies is characterised by sheer determination. The young Tagliamento shifted from one mood to the other very smoothly.
The last piece of the programme came as a real surprise, being outside the mainstream repertoire for violin. This was John Corigliano’s Caprice from the film The Red Violin. The tranquil opening quickly gives way to dramatic passages of great impetus, which the young violinist approached with the same mastery shown when playing Paganini.
As an encore he performed Paganini’s Capriccio No. 18, yet another showpiece of technical mastery.
The violin the young musician played was over a 100 years old. Its rich and elegant tone proved to be a perfect match for the demands of the repertoire chosen for this concert.
This instrument belongs to the Fondazione Pro Canale, a society that lends violins and violas to musicians based in Italy, with the intention of spreading classical music.