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TEATRU UNPLUGGED (Theatre Unplugged)
Malta
TEATRU
WITH A TWIST!
by Michael Bugeja, The Malta Independent, 15th January 2005.
Other than the odd experimental modern drama group, theatre with
a twist can only mean a few things in Malta, and one of them has
to be Teatru Unplugged! Seven years on, Jonathan and Nirvana’s
brainchild, now also including Dave in its administrative ranks,
has become a keenly anticipated and well-attended annual event in
the Maltese cultural calendar. As with past editions, a lot of preparation
went into this year’s three-night stint, of which I attended
the last performance. My first comments have to be about the compares,
a trio of talented actors whose methods may have been one twist
too many for the audience on Sunday. Some of their sketches were
funny indeed, but after a while the audience seemed to tire of them.
That said, however, one has to appreciate the efforts of the organisers
to present an unusual form of comparing!
But – on with the show! Young pianist
Clifford Borg took his seat at the piano, the lights went down,
and the gentle notes of Michael Nyman’s The Promise set in.
The Brussels-based Maltese pianist kept the mood sensitive and delicate
with a rendition of Satie’s poignant Gymnopedie No.1 and Bocelli’s
The Prayer, which went down equally well, but when he slipped in
a couple of his own compositions, namely Indian Summer and Emergence,
you could sense that the audience had become more enthralled. Borg,
whose Drifted CD album received several encouraging reviews, is
certainly one of Malta’s promising talents.
Next up was a young guitarist called Keith Anthony, a Gozitan musician
apparently spotted playing outside a bar in Qala whom Jonathan was
prompt to snap up for TU7. It was a good thing too, as Keith’s
five-song set – Revolution (Tracy Chapman), Free Falling (Tom
Petty), Let Her Cry (Hootie & The Blowfish), Give A Little Bit
(Supertramp) and a take on the Gary Jules version of Tears For Fears’
Mad World with adlibs to boot – reflected his influences as
much as they did his talent.
The last act on prior to the interval was Paul Shaw. The Jamaican-born
New York-based pianist once again grasped the attention of all present,
not only with his warm, infectious smile but also with his passionate,
vibrant style. It really seemed like only a brief set – a
couple of contrasting Rachmaninov compositions (one energetic, one
delicate) and his “agitated” version of Beethoven’s
Moonlight Sonata, which was perhaps enough to remind us of his enthusiastic
performance at last year’s TU6, but the bonus Rumba Toccata
he threw in for good measure was most welcome!
After the break, the emphasis shifted from conventional music to
simply rhythm, thanks to the combined performance of dancer Francesca
Grima and percussionist Andrei Vujicic. They are both familiar faces,
as much for their roles as part of the popular Etnika team as for
their own niche specialties, namely Flamenco on Francesca’s
part and anything that can be beaten to create a rhythm as far as
Andrei is concerned. Their piece was quite vibrant, combining the
Latin elements they have absorbed by living in Spain and their own
intrinsic Mediterranean qualities.
It was then Filletti’s turn to take the stage. Quite unlike
his set a couple of years back, this time he was focusing on his
solo material, which has revealed a new side to the Blues-infused
artist with whom everyone had become familiar through several fun-filled
Filletti & Friends performances over the years. No, this time,
he was here with a fresh, more contemporary, sound and, as usual,
a band of talented musicians in tow.
One of Malta’s top stage performers, Filletti wasted no time
in getting the crowd on his side, offering original songs such as
Me, Somebody Else, Fly and Cold Heart, large doses of his typical
humorous charm and a select pick of U2, Beatles and (yes!) Led Zeppelin
covers. Stairway to Heaven is apparently still quite popular. Filletti’s
performance was sheer fun, thanks also to the nifty interjections
by the (ahem!) G String Brothers and Boris!
The final act for the night was none other than Rug, yet another
vehicle for Gianni’s onstage antics, artistic and otherwise.
Given the band’s dress code for the night, they should have
been called The Swinging Rugs, especially after the dazzling renditions
of Just A Gigolo and When You Smile. Typical of Gianni, the cover
of The Commodores’ Easy was funny and daring. Anthony added
a new meaning to the novelty Chicken Song, and the a capella take
on New York New York was admirable, humorous and certainly fitting.
Gianni’s Elvis on A Little Less Conversation wasn’t
perhaps the best I’ve seen but it did bring the night to a
great end, especially when Filletti joined in for the finale of
Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love, which I caught several
of the crowd still humming on the way out of the theatre.
Well, that was it – Teatru Unplugged 7! Not without flaws,
but a great show just the same! Roll on TU8…
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ALL
THIS AND SWING TOO!!
by Eric Montfort, The Sunday Times of Malta, 10th January 2005.
TEATRU UNPLUGGED, the established annual appointment with a blend
of live music turned out to be more innovative than before. This
seventh edition (Manoel Theatre, December 10-12) was a mixture of
the zany, solemn and light-hearted sounds. Indeed, its motto, “the
fresh outlook of young talent in a classical setting; fun for both
the artistes and audience; and smooth spontaneity …”
seems to be reaching out to bolder frontiers.
The brainchild of Jonathan Shaw and Nirvana Azzopardi, Teatru Unplugged
started off as a courageous experiment and became accepted by followers
of both mainstream and alternative arts.
Flamenco was once more incorporated this time. Francesca Grima and
Andrej Vujicic provided some pristine, but compelling sounds and
dance.
This edition included Clifford Borg, who opened
proceedings and enthralled one in all with his nimble piano arrangements.
Borg has been performing locally and abroad for quite some time
now.
His shows in Germany were excellently received as was his performance
at Malta Week at the European Commission in Brussels. Yet, Clifford’s
winning card is his dedication, meticulousness and determination
to broaden his horizons. His treatment of works by Debussy, Satie,
Ravel, Bjork and his own piano compositions from his debut album
Drifted, alongside his new arrangements, Emergence and Indian Summer.
What is striking about Borg is how he manages to roll so many influences
and make them his own.
Ivan Filletti is now also becoming a staple performer in this activity.
This time, he was relaxed but very assertive. His treatment of originals
like Who’s to Blame, Fly and Somebody were brilliant, and
once more, his love for the blues came to the fore. He also projected
cover versions of U2’s Desire, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway
to Heaven, and Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in
a starker but entertaining way, much to the spirit of this activity.
The string arrangements added real value and atmosphere and this
concert confirmed that Filletti can deliver acoustic songs in a
different idiom.
Kieth Anthony provided a rather sombre approach with his renditions
of songs by Tom Petty and Tracy Chapman, among others. However,
his version of the Tears for Fears, classic Mad World rekindled
memories of the beautiful stoic version by Mike Andrews which topped
the UK charts the previous Christmas.
Rug, featuring Gianni and co, provided real mirth and sheer entertainment,
a preluded real mirth and sheer entertainment , a prelude to the
Yule-tide season and in a way, they also reflected what revelries
were like some 50 years ago. It wasn’t just the spontaneous,
sprite swing sounds that led them to steal the limelight and close
procedures in a boisterous spirit.
Perhaps this sextet’s ability to reach out to different styles
was their winning card. Gianni’s treatment of swing songs
like Michael Boublet’s When you smile, The Commodores’
Easy, and Mac Davis’ A Little Less Conversation was warm but
well-versed. The boisterous but nonetheless, decently-version of
the Queen classic Crazy little thing called Love, which was delivered
in tandem with Ivan Filletti, closed the show and ended what was
easily the most versatile activity in this series so far.
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ANOTHER
PIANO CHILL-OUT PERFORMANCE BY CLIFFORD BORG AT MANOEL THEATRE
by
di-ve.com Wednesday, 08 December, 2004.
"Anticipation", was the last piano performance in Malta
by Maltese artist Clifford Borg. His well received concert at Sala
Isoard last year was described by Joseph Camilleri as "An Evening
of Crossover", which is the term used to describe the fusion
of classical music with other styles, such as jazz, rock or world
music.
Clifford will again follow this strategy for the well anticipated
event at "Teatru Unplugged" on the 10th, 11th and 12th
of December. He will perform world music from Michael Nyman, Erik
Satie, Bjork and his latest singles to date, "Emergence"
and "Indian Summer".
Clifford Borg gave a Lunchtime Piano Recital in London on the 4th
of March at Saint Pancras Church. This intimate piano recital featured
works from Debussy, Satie, Ravel and Borg's own piano compositions
from his debut album "Drifted", alongside new material.
He also contributed to the Malta Week within the European Commission
in Brussels. On the 1st of July he gave a piano recital in a cultural
event organized by the European Commission performing original compositions.
Clifford felt that it was necessary to perform original compositions
because the public was solely exposed to original music having Maltese
roots.
Clifford is looking forward to play again in Malta and he is honoured
to play at Manoel Theatre. "Manoel Theatre is a gem and the
atmosphere at Teatru Unplugged is truly unique. As a new age artist,
I found it very exciting to play in a classical venue which merges
different musical genres. I am sure that I will transmit my feeling
of passion towards music and life. Afterall, this is the main theme
of the concert".
Clifford would like to thank the organizers and sponsors for organizing
this concert.
IT'S
TIME FOR TEATRU UNPLUGGED
by Michael Bugeja, The Malta Independent, 1st December 2004.
Every year around this time, while most people are hassling over
the impending Christmas gifts, cards and dinner complications and
the whole hog, some of us are waiting for one of the most popular
musical events in the Maltese calendar.
Yes, it is Teatru Unplugged I am referring to, as many of you will
have guessed. In fact, I doubt if anyone really needs to be told
just what Teatru Unplugged is – the past six editions of this
live musical brew should have done that already. But for the record,
let me just to say that if you like music and a good night out,
Teatru Unplugged is a must !
This year’s edition – the seventh – will see the
event revisit its original formula, namely that of allowing the
unplugged feel more space over all the innovations that were introduced
over the years. What also remains at the core of this keenly anticipated
annual event is its very reason for being – to draw people
to Valletta and more specifically, to the Manoel Theatre, as well
as exposing audiences to different genres of music while promoting
local talent.
With all this in mind , the icing on the cake is the organisers
overall aim to offer ‘a truly good night out at the theatre’.
This year’s event will be ‘split
into several parts, the first of which will revolve around piano
performances that will be largely instrumental. The line-up in this
case includes Brussels-based Maltese pianist Clifford Borg, whose
Drifted CD was critically acclaimed a couple of years ago.
Following last year’s stunning performance, Teatru is pleased
again to feature New York based pianist Paul Shaw, who is flying
in especially for the event. The second part will see Gozitan guitarist
Keith Anthony take the stage with a set of laid-back soft rock covers.
Next up will be Rug (aka Gianni and his band of merry men) who will
keep us entertained with an acoustic swing set that will include
familiar hits form the past, while another Teatru veteran, Filletti,
will round off this segment with a selection songs that should recreate
the same buzz as his performances during the Teatru Unplugged 5
edition.
The final segment of the show will feature renowned Flamenco dancer
Francesca Grima and percussionist Andrey Vujicic. The couple, based
in Spain but familiar to Maltese audiences as part of the Etnika
troupe, will bring the night to a close with a show-stopping, perhaps
even for-stomping music and dance performances . Last but not least,
one must not forget the people who will be presenting the show.
This year, the task of keeping everyone entertained in the hands
of two young actors, Jimmy and Miriam, who are pioneers of local
physical theatre and have their own group, Urbania. Besides presenting,
they will be staging short sketches – some of them with a
comical touch –that will enhance the theatrical element, which
along with the eclectic musical content, forms the core of Teatru
Unplugged.
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TEATRU
UNPLUGGED IS BACK TO BASICS
The Sunday Times of Malta. 20th November, 2004.
The success of Teatru Unplugged - a concoction of live music genres
that bring the Manoel Theatre to life - is being reconfirmed and
further consolidated by the fact that it is running into its seventh
edition on December 10, 11 and 12.
This year's event marks a return to the original formula, which
dates back to 1998 and which had changed with innovative additions
along the years. It is characterised by an international touch,
hardly any repeat performances and musicians that event founder
Jonathan Shaw has been scouting for over the years.
Mr Shaw has decided to go back to basics and focus more on the "unplugged
feel", which had, in recent years, given way to host a variety
of numbers. Of course, the original objectives - the raison d'être
of Teatru Unplugged - are still going strong: to draw people to
Valletta; to attract a new audience to the Manoel Theatre; to expose
audiences to different genres of music; to promote local talent
and, last but not least, to "offer a truly good night out at
the theatre", according to Mr Shaw.
The first part of the annual music event includes what have been
described as "clean and unique" performances, which are
mostly instrumental. Never before has the piano in all its purity
been highlighted as much, Mr Shaw said.
The line-up includes Maltese pianist Clifford
Borg, who is being imported from Brussels, where he resides, for
the event. Mr Shaw wanted to use him for the last two years but
had never found the right slot.
And piano performances do not stop there. New York-based Jamaican
pianist Paul Shaw is flying in from the US specifically for the
event, following his successful eleventh-hour appearance at Teatru
Unplugged last year, which had impressed him, despite his vast experience
and endless list of concerts worldwide.
The idea of offering talented musicians a platform - and a prestigious
one at that - in the baroque national theatre is seen in the inclusion
in the second part of Gozitan solo guitarist Keith Anthony, who
Mr Shaw spotted playing outside a bar in Qala. The "easygoing"
guitarist is playing soft rock and cover versions. He is being followed
up by the band Rug, led by Gianni, and its acoustic swing session,
including fun hits from the past.
Another number is popular Ivan Filletti and his blues band, which
has changed its style and is releasing hit singles. Mr Filletti
had played in Teatru Unplugged 5 and was a huge success, helping
to achieve one of the event's main aims - to stimulate young and
old audiences alike to jump out of their seats, clap and sing, in
a rather uncommon scenario for the smart and stiff Manoel Theatre.
Teatru Unplugged 7 is also featuring flamenco dancer Francesca Grima
and percussionist Andrej Vujicic from Spain, who intend to close
the event with a show-stopping, high-energy music/dance performance,
called Kaxxa Infernali, consisting of outbursts of fast footwork,
dynamic movements and percussive breaks, as well as the magic of
improvisation and intuitive communication on stage.
As always, care has been taken in choosing the compères -
two young actors, Jimmy and Miriam, pioneers of local physical theatre,
with their theatre company, Urbania. They are staging short sketches,
even comic, between performances, with the aim of introducing an
element of theatre and combining Teatru with music as the name of
the event suggests.
Mr Shaw, together with his brother and event producer, Dave, pours
into the mix a passion for "setting up the show and ensuring
that the musicians suit the event and have everything they need
to do so".
Teatru Unplugged 7, sponsored by Baileys, starts at 8 p.m. Tickets,
which cost Lm3.50, Lm5.50, Lm7.50 and Lm4.50 for side boxes, are
on sale from the Manoel Theatre booking office on tel. 2124 6389
or via e-mail on bookings@teatrumanoel. com.mt; they can also be
bought online from www.teatrumanoel.com
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