Headline :Rapt in Grondona's skill

NEW SUNDAY TIMES-SHOWTIME

Date :27/03/2005
Page :02
Byline :By R.S. Kamini
Type :Entertainment

A maestro classical guitarist gave a special performance in the capital city recently, and R.S. KAMINI came away in awe of both man and instrument.

I STUDIED the guitar with an objective: to be a master of classical guitar and play like (Andres) Segovia," said Italian Stefano Grondona.
The 47-year-old is a maestro today, with an affinity for Bach and a love for ancient guitars like the 1887 Torres guitar which he has used throughout his career.
Grondona recently gave a special two-day performance-by-request at the Mont Kiara International School theatre in Kuala Lumpur to an appreciative crowd comprising students of the school and the guitar.
He performed Suite in D Minor by Johann Jacob Froberger and Toccata in E Major by J.S. Bach and interesting classical compositions arranged by Miguel Llobet, Isaac Albeniz and Manuel de Falla.
He played to an audience that listened with bated breath (it seemed) as there was not even a cough to be heard every time he stuck an opening chord.
It was also a little hot in the hall as Grondona had asked that the air conditioning to be turned off to enable him to deliver an impeccable performance.
But the concert went really well and you could feel his intense love for the guitar.
"I grew up with a guitar. It was the first piece of instrument I played even when I was a little boy," said Grondona.
The instrument, according to him, helps him find his identity or the emotion he would like to express to the people around him.
Grondona received his Diploma of Merit from the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena and participated in master classes held by Segovia.
Truth to be told, he turned out to be one of Segovia's favourite students.
His love for guitar also triggered his curiosity about guitar-making which resulted in him producing his first book, Masterpieces of Guitar-making.
"It is filled with photo descriptions that covers instruments built by some of the greatest guitar makers from the 18th century right up to the 20th century," he said in an interview after the concert.
The book has a lot of colours and images that explain the emotional and technical aspects of guitars and guitar-making which he co-wrote with a guitar-maker, Luca Waldner.
"I am not a guitar-maker; just someone interested in the history and mystery of guitars. It took years of research to paste of all the information together."
Grondona also teaches at the Conservatory of Vicenza, and has given master classes in many other institutions, including the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall in London.
"Teaching is an interesting job. I see myself in my students for I not only guide them in their own quest for excellence but also learn from them."

Grondona has also made a series of discographic recordings on historical instruments mainly using different types of guitars.
He has played different musical instruments which he described as fascinating such as the lute and piano but his soul revolves much around his chosen stringed instrument.
On the (Antonio de) Torres guitar, Grondona said it was played by the composer Llobet himself. "I got it in Barcelona. There was a lady who had this guitar. She is now a very good friend of mine."
The old lady was a student of Llobet (who lived from 1878 to 1938) and the guitar was made by Torres, who lived from 1817 to 1892, and Barcelona is the capital city of the Catalonia province in Spain.
"Through this guitar, I could feel the actual world of Llobet; he has put his hands on this guitar many times. The amazing thing is through their instruments you understand their perfection, and Llobet was not only a guitarist but also a very popular character of Catalan culture."
Grondona is devoted to the classical Western genre. "I am not ruling out other genres but I simply do not have time to try out other musical repertoires," he said.
But he is intrigued by Asian folk music involving guitar instruments.
"There is so much to learn. Different cultures symbolise different listening power and different tastes but the appreciation for guitar is evident."
So, what does he do to relax? He practices with his guitar.
"I enjoy what I do and my whole life revolves around the guitar so I simply don't find any reason to get away from it," he added with a gentle smile.
(END)