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Eric Azzopardi is one of a small group of budding musicians who will soon be continuing his studies and musical career in the UK. Azzopardi has a Buddhist attitude towards life and has been a dedicated musician for several years.
He is joining other young musicians in a concert entitled Crossroads Wednesday 14 July at St James Cavalier. The other musicians joining Eric are: Veronique Zammit, Karl Fiorini and Etienne John Cutajar are also off to the UK.
You are an accomplished musician, was there any family influence?
Accomplished…that’s a big word! I have had various good opportunities as a pianist, but I think that I still have to prove myself on the professional level. I am the odd one out in my family pursuing a musical career. My parents have always been very supportive of my decisions, yet I was never pushed into anything. They all love music, and I hope that I have been a good influence on them!
Music is a big part of your life, how much do you put into it?
A lot – although it’s difficult to assess this. To become a successful musician, you need a lot of dedication and hard work, and you meet many obstacles on the path to excellence. It also depends on how far you want to go. The life of a musician involves many hours of practice, rehearsing, listening to music and reading too is important. I spend as much time on music as possible. I can be at the piano from three to six hours everyday, sometimes more if you include part-time work which I occasionally do, such as accompanying ballet classes.
From what do you draw your inspiration?
I draw inspiration from excellent musicians and established performers, past and present, which I admire, like Glenn Gould, Murray Perahia and Vladimir Horowitz. I also draw inspiration out of a sense of service which I feel comes with my art. I go on stage to perform for the public – I don’t need to do it for myself. One wise person once said that each and every artist should feel it his duty to be a voice not only for himself, but also for those who can’t express themselves either out of physical or other disadvantages. This is an ideal that I try to live by.
I know that you are also a strict vegetarian, how important is that to you?
To me, the vegetarian philosophy is something very profound. It advocates respect for forms of life other than human. We may be more evolved than other animals, but that doesn’t mean we can eat them. Also, we are what we eat. A vegetarian diet is very natural and healthy, and I don’t dream of quitting.
What kind of music do you prefer to play and what do you listen to?
I play classical music. I like the romantic composers more, say Chopin, Liszt, and Russian ones like Rachmaninov and Scriabin. I also like 20 century music and more contemporary works a lot. When I’m in the mood, I also listen to other genres, including pop!
Do you see yourself making a career out of music and what do you hope to achieve?
More than having a successful career, I want to have a successful life. That implies putting one’s aspirations in the proper light. In today’s world, becoming a successful performer is so not easy. As a pianist, the odds against success are even greater.
I concentrate on what I want to do and whatever results out of that, will be for the best. I like to live in the present and do what I’m doing in the best way that I can. Having high goals or high expectations for oneself can result in an unhappy life trying to reach the unreachable. I don’t want that! At the same time, I’m going to London to further my musical studies with the intention of reaching higher.
Do you write music or play other instruments besides the piano?
I took up the flute for one year, and I picked up the guitar too but nothing serious.
Could you tell us something about your upcoming concert with Etienne John Cutajar, Karl Fiorini and Veronique Zammit?
The four of us will be furthering our musical studies post-graduately in the UK on scholarship. We have known each other for a while and we decided to team up before we leave to our respective destinations in a farewell concert on the 14 of July at St James Cavalier.
Veronique will be continuing her piano studies at Napier University in Edinburgh, while Etienne, Karl and I will be going to London. Etienne, who plays the French Horn will be doing a P.G.Dip at the Royal Academy of Music, Karl will be studying composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, while I will be doing a Masters in Piano Performance at Trinity College of Music.
The concert, which consists mainly of contemporary music together with a little Chopin and Schubert, will see us performing in different combinations together and with other friends of ours. We are all happy for each other to have earned this opportunity and for having each others’ support in a foreign land. Hopefully we will become an asset to our country in the artistic scene.
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