I say “Thank you” and want you to know,
There is so much more to say to you than those short words can possibly contain.
“An emotional bomb fell yesterday after the wonderful concert given by the Italian guitarist Aniello Desiderio. Nothing could have prepared us (the audience) for what was about to take place, it was not something included in any regular concert ritual: ticket – parking- performance – applause – encore.
After he had been called back to the stage several times, he brought on his guitar and…music, and told us that after his previous concert (only a few hours before),a charming couple approached him, Marcello and Dalit Reich, and she gave him a piece that she had composed and now he will play it as an encore.
A beautiful piece that he played with great sensitivity,
And for those of us who are familiar with Dalit’s tragic story – it was an incredible gesture.
It is difficult to describe the excitement and the unforgettable experience that we were part of.
The composer’s reaction, who was as surprised as we all were, was heartbreaking.
A gesture from a great artist with a huge heart – to be remembered for life “.
And now, through my eyes, the incredible moment bestowed upon me:
It was on the Saturday evening of the 2014 “Guitar Week” in the Felicia Blumenthal Hall in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Art director – Yehuda Schryer)
One of the greatest artists of his generation, Aniello Desiderio, had arrived to perform at this special festival. The program included two concerts, one at 17:00 and one at 20:30.
My dear husband Marcelo and I arrived in the lobby towards the end of his first concert. As at many other events, we set up our studio’s colorful stall offering strings, nail files and other “cool” accessories from the world of guitars. We intended to go to the second concert and in the meantime, stand at the stall.
We can hear prolonged applause – the first concert had ended. The exhilarated audience spills out of the hall into the lobby. Many of them gather round our stall and can’t stop talking enthusiastically about the performance. At around 19:00 people start to disperse.
Marcelo pulls out the score of “A Few More Notes” from a pile of music and says:” Let’s go down and give him this as a gift and come straight back up”. A minute later we are at his door. Aniello opens the door warmly and Marcelo says:” We just want to give you some of Dalit’s pieces, maybe you’ll have a chance some time to look at them”. Aniello, who is about to begin his next concert in an hour, patiently turns the pages and ask about us and our lives as if he has all the time in the world. Happy, we go back up to the lobby .
A fresh audience arrives. The two floors of the hall fill up, musicians, teachers, students – the whole guitar loving community of the country – all here, everyone knows everybody. Marcelo and I make our way to the last row and sit in the center. I always sit in the last row, everywhere, since I was a child. I have “stage fright” and even the front rows scare me.
The doors close, the lights dim, only the stage is lit. Aniello Desiderio walks onto the stage greeted festively with applause. He bows and takes his seat. Silence.
His hands alight on the strings and with the first note the magic is born and spreads around the hall. Each piece is told in his own unique manner. I am hypnotized in a bubble of emotion and reason – a world that is entirely true. We are all spellbound for an hour not measured in time but in feelings.
Aniello plays the last piece and lowers his hands. The audience bursts into applause. He bows and leaves the stage. The audience continue to clap in a steady rhythm, he is called back to the stage again and again and thanks us with his hands and body. The audience don’t give up and Aniello returns, this time with his guitar and….a sheet of music. They goes wild. Amid the sound of applause Marcelo whispers in my ear:” Look what he has in his hand, I think it’s your music.”
I reply: “It can’t be”.
Marcelo goes on: “I’m sure of it”.
I say:” You are imagining things, you can’t possibly see from the last row”.
Unexpectedly, Aniello places the music on a wide piano stool at the side of the stage, and moves it in front of his chair. He sits down, guitar in hand, the notes in front of him, the applause ceases.
Aniello opens in a deep, calm voice: “Ladies and Gentleman, before the concert I met a charming couple called Dalit and Marcelo Reich. I received from them some pieces that Dalit composed. I would like to play the one called “Moments”.
My heart is beating so hard that I can hear it.
Aniello slowly places his hands on the strings and with the first note falls my first tear. Inexplicable joy floods over me. I composed “Moments” for my Marcelo.
I sense Marcelo next to me and the audience breathing with us as if one entity. I am drawn into the journey of Aniello’s pure clear sounds.
All the good I have and all the good I have lost pour into a private moment that is at the same time a moment of togetherness. We are all being led by Aniello along the paths of his heart. His fingers ascending to the final chord and gently releasing it. A long moment of silence cuts the air…and then, the ceiling trembles with the burst of applause.
From every side, glistening eyes are looking at me willing me to stand. I leave the last row and make my way down to Aniello who is waiting for me at the edge of the stage. I go up onto the stage, hold out my hand, he takes it warmly and smiles into my eyes. We both stand to the sound of continuing applause. A moment of gratitude enfolds me.
I have so much to say to this legend of an artist, who didn’t know us, and in one incredible unexpected moment, plucked on our heartstrings and engraved on every heart the harmony of human generosity that will be forever remembered.
Dear Aniello, I will never forget that rare moment when you bestowed that wonderful gift upon me.
I have so much to say to you.
Dalit.
