Last month, Malta welcomed Stephen Schwartz for a night of Broadway magic that celebrated his extraordinary career composing some of the world’s best-loved musicals and film scores. Laura Bonnici chats with the legendary composer to reflect on his time on the island.
Late last month, Valletta’s Mediterranean Conference Centre thrummed with the energy and excitement of musical theatre magic.
Performing two concerts in one night only, Stephen Schwartz – the Academy, Grammy, Tony and Golden Globe award-winning composer and lyricist behind gravity-defying musicals such as Wicked and songs from unforgettable movies like The Prince of Egypt and Pocahontas – treated audiences to a truly spectacular experience.
Indeed, as the first concert of its kind in Malta, Stephen Schwartz: Defying Gravity – Live in Concert offered the rare opportunity to spend an evening with him as he performed the most recognisable musical theatre songs of our era alongside Broadway stars, Maltese talent and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
While the concert featured many of his iconic works, there were also surprises in store, with some never-before-heardsymphonic arrangements played for the first time in Malta. “Of course, we performed a lot of songs the audience will know,” Stephen says with a smile, “but we also had some surprises in store, not just with new and unfamiliar songs, but with some twists in arrangements of familiar material.”
The night was a timely journey through Stephen’s illustrious five-decade-long career, with his global phenomenon Wicked celebrating its 20th year on Broadway and the upcoming release of the star-studded film adaptation starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Musical fans at the concert loved the many showstoppers in the programme like The Wizard and I and Defying Gravity from Wicked, as well as Academy Award-winning songs such as When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt and Colours of the Wind from Pocahontas.
His personal stories and insights also left a lasting impact, as Stephen took the audience behind the scenes of his process of creating one song from Wicked. “Audiences identify with the characters of Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch, who longs for acceptance and love but is unwilling to sell her soul in order to get it, and also with the complicated but real friendship and bond between Elphaba and the ‘good witch’ Glinda,” says Stephen, reflecting on why Wicked continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Accompanied by 70 musicians from the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Stephen’s concert also featured top Broadway stars Matthew James Thomas, Keri René Fuller, Michael McCorry Rose and John Owen-Jones, as well as popular Maltese vocalists Destiny, Ira Losco and Joseph Calleja.
“Talented artists always bring something new to a work,” says Stephen, remarking on the depth of creativity of the local talent he discovered during rehearsals and performance. “I always learn new possibilities from collaborating with top talent, such as the singers and musicians who joined me for the concert.”
As a master of storytelling through music, Stephen finds a thrill in live performance. “I especially enjoy the chance to connect directly with the audience, to tell them some stories and respond to their reactions, so that each performance is its own new interpersonal experience,” he explains.
Marking his first time in Malta, the concert was more than just another performance for Stephen. “I actually haven’t done many concerts outside of the United States, so that makes this even more special,” he shares. “Malta is a place I’ve always wanted to visit. So many friends have told me how beautiful and fascinating they have found it. So getting a chance not only to spend time here, but to work and perform with some of Malta’s top singers and musicians, was a true high point for me.”
Off the stage, Stephen’s time exploring the island also afforded him the chance to take in the local beauty and history, he recalls – with one highlight of his stay being The Phoenicia Malta, the historic hotel where he found a crucial balance of relaxation and inspiration pre-performance. “I had heard from friends who’d stayed at The Phoenicia how lovely and luxuriously comfortable it is, and especially about its magnificent view of Valletta. To stay somewhere where I could be physically relaxed and visually inspired was the perfect preparation for the concert, which, of course, I wanted to be as excellent as I could make it.”
And he already counts his experience on the island as one of his favourites, offering some words of wisdom to aspiring composers, lyricists and musical theatre performers in Malta. “I always think there are local stories to be told, something both personal and culturally based in Malta itself,” he concludes. “I think for writers, it’s important to study the musical theatre form, to know what writers before you have done and to see what in their work resonates for you, what you can learn about style and technique. But then use that, combined with your own instincts, to tell your own stories.”
For both the audiences who watched and the artists who performed in Defying Gravity – Live in Concert, Stephen Schwartz’s visit to Malta was as magical as the musicals he has created. And undoubtedly, the advice of this living legend from the international world of musical theatre will continue to inspire those in the artistic community in Malta to “tell our own stories” for many years to come.
Find out more about Stephen Schwartz at www.stephenschwartz.com and about The Phoenicia Malta at www.phoeniciamalta.com.