Friday, April 1, 2011

Gothic Quarter: feel the sound


The special charm of Barri Gotic or the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona lies in 2 phrases you usually say (to yourself) when there, ‘Hmm I didn’t see it here before!’ and ‘Damn, I got lost again’.
This time’s discovery was the church of St. Ana which made me gasp with ‘I didn’t know it was there!’ It was a perfect place for the concert of a Spanish guitar duo, Ksenia Axelroud & Joan Benejam. Passing through beautifully lit, arch-lined cloister you get in a tiny chapel. This intimacy once you enter makes you feel like an initiate.
It was delightful to see all the exchanges of understanding looks of the two musicians, smooth candle-lit profiles, hands flying over the stings. It was even more delightful to hear the masterful play: the guitar looked forming part of them, they helped it play with all the body.
I once read somewhere, “She danced so inspiredly that even the dress sang along”. This time the walls sang along. The sound bounced off them and the cupola, filled in the space while you breathed it in with air.

amazing 4-hand guitar play - something new to me