Spanish Diplomat Graces the Arts

By Kim Se-jeong

Staff Reporter

The hall was quiet, even deserted, as the guitarist, cellist and Spanish ambassador to Korea were rehearsing a piece on Tuesday that was to debut in Korea.

Ambassador, Delfin Colome sat in the audience next to his wife nodding, moving his fingers from time to time and applauding with his hands above his head yelling ``good'' in Spanish.

In Spain, his title is composer, as well as pianist. However, as he travels beyond his borders, his reputation as a diplomat follows him here in Korea.

The title of the piece is ``The Song of the Birds.''

Colome said he was inspired by an old Spanish song from his hometown, Catalonia, where he heard a famous cellist play the song for the first time.

The performers and the composer met for the first time after they were commissioned to play his piece, and Colome heard his piece played with real instruments.

``It is a very strange moment for a composer. You always feel somewhat surprised," which for this concert was satisfying, he said.