Swizz duo creates an experience through music in pitch dark halls

Sandro Schneebeli (right) with Max Pizio

People hold each each other’s hands and walk into a dark hall at Delhi’s Bikaner House in a file of five and were led by a visually-impaired usher. We are here for a concert, in pitch darkness, where musicians — Sandro Schneebeli and Max Pizio — from Switzerland’s Ticino, play a plethora of instruments. It’s an intense experience — one hour without any distraction. “People feel very relaxed. They are able to feel the essence of the music without stress, phone and have their eyes closed, or even if they are open, nothing is visible. People generally tell me that the concert was therapeutic and meditative,” says Schneebeli, who conceptualised “Music in the Dark” six years ago.

“In a completely dark space, where you have no information in advance on the setting, one hears music much more deeply. This gives people the ability to open up emotionally,” says the 43-year-musician, whose maiden performance was in Lugano, his hometown. The idea struck Schneebeli when he was having a meal at Blindekuh, a Zurich-based restaurant where one dines in the dark and is served by visually-impaired staff. “I thought why not make people listen to music in the dark?” he says.

The role reversal has proven to be an interesting idea. “You need the help of the blind to reach your seats, as they know how to walk around a dark space. Generally, we help them to cross a street or search for things in a store,” says Schneebeli. People discover the seating arrangement in the last 10 minutes, when a candle is lit, and realise that they were sitting in a circle with the musicians in the middle.

Schneebeli was the first one to pursue music in his family of artists, whereas Pizio hails from a family of musicians. The two have travelled around the globe and collaborated with varied artists; and the influence can be seen in their work. While, Pizio plays 10 instruments including the Chinese and Irish flutes, clarinet, drums and piano, Schneebeli works his magic on with guitar, kalimba, scacciapensieri and other small flutes. “Our music is a mix of different styles — African, Arabic, European, American, Latin, Indian, and Asian. I try to learn and understand what various musicians play. So when I write music, it is always with influence,” says Schneebeli. There are elements of flamenco, samba and Celtic music too. With over 180 concerts worldwide, they were on their first trip to India and performed in Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai over the past week on the invitation of The Embassy of Switzerland in India to celebrate Italian Language Week.

To play sans light, both of them practice with their eyes closed, and designate a place for each instrument. Unlike usual concerts, where glances work as cues, they count or sigh in a particular manner or play a certain note, to communicate. “Now, even when I am playing a usual concert, I have my eyes closed. It helps concentrate more and feel the music,” says Schneebeli.