(Pic: Tenor Lionel Mkhwanazi, music director Ashley Roberts, soprano Bronwen Forbay and Cardinal Winfred Napier, pictured in Durban’s Emmanuel Cathedral. Photo by Val Adamson)Sublime experience, riches ahead. - Classical Notes by William Charlton-Perkins
While the sounds and sensations of the sublime Fleming experience linger, we move on in a state of grace, and focus on the events that await us in the weeks ahead.
In several instances, we will be able to savour the artistic accomplishments of a line-up of gifted young professionals-in-the-making. This flowering of new talent on our music scene is cause for ongoing celebration, and deserves all the nurturing and support we can offer.
Fleming herself has made this point repeatedly during her visit, her first to this country in 25 years since she was a prize-winner as a Juilliard student in the first International Unisa Singing Competition back in 1984.
In the offing, we have the KZN Philharmonic, under the baton of Naum Rousine, set to appear in the Cardinal’s Concert on September 18 at 19h00 in the beautiful surroundings of the Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban’s city centre. Presented as part of the Celebrate Durban Spring Season, this annual fund-raiser in aid of the Denis Hurley Centre Fund features a line-up of greatly gifted students from UKZN’s Opera School and Choral Academy (Osca), performing in an all-Mozart programme of excerpts from Cosi fan tutte and Don Giovanni.
Making a special appearance with the young singers are their highly accomplished professional mentors, Bronwen Forbay (soprano) and Lionel Mkhwanazi (tenor), who will perform the great Act I duet from Don Giovanni for Dona Anna and Don Ottavio, Fuggi, crudele, fuggi! This highly dramatic piece, sung by these two fine artists, should itself justify the asking price of the tickets. Entrance R50 includes a free programme. Free secure parking will be available. More information on 031 306 3595.
Meanwhile KZNPO’s Spring Season opens next Thursday (September 10) in the Durban City Hall. This runs until November 12. Next week’s programme features the young Russian soprano, Evgenia Grekova (herself a prize-winner in the 2006 Unisa Singing Competition), and American conductor Kamal Khan, performing Bellini and Verdi with the KZNPO.
Grekova is also Friends of Music’s recitalist next Tuesday (September 8), when she sings a programme of songs by Schubert, Strauss, Bernstein and Rachmaninov with pianist Irina Puryshinskaya at the Durban Jewish Club. The evening’s prelude performer is the young violinist Yea Kyung Kim.
Lykele Temmingh takes the Durban City Hall podium on September 17 for Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito Overture, Reinecke’s Flute Concerto (with Denis Kirck debuting) and Dvorak’s Symphony no 6. Temmingh returns for the following week’s annual Stars of Tomorrow Concert on September 24. As always, this National Youth Concerto Festival event offers a showcase for some of the finest upcoming talent on our circuit. For programme details of this and subsequent Spring Season concerts, log onto www.kznpo.co.za
Meanwhile, an event billed as a Grand Musical Soiree takes place next Friday (September 11) at 19h30 at Howard College Theatre on the UKZN campus. Presented in aid of the Rotary Club of Westville, this generous recital features pianist Christopher Duigan and visiting London-based musician Joanne Rozario, playing clarinet and alto saxophone. The programme includes Beethoven's Sonata op 57 Appassionata, Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No 1 and a selection of Preludes by Rachmaninoff. Rozario, who frequently visits South Africa, will play a selection on clarinet including the Adagio from Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, and music for alto saxophone by South American 'nuevo tango' composer Astor Piazzolla, along with standards by Duke Ellington and the celebrated Pink Panther theme. Proceeds from this concert go to local Rotary charities. Booking is on 082 550 1395
A handsome line-up of music events is also on offer at this year’s Hilton Festival (September 18 – 20), under the aegis of Music Revival. The concerts take place in the Chapel at Hilton College. Tickets for the Music Revival Concerts Series are also available at the door.
Festival goers can catch a dazzling opening recital by duo pianists Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães, featuring music by Bach, Wagner and Arensky (to be previewed at Howard College in Durban on September 17), also a meaty solo recital by Duigan himself, and a delicious programme of Italian baroque music for violin and harpsichord by Violetta Osorhean and David Smith. For a full details of the exciting programmes on offer, log onto www.musicrevival.co.za
Back at Howard College on the Durban campus of UKZN, another event to note and fully support on September 28 teams Rozario and Duigan with soprano Forbay, in a German Romantic programme of music by Schubert, Spohr, Brahms, Schumann and Richard Strauss. Look for special delight in the three virtuoso musicians’ rendering of Schubert’s lyrically rhapsodic showpiece, The Shepherd on the Rock. To book, call 083 299 3885.
Finally, watch out in tomorrow’s Mercury Goodlife supplement for news of an exciting production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s delectable comic operetta, The Mikado. Performed by a vibrant young cast from Gauteng, this is set of an up-close and personal season at the Catalina Theatre on Wilson’s Wharf from September 10 to 20. - William Charlton-Perkins
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