KZNPO LAUNCHES WINTER SEASON

Four weeks of KZN Philharmonic concerts provides fitting warm-up for Fifa Soccer World Cup.

The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s World Symphony Series Winter Season commences on May 13 2010. The season will run for four weeks every Thursday at the Durban City Hall at 19h30.

Commenting on the season Mr Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive & Artistic Director of the KZN Philharmonic said: “We are excited to be launching our World Symphony Series Winter Season 2010 programme, which begins just a month before the Fifa Soccer World Cup. The season provides a fitting warm-up for this global event and, like the spectacular stadia in our country, our Durban City Hall stage will host international visitors as well as local stars.”

The season opens with the prize-winning conductor Joseph Wolfe and brilliant pianist, Katya Apekisheva who will perform Beethoven’s dramatic Piano Concerto No.3. Also featured in the programme is Wagner’s Prelude from Die Meistersinger and Beethoven’s Symphony No.4.

Renowned conductor Giorgio Croci, who has conducted many prestigious orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, will join forces with the South African string team Suzanne Martens and David Snaith. Suzanne is a violin lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch and David is the KZNPO’s principal violist and they will be performing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola.

On May 27, Croci returns to conduct a concert programme of operatic highlights. The City Hall stage will be graced by Manon Strauss Evrard, an exceptionally talented soprano who will make her Metropolitan Opera debut in Lulu in the 2009 – 2010 season. The programme features operatic favourites including arias from Verdi’s La Traviata, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet.

The season comes to an end on June 3 with young and talented Dutch violinist Marlene Hemmer who appears thanks to the generous support of the “Interactions South African Netherlands” programme, which has a vision for powerful and innovative music productions inspired by the rich South African culture, as well as Music Centre The Netherlands who propagate and enhance the position of Dutch Musical life. Hemmer will perform Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy under the baton of popular guest conductor Arjan Tien. The concert also includes The South African premiere of Wagenaar’s Overture – Cyrano de Bergerac and Brahms Symphony No.1.

To enrich audiende’s symphony concert experience, the KZNPO hosts pre-concert talks in the Royal Hotel at 18h15, admission R30 includes light refreshments. Subscribers are entitled to special benefits so early booking is advised.

Safe and subsidised parking is available at the Royal Hotel on concert nights. Extra KZNPO security guards have been contracted and are placed in surrounding areas at the Durban City Hall to ensure that the symphony concert experience is a safe and secure one. For more information on the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s activities contact 031 369 9438/9404 or log onto www.kznpo.co.za or click on advert on main artSMart pages