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Sunday, October 7, 2012

CHRISTOPHER DUIGAN IN KLOOF


Well known pianist Christopher Duigan presents a programme of classical masterpieces at St Agnes Church, Kloof on October 17 that carefully balances style, colour and mood.

The programme includes sonatas by Scarlatti, the Sonata Pathetique op 13 by Ludwig van Beethoven, impromptus by Franz Schubert, and selections from Claude Debussy's Images together with music by South American Alberto Ginastera.

Widely regarded as one of South Africa’s leading concert pianists, Duigan has established an enviable reputation as one of South Africa’s busiest concert performers. He is a Steinway Artist and will be playing a Steinway Grand Piano Model ‘B’ for this performance.

Christopher Duigan is widely regarded as one of the leading South African classical concert pianists. Based in KZN Midlands for the last 16 years, he has furthered his career in South Africa on traditional concert platforms and has been hailed as a ‘South Africa piano icon’ (ClassicFeel magazine). In addition, he has experimented with a unique approach to programming and performance strategy that seeks to break boundaries between various genres, particularly of piano music, and to grow new audiences.

His work, under the banner Music Revival, has grown to encompass a widely recognized ‘brand’ that now presents over 80 performances annually ranging from a number of soirĂ©es, both in KZN and further afield, to major performance by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, the Concert Series the Hilton Art Festival and the Classic Music Festival in Franschhoek.

His pioneering work as pianist/promoter has attracted the attention of a number of studies focusing on the work of independent classical artists and the future of classical music world-wide. These include renowned author Greg Sandow who has included Duigan’s work and contributions in his reference readings to his own teaching at the world-renowned Julliard School of Music in New York. The Music Revival ‘story’ is also the topic of Duigan’s forthcoming Ph.D in Performance Practice at UKZN, one the first practice-based studies of its kind to be undertaken in South Africa.

Christopher Duigan’s concert takes place at St Agnes Church, Kloof, on October 17 at 19h30. Tickets are R80 and booking is on 031 764 2037 or by e-mail at booking@musicrevival.co.za. Safe parking is provided.