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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

KZNPO ALL-BEETHOVEN CONCERT



(Conductor En Shao)

The KZN Philharmonic presents an all-Beethoven concert at its World Symphony Series Spring Season concert on October 11.

A special treat awaits the KZN Philharmonic’s audiences with an all-Beethoven programme featuring two stellar artists. Conductor En Shao returns to Durban for one performance only, commanding the respect of musicians and audience alike. Following on the heels of his masterful performance of Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto last year, American pianist Robert Mitchell will perform two of Beethoven’s piano concerti in one exciting evening.

The programme opens with one of Beethoven’s strongest overtures. The Coriolan Overture was written in 1807 as an introduction to Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s eponymous tragedy. The music strikingly conveys the character of the arrogant Coriolanus (known to most through Shakespeare’s play), as well as referencing the dramatic content of Collin’s play. Beethoven’s music transcended its original purpose, and remains a striking example of his capacity for drama.

The programme for the evening also features Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.1 and 3. These will be performed by Robert Mitchell whose interests are embedded in the here and now of music as performance art in combination with the more standard classical repertory of centuries past. He is active as a solo and collaborative concert pianist on modern and historical instruments and is also experienced in the fields of improvisation, composition, and conducting.

The concert takes place on October 11 in the Durban City Hall at 19h30. Pre-concert talks take place at the Playhouse Alhambra Room at 18h15 on the night of each concert. Thursday’s speaker will be Michael Green, who also conducts the talk on October 18 followed by Barry Edwards on October 25 and Stavros Anthias on November 1.The spring season will continue to run until November 1.

Safe and subsidised parking is available at the Royal Hotel. For further information contact the subscription office on 031 369 9404 or 369 9438, e-mail bookings@kznpo.co.za or visit www.kznpo.co.za Booking for individual concerts is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000 or online at www.computicket.com