(World-renowned
British conductor Sir Roger Norrington with his internationally celebrated
Zurich Chamber Orchestra)
Top
international classical stars set for Durban concert stage. (Article by William
Charlton-Perkins)
Hear
Sir Rodger Norrington, one of today’s greatest conductors, live in concert in
the Durban City Hall this coming Tuesday with his celebrated Zurich Chamber
Orchestra, augmented by with some 50 representatives of the cream of South Africa’s
new generation classical musicians from the National Youth Orchestra of South
Africa.
It
is always heartening to learn of established artists linking up with young
musicians in the interests of securing the future of the world’s classical music
industry. Notable examples of famous conductors who have invested time and
expertise in fostering new talent around the world include Daniel Barenboim,
Claudio Abbado and Sir Simon Rattle. Another example of a great musician known
for his interest in collaborating with young players on the professional
circuit is the American violinist, Joshua Bell, who visited our shores late
last year.
In
an interview with Sophia Welz, Managing Director of the the National Youth
Orchestra (NYO) published last February, Welz revealed to me that the greatly
esteemed British conductor, Sir Roger Norrington, would introduce his renowned
Zurich Chamber Orchestra to Johannesburg and Cape Town audiences in January
2013 – with the South African clarinetist, Robert Pickup (an alumnus of NYO),
as soloist. Welz also divulged that a select number of her NYO players would be
chosen to perform with them.
Now,
almost a year later, the good news is that this distinguished body of musicians
is set to perform in Durban, Pretoria and Stellenbosch as well – augmented
throughout their South African tour by some 50 delighted NYO players who have
successfully auditioned to take part in this chance in a lifetime experience.
Loosely
linked to the KZN Philharmonic’s 30th Anniversary this year, the visiting
musicians’ Durban programme opens with performances of Mozart’s Divertimento D
Major K136 and his much-loved Clarinet Concerto K 622, with Pickup as soloist.
These works will be followed by a contemporary composition by Fabian Müller
entitled Labyrinth. Beethoven’s
towering Symphony No 5 in C minor promises to bring the evening’s programme to
a rousing climax.
In
an appeal to Durban audiences, Sophia Welz revealed that proceeds from the
Durban concert will be used to assist upcoming young KZN trumpeter, Dingaan
Chabalala, to go to Germany where he has been invited to play for the
prestigious Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy. “We need R15,000 to get his
ticket and living expenses covered .Your support by being part of our audience
in the Durban City Hall next Tuesday evening will be deeply appreciated. Our
Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town concerts are all heavily booked. We have
great faith that Durban audiences will show their support, too!”
Interviewed
about his visit to South Africa, Sir Roger Norrington responded: “The Zurich
Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1946 and has travelled extensively in Europe,
Asia and America – but we’ve not yet been to South Africa. The tour is an
incredibly exciting prospect for us, and we are delighted to have the
opportunity to come to your beautiful country. We are only coming to South
Africa and will not be touring elsewhere in Africa.”
How
did it come about that the tour is linking up with the extensive participation
of the South African National Youth Orchestra?
“The
director of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Michael Bühler, had the idea to tour
to South Africa because he is interested in producing top classical music
concerts. So much strain is put on classical music, worldwide, and particularly
with countries like South Africa that are difficult to tour to due to financial
constraints, there are rare opportunities for audiences to experience top classical
artists live. Working with the youth orchestra opened up possibilities for us
as well as for the young musicians, and so it’s really a match made in heaven
for both orchestras and our tour audiences! A classical concert is incredibly
special because it includes people of all age groups in sharing an art form
that speaks to our imaginations and our spirits.”
“I
have worked with many youth orchestras and young conductors. I always find it
refreshing working with young people, and I see it as part of my duty to share
what I have learned and experienced with the next generation of players.”
“We
discovered that it was rare for young musicians from South Africa to be exposed
to top artists and benefit from what they had to give. We are able to make a
small contribution to their musical lives and share all the beauty that music
teaches. Although I have not been able to dedicate my time to a large scale
youth music project, I have always made myself available to teach at every
opportunity, and I look forward immensely to my first workshop for young
conductors interested in Historically Informed Performance (HIP). Who knows?
Perhaps we can lay the foundation for a long-term relationship with your
musicians in the National Youth Orchestra!
“We
have invited a few student conductors to attend rehearsals, and of course the
musicians in the National Youth Orchestra will have master classes all the time
as they will be sitting next to the members of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra,”
adds Bühler. “I have always been amazed at how fast a new orchestra picks up on
my ideas of what the sound should be like and what I want them to do to get
there. The National Youth Orchestra has had a full rehearsal period in December
where they had the opportunity to get the music under their fingers, and with
the help of dedicated tutors and extra rehearsals with the Zurich Chamber
Orchestra section leaders, it should be perfectly possible to get the sound I
want!”
For
nearly 50 years Roger Norrington has been at the forefront of the movement for historically
informed orchestral playing and is arguably one of the world’s greatest
conductors. Knighted in 1997, he sang and played the violin from a young age,
and began to conduct at Cambridge. He studied at the Royal College of Music
under Sir Adrian Boult and at the same time founded the first of several groups
for the performance of early music, the Heinrich Schütz Choir. This was
followed ten years later by the London Classical Players, which achieved
worldwide fame with their dramatic recordings of the Nine Beethoven Symphonies.
Works by Haydn, Mozart, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, and many others followed,
and established Norrington as a key exponent of historical style.
The
concert will take place in the Durban City Hall on January 29. Booking is at Computicket
on 083 915 8000. Specially discounted tickets are available in Durban for block
bookings of 10 or more at R100 pp. So help spread the word, and support a great
cause by helping to foster exceptional new talent while enjoying a memorable
musical experience.
For more
information about Sir Roger Norrington’s South African tour, visit www.sanyo.org.za – William Charlton-Perkins
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