The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra marks another highlight in
its 30th anniversary year.
The Durban-based orchestra spends the opening week of the
National Arts Festival in Grahamstown for a busy itinerary of performances. As
the Festival’s resident orchestra they will perform a variety of concerts commencing
June 29 with a reprise of the programme from their recent Johannesburg tour. It includes Maurice Ravel’s famous orchestration
of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an
Exhibition. Accomplished US
conductor Theodore Kuchar will once again lead the orchestra for this exciting
programme. This time, however, they will feature their enchanting
concertmistress Joanna Frankel as soloist on Jean Sibelius’ stunning violin
concerto.
For fans of orchestral pops programmes, the KZN Philharmonic
will present a gala concert on June 30 led by popular South African conductor,
Richard Cock. This rousing programme will include pianist Ben Schoeman, Standard
Bank Young Artist award winner in 2011, and soprano Runette Botha as featured
soloists as well as a variety of crowd-pleasing orchestral classics. On July 1,
Richard Cock will also direct two medleys of lush orchestral adaptations of
Frank Sinatra’s hits sung by soloists Nick Nicholaidis and Zwai Bala. These
concerts will be staged at the Guy Butler Theatre at the Monument.
In the words of Bongani Tembe, Artistic Director and Chief
Executive of the KZN Philharmonic: “We are presenting a variety of performances
this year which we hope will delight the Festival audiences; we are pleased
that the Gala concert is already sold out. Our musicians and audiences are key
to our success. We also could not exist without the generous support of all
levels of the South African government and our sponsors to whom we are
eternally grateful. They ensure that our traditions of community engagement
continue to triumph in the name of music.”
In addition to the activities of the full orchestra, there
will be several opportunities to hear the Philharmonic’s musicians in more
intimate settings at chamber music concerts from June 28 to July 1. These
include a mixed-instrumental trio, an ensemble of cellists, a choir of
woodwinds and an orchestral nonet performing a serenade by Brahms. These
ensembles will perform in the Rhodes Chapel or the Beethoven Room. Philharmonic
harpist Linor Steinhausen will also accompany The Chanticleer Singers in a
programme that includes a mix of early and modern choral music. Overall, the
National Arts Festival should provide ample opportunities for fans of great
music to hear a beautiful variety of artistic playing by the KZN Philharmonic’s
company of high-calibre musicians.
Tickets are available from Computicket.
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