As part
of the South Africa France Season 2012 2013, the Festival Musiques Interdites,
under the direction of Michel Pastore, invited the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic
Orchestra from Durban to present an historic performance of Jan Meyerowitz’s
opera The Barrier versus Le Mulatre in the inner courtyard of the
magnificent Prefecture building.
On July 11,
the Orchestra, conducted by maestro Johan Fargot, gave a superlative rendition
of this little-heard opera, a tale of family conflict and tragedy set in the
racial turmoil of the American deep south. French bass baritone, Nicolas
Cavallier, ably captured the emotional dilemma faced by white landowner,
Norwood, whilst South African soloists portrayed the other challenging roles –
Nobulumko Mngxekeza, soprano, as Cora the mother of Sally (soprano Kelebogile
Boikanyo), William (baritone Aubrey Lodewyk) and Bert (baritone Mandisinde
Mbuyazwe). Piecing the dramatic tale together as narrator was the well-known
French actor and television personality, Jacques Martial.
Though
the opera was sung in French the audience, assisted by surtitles, was swept
away by the richness of the voices and the precision of the orchestra’s
performance, requiring no amplification in the excellent acoustics of the
Prefecture courtyard.
The
Prefecture was once more the perfect setting for Saturday evening’s concert
which featured a rainbow selection of compositions. The KZN Philharmonic, again
under the baton of Johan Fargot, opened their performance with Aaron Copland’s Fanfare
for the Common Man. Beautiful interpretations of pieces by Tchaikovsky,
Verdi, Saint Saëns and Karol Beffa followed before the magnificent voices of
Nozuko Teto (soprano), Aubrey Lodewyk (baritone) and Derick Ellis (tenor)
joined the Orchestra to sing extracts from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess,
J S Mzilikazi Khumalo’s Ushaka Overture and three extracts from Pieter
Louis van Dyk’s Mandela Trilogy. The immense significance of the closing
pieces was not lost on the appreciative audience, as the birthday of elder
statesman, Nelson Mandela, approaches on July 18.
Commissioners
General of the France South Africa Season, Laurent Clavel (France) and Bongani
Tembe (South Africa), were overwhelmed by the powerful combination of South
African and French artistry in the magnificence of the Marseille Prefecture
setting. Mr Tembe, also Chief Executive of the KZN Philharmonic said: “These
two performances undoubtedly set the tone for furthering the strong cultural
relationship that the Season is highlighting between our nations”.
On July 18,
as part of the South African Season in France to mark International Nelson
Mandela Day, which promotes 67 minutes of selfless service, the KZN
Philharmonic, conducted by Laurent Petitgirard will perform a selection of
South African compositions. The Clermont Community Choir from Durban, praise
poet Melusi Kubheka, a range of South African soloists and a guest performance
by Yvonne Chaka Chaka, will make this an unforgettable event. It is a free
open-air concert commencing at 21h30 on the newly-renovated Place de la
Republique by invitation of the Paris quartier d’ete festival.
For more
information on the KZN Philharmonic, click on the small banner advert at the
top of this page.
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