30th anniversary concert brings KZN Philharmonic’s spring season to a highly successful conclusion. (Review by Michael Green)
Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, reckoned by
some critics to be the greatest piece of music ever written, brought the spring
season of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestra’s 30th
anniversary, to a highly successful conclusion before a big audience in the
Durban City Hall.
The final movement of this Symphony No 9 in
D minor is a choral setting of a poem by Friedrich Schiller, who died in 1805, 19
years before the first performance of the symphony. Schiller called his poem An die Freude, To Joy, but nearly everybody, including Beethoven, knew that this
was a thin disguise for the writer’s real meaning, An Freiheit, To Freedom.
Because of the politics of the time Schiller thought it wise not to be
too outspoken. Does the scene sound familiar?
Beethoven’s symphony is indeed a mighty
song of freedom and it was given a splendid, impassioned performance by the
KZNPO, a 120-voice choir and four good vocal soloists, all this under the
skilful direction of the visiting German conductor Justus Frantz.
The choir singers came from the Clermont
Community Choir, the Durban Serenade Choral Society, the Durban Symphonic Choir
and the New Apostolic Church Choir. The soloists were Siyasanga Mbuyazwe
(soprano), Elizabeth Lombard (mezzo), Stefan Louw (tenor) and Otto Maidi
(bass).
Justus Frantz has an interesting background.
Born in 1944, he is the son of “Righteous Gentiles”, the name given to non-Jews
who helped to save the lives of Jews during the Holocaust. He himself has over
the past 40 years built an international reputation as a pianist and conductor,
and he was recently appointed conductor of the Israel Sinfonietta orchestra,
the first non-Jewish German to hold a post of this kind in Israel.
The choral symphony runs for about 70
minutes and Justus Frantz conducted it without a score, a considerable feat of
memory and stamina. His vigorous podium style was apparent from the mysterious
and fierce opening of the first movement, and the orchestra responded
splendidly. The violins were wonderfully expressive in the beautiful Adagio, as
were the cellos and basses when they announced the great theme of the finale.
The choir singers were outstanding,
well-trained, well-disciplined and well-balanced. They made a big contribution
to the evening and were acknowledged with cheers and whistles from the audience.
It was gratifying to note that all sections
of Durban’s diverse community participated in the performance of this great
work. Beethoven would surely have
approved. - Michael Green
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