Michael
Green reports on Friends of Music’s success to date.
The Friends
of Music organisation has for more than 30 years played a major role in the
cultural life of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa in general.
It was
founded in 1982 by Dr Vera Dubin, a retired dermatologist (skin specialist) who
lives in Durban, and she is still the chairman of the organisation.
The
intention from the outset was to provide a recital platform for musicians of
high quality, and that objective has been totally fulfilled. Several hundred
distinguished international, national and local artists have performed for the
Friends of Music over the years, and the tempo continues unabated. This year
the Friends of Music will present 16 concerts involving about 40 musicians.
These have
included performers on the piano, violin, flute, cello, guitar, French horn,
recorder and of course a wide variety of singers.
Many big
names have appeared for the Friends of Music in the recitals given at the
Durban Jewish Centre, for example the pianists Christina Ortiz from Brazil,
Libor Novacek from Czechoslovakia, Spencer Myer and Brian Wallick from the
United States, the cellist Jerome Pernoo from France, the South African soprano
Bronwen Forbay, and several of the distinguished new musicians emerging from
the East, from China, Korea and Japan.
South
African performers such as Njabulo Madlala (baritone), Albie van Schalkwyk
(piano) and Christopher Duigan (piano) have featured prominently on Friends of
Music programmes.
Chamber
music – duos, trios, quartets, quintets – has been a strong component in the
programmes, presenting South African musicians such as Boris Kerimov (cello)
and Elena Kerimova (violin), husband and wife members of the KZN Philharmonic
Orchestra; David Snaith (viola); Liezl-Maret Jacobs (piano); and Avigail
Bushakevitz (violin) and Ammiel Bushakevitz (piano), sister and brother.
One of the
most important functions of the Friends of Music has been the development of
promising young local musicians. They appear as Prelude Performers for 15
minutes at the start of each concert, and funds from the National Lottery have
enabled the Friends of Music to provide this unique service; the Friends of Music are the only
association in the world providing a platform for young players on this basis.
Many of
these Prelude Performers have in time become fully-fledged soloists with
substantial reputations in South Africa and abroad.
The Friends
of Music also present, in association with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic
Orchestra, pre-concert lectures during the orchestra’s symphony seasons. These
45-minute talks, illustrated with musical examples and given at the Durban
Playhouse, are designed to enlighten and entertain audiences before they walk
across the road to the City Hall to attend the symphony concerts.
Entrance
charges for Friends of Music recitals are very reasonable, in accordance with a
policy of making good classical music available to all at an affordable price.
Ticket prices are R60 for members of the Friends of Music (R70 for non-members
and R20 for students). Membership costs a mere R25 a year.
It is not
surprising that the Friends of Music organisation has been honoured by the
KZNPO and by the Minister of Arts and Culture. It is official recognition of
what all Durban music-lovers know: this is an organisation that is making an
invaluable contribution to the musical life of the community. – Michael Green
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