Tribute to mothers made for a joyful family party. (Review by Keith
Millar)
The KZN Philharmonic Mother’s Day Concert at the Kingsmead Cricket
Stadium on Sunday was a joyful family party enjoyed by young and old alike.
On a balmy afternoon the majority of the boisterous audience chose to
picnic on the grass, up close and personal with the orchestra. Relaxing in
their deck chairs and on picnic blankets in the sun, they celebrated the
special day listening to a wonderful selection of light music.
The marvelous KZN Philharmonic, under the baton of their accomplished
resident conductor Lykele Temmingh, showed its versatility as it supported a
diverse line-up of some of South Africa’s leading vocal artists.
First on the programme was popular Durban singer Natalie Rungan who sang
Whitney Houston’s One Moment In Time
and I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables. Later in the afternoon,
she got the orchestra and the audience swinging with a few jazz standards – and
boy, can that orchestra swing!
Following Rungan was the CCF Tenors. Three young men with big voices who
treated the audience to tenor favourites such as La Donna Mobile and Funiculi
Funicula.
Next was one of the highlights of the afternoon. The unique Toya Delazy
with her special brand Jazz/Pop/hip-hop music. She had the audience on their
feet and dancing with her hit songs Pump
It Up and Love Is In the Air. It
is the first time I have heard a 70-piece classical orchestra play hip hop.
The second half of the programme featured Charismatic R&B and Gospel
star Loyiso Bala and the ex-Idol finalist and SAMA award winning Melanie Lowe.
Both soon had everyone dancing and singing along. Lowe’s interaction with the
little ones during Oh So Quiet was a
special moment. She had them whispering Shhh
Shhh! one moment and dancing like mad things the next.
Those who have a taste for slightly more sedate music were not forgotten
with the orchestra playing a few light orchestral pieces such as the Overture
from West Side Story and a section of
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.
The concert ended on a high note with all the artists joining together
to sing Somewhere Out There and then
the iconic Heal The World.
With this enjoyable and entertaining concert the KZN Philharmonic
created a very special occasion for everyone present to recognise, and spoil,
the most important people in our society. Mothers! – Keith Millar
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