(Reviews from the
artSMart team currently in Grahamstown at the National Arts Festival)
Great success of KZN
Philharmonic’s first appearance at the 2014 National Arts Festival. (Review by
Keith Millar)
The KwaZulu-Natal
Philharmonic Orchestra has become an integral part of the National Arts
Festival in Grahamstown over the past four years. This year the orchestra, or
parts of it, will be heard at 11 different events during the festival.
First up was the
Symphony Concert performed at the Guy Butler Theatre at the 1820 Settlers
Monument overlooking the picturesque city of Grahamstown. In true festival mood
the orchestra presented a lively concert of opera excerpts featuring young American
mezzo-soprano, Krysty Swann.
Miss Swann has an
enchanting voice. She sings with seeming effortless ease and grace. Her lower register
in particular is beautifully rich and smooth. With a ready smile and a humble
demeanour she was an absolute audience favourite.
Included in the
arias she sang were O Mio Fernando
from Donizetti’s La Favorita, O Don Fatale from Verdi’s Do Carlos;
Voi lo sapete from Cavalleria Rusticana and Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns. A
highlight was her encore which was Habanera
from Bizet’s Carmen. A rendition
which brought the audience to its feet.
The orchestra was
in fine form as they contributed several instrumental favourites from the opera
repertoire to the programme. Among others, they performed the Overture from The Barber of Seville, Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana and George Bizet’s Carmen Suite.
The Guy Butler
Theatre has an interesting acoustic. It is very crisp and clean but is a little
on the dry side. Because of its clarity, any mistake in performance would
immediately be exposed. However, on the night this did not bother the orchestra
at all as they put in an excellent performance.
Pulling everything
together was conductor Daniel Boico. He has been described by critics as
dynamic, vigorous, exciting and imaginative. He certainly lived up to that
billing as he made a major contribution to the great success of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s first appearance at the 2014 National Arts
Festival. – Keith Millar
For more information
on the National Arts Festival click on the banner advert at the top of this
page or visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
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