(Conductor Richard
Cock)
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic proudly returns to
Grahamstown for the fifth year in a row as the resident orchestra of the
National Arts Festival. From July 4 to 8 the orchestra performs seven dazzling
concerts.
CEO Bongani Tembe reflects on the festival: “For almost half
of a century the National Arts Festival has been an important platform for
South African artists. It also attracts international artists from all
disciplines. This combining of cultures in the small, picturesque South African
town celebrates our rich diversity and soothes the soul of our country.”
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic begins its 2015 NAF concerts
series on July 4 with a traditional symphony concert of mostly masterworks and
a splash of something new. The concert opens with Preludio and Umsindo by South
African composer Hendrik Hofmeyr. KZN Philharmonic concertmaster, Joanna
Frankel, then joins the orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto.
Since moving to Durban in 2013, Frankel - a Julliard School trained American
violinist - has successfully toured South Africa in recitals, and has been featured
as a concerto soloist with the KZN Philharmonic on multiple concerts. The
concert, conducted by Bernhard Gueller then closes with the rustic and vibrant
8th symphony by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák.
Richard Cock, a household name in the South African music
community, joins the orchestra for three concerts of variety, nationalism, fun,
and frivolity. On July 5, baritone Musa Ngqungwana, horn player Sorin Osorhean,
cellist Boris Kerimov, and percussionist Magdalene de Vries join the KZN Philharmonic
in a Gala concert of light and sensual classics. Then on July 6, Richard Cock
and the orchestra are joined by singers Este Meerkotter, Tim Moloi, and
Nicholas Nicholaidis in two pops concerts of Jazz and Broadway tunes. In
between the pops concerts will be a special children’s concert in the foyer of
the Guy Butler Theatre.
Members of the KZN Philharmonic also present a chamber music
concert inspired by African sounds. The concert opens with a performance of
Ravel’s String Quartet in F major by the KZN Philharmonic String Quartet. The
percussion section of the orchestra then takes the stage to perform Drumming by composer Steve Reich. The
minimalist work, performed on four bongo drums, was inspired by the composer’s
trip to Africa. The concert then closes with Gumboots by British composer David Bruce. The spirited piece evokes
the tradition and stories of “gumboot dancing” through the use of South African
song and dance rhythms.
The KZN Philharmonic National Arts Festival Concerts
programme is as follows:
July 4 at 18h00: Symphony Concert - Guy Butler Theatre
July 5 at 15h00: Gala Concert - Guy Butler Theatre
July 6 at 14h00 & 19h30: Pops Concert - Guy Butler
Theatre
July 6 at 17h00: Children’s Concert - Foyer of the Guy
Butler Theatre
July 5 at 19h00: Chamber Music Concert 1 - Rhodes Chapel
July 7 at 15h00: Chamber Music Concert 2 - Rhodes Chapel
(For more information on the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra
or the National Arts Festival click on the adverts at the top of this page
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