(Musa
Mgqungwana)
(Reviews from the artSMart team currently in Grahamstown at the 2015 National Arts Festival)
(Reviews from the artSMart team currently in Grahamstown at the 2015 National Arts Festival)
Interesting
programme played with skill, verve and great musical acumen. (Review by Keith
Millar)
The Gala Concert at
the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown is a wonderful festive occasion. Taking
place at the well-appointed Guy Butler Theatre at the 1820 Settlers Monument it
proved to be another triumph for the excellent KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic
Orchestra.
As has become the
norm, this concert was conducted by the popular and suave Richard Cock. True to
style, Cock kept the audience informed and amused by sharing details and
anecdotes about all the music included in the programme.
The programme
offered an eclectic mix of light classical music. Cock explained that the
intention was to explore new avenues in music and that some of the selections
had seldom, if ever, been played in this country before.
Featured as a
soloist at the concert was the Standard Bank Young Artist for Music, Musa
Mgqungwana. He is a powerful baritone with a voice of rich clarity and depth.
The first piece he sang
was I Am an African which was
orchestrated by Peter Klatzow from Thabo Mbeki’s famous speech on that subject. It was a fine powerful performance with
perfect phrasing. The music itself, however, is a little too European
considering the African theme of the lyrics.
Mgqungwana also
sang Vous qui faites l’endormie from
Charles Gounod’s Faust, and at the
end of the programme, as an encore, provided a rousing version of I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing from Porgy and Bess.
Also featured on
the programme as soloists were two KZNPO members. Sorin Osorean playing the
horn gave a beautifully clear and structured performance of Alexander
Glazunov’s Reverie, while Cellist
Boris Kerimov was outstanding with Two Pieces for Cello and Orchestra Op. 20,
also by Glazunov.
A special item on
the programme was Peter Klatzow’s Tintinyane
a Story for Orchestra. This is a charming tale of a young girl with as
golden voice, and was narrated by Klatzow himself.
The Orchestra also
provided several pieces to the concert. They started off the programme,
appropriately, with the Fanfare from La Péri
by Paul Dukas.. Then we also heard Espana
and Les Patineurs Valse by
Waldteufel, La Boda de Luis Alonso by
Gimēnez and to round things off, the lovely Karelia
Suite by Jean Sibelius.
It was an
interesting programme played with skill, verve and great musical acumen. It was
thoroughly enjoyed by the full house audience in the Guy Butler Theatre.
My only concern is
that most of the music selection was fairly tranquil and mellow. I would have
expected more thunder and lightning and fireworks at a festive occasion such as
a gala. – Keith Millar
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