(Conductor
Daniel Boico)
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra creates music
to warm the hearts and souls of music-lovers every Thursday in a six concert
Winter World Symphony Series 2016 which started on May 19 in Durban’s majestic
City Hall.
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra continues its
primary mission of bringing excellence in music making to the city of Durban.
The Winter Season features top South African and international musicians in an
eclectic and carefully created programme of amazing music. “We are committed to
bringing the highest quality concerts to Durban thereby enriching the city and
province through music,” says Bongani Tembe: CEO and Artistic Director of the
KZN Philharmonic.
The season opened on May 19 with a programme of grand
choruses, an elegant piano concerto and a fantastic symphony under the baton of
associate guest conductor Daniel Boico. The orchestra was joined by the Durban
Symphonic Choir (celebrating their 50 years milestone) and the Clermont Community Choir. Singapore-born
British classical pianist, Melvyn Tan performed Mozart’s concerto No 23
in A major.
Daniel Boico remains in the podium for the second
concert of the season on May 26 with superstar horn player Jeff Nelson as the
soloist – acknowledged as one of the most accomplished horn players in the
world! He performs Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2. The evening opens
with the quirky Chairman Dances by John Adams, and the programme closes
with Schumann’s gritty and earthy Symphony No. 4.
The third concert on June 2 in the 2016 World Symphony Winter Series
celebrates youth month. The KZN Phil is joined by the Bochabela String
Orchestra from Bloemfontein in a programme which features Shostakovich’s Festive Overture performed with the KZN
Youth Wind Band. Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, a 22 year old African American
violinist from a Detroit-based minority youth string programme, performs
Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No.2. The evening wraps up with Lutoslawski’s
Concerto for Orchestra, all under the baton of resident conductor Lykele
Temmingh.
The music continues on June 9, under the baton of American conductor Michael Morgan leading the KZN
Philharmonic through a concert showcasing the work of Niccolo Paganini – one of
the first classical music superstars. Hungarian Kristof Barati performs his
mountainous Violin Concerto No.1. Also on the programme is Dvorak’s Nocturne
for Strings and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4.
The penultimate concert in the series features a programme
of music from Germany and Italy. Conductor for the evening is Dutch maestro
Arjan Tien. The evening opens with Humperdinck’s Overture to Hansel and Gretel. Polish pianist / composer Maciej
Grzybowski joins the KZN Phil to perform Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor.
The second part of the programme turns to Italian opera from the Romantic period
with a selection of overtures and arias by Donizetti and Verdi. Soloist is Port
Elizabeth soprano Noluvuyiso Mpofu.
The Winter Season of the 2016 World Symphony Series comes to
a close on June 23 with an evening of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Carlos
Izcaray is on the podium conducting a programme which begins with Mozart’s
“Haffner” Symphony. The soloist for the evening is Zimbabwean American violist
Nokuthula Ngwenyama performing both Bach’s Concerto for Viola and one of her
own compositions: Concerto for Viola. The season closes with Beethoven’s
Symphony No.8
Refreshments and light
snacks may be purchased in the foyer before the concert and during interval.
Single tickets are available from www.computicket.com, 0861 915 8000, or from Shoprite Checkers Money Market
counters. Subscribers can save up to 30%
The final rehearsals for the Winter Symphony Season concerts are open to
the public and provide a glimpse into the preparation for a symphony concert. These
take place each Symphony Season Thursday at 10h00 in the Durban City Hall.
Entrance R30 (R10 scholars) includes a cup of tea.
The final rehearsal is the perfect opportunity to introduce scholars to
symphony concerts and also provides great outings for community groups and
retirement homes. To enquire about special rates and to make arrangements for
groups, contact the KZN Philharmonic bookings office on email: bookings@kznphil.org.za or call on 031 369 9438. (NB: There are no
open rehearsals for operatic programmes.)
Music lovers can gain a deeper understanding of the music they are about
to hear by attending the Friends of Music’s Pre-Concert Lecture at the City
Hall starting at 18h00 and entry is R10.
For more information, contact 031 369 9438 or email bookings@kznphil.org.za Additional
information and updates can be found on the KZN Philharmonic’s website, www.kznphil.org.za and Facebook
pages.
(To link direct to the
KZN Philharmonic’s website click on the orchestra’s banner advert on the top
right hand of the page)
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