(The Durban Chamber Choir. Pic by Val
Adamson)
The
Durban Chamber Choir (DCC) appears in concert on May 28 at St Thomas’s Church,
Musgrave, and on June 11 at the Lutheran Church, Hayfields, honouring the
birthday of Claudio Monteverdi, and the works of another great transitional
composer, Gabriel Fauré.
This
year marks the 450th anniversary of Monteverdi’s birth in Cremona, Italy, in
1567. DCC will celebrate this landmark with a performance of one of the great
composer’s three Latin Mass settings (identified by its date of publication,
1650).
“Monteverdi
lived through one of the most significant periods of change in the history of
Western music-the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque style,” notes
Dr Christopher Cockburn, DCC’s director. “While his 1650 Mass primarily looks
back to the Renaissance, it also includes many touches of the more modern style
pioneered in such works as his Vespers and his famous opera, Orfeo. This blend of
old and new makes this Mass a unique musical experience.
“The
French composer, Gabriel Fauré, whose music makes up the rest of the programme,
lived during another of the great transitional moments in Western music, as
Romanticism gave way to Impressionism in the second half of the 19th century. The
choir will present several of Fauré’s works for choir accompanied either by
piano or organ. These include his Cantique de Jean Racine, and his famous
Pavane,” says Cockburn.
The
works by Fauré will be accompanied by Jacques Heyns, and Cockburn conducts the
whole programme.
Refreshments
will be served after each performance. Both performances start at 15h00, and
last about an hour. Tickets R70 (R40 student/scholar, OAP concessions) available
at the door from 14h00, and admission to the venues is from 14h30.
School
groups are admitted free, and group bookings may be made, by prior arrangement
with the Choir on email: nicole@NGOLawSA.co.za
The choir
is looking to add a few tenors to their number, for an exciting programme to be
presented later this year- those who are interested in joining are invited to
attend a concert, and talk to the committee members, or email Nicole as above.
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