(The Drakensberg
Boys Choir)
Gearing up for the annual Festive Season
concert simply titled Christmas are
the Drakensberg Boys Choir, two conductors, pianists, organist and a hosts of
specialist musicians to join them on the Pietermaritzburg City Hall stage on November
30.
This concert, which starts at 19h00, will
see the full Drakensberg Boys Choir of over 110 boys, conducted, rather
uniquely, by both principal conductors in one evening; Artistic Director
Bernard Krüger and Kenny Kabak. Accompanist Lubabalo Dyasi will join the choir
at the piano and will also lead the audience in the singing of traditional
carols from the console of the historic and much-loved City Hall organ. Those
attending will be invited to raise the roof in singing Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Once in Royal David’s City and O, Come all ye faithful.
The Baroque 2000 ensemble will accompany
the choir in a performance of selected numbers from Vivaldi’s Gloria and celebrated choruses including
the sublime Hallelujah Chorus from
George Fredric Handel’s Messiah. This
group of 15 professional and highly skilled musicians specialise in the
authentic performance and historically informed performance of late 17th and
early 18th century music. Messiah,
performed annually in the city for the past 100 years or more, is bound get a
fresh new look with this spirited rendition of chorus highlights.
Other items include Santa Claus is coming to town, Star Carol, In dulci jubilo and the
uniquely South African hymn Come, colours
rise.
There will be secure, patrolled parking in
the City Hall, Tatham Art Gallery and Bessie Head Library precincts on the
evening. Christmas is presented by
Music Revival and is sponsored by Parklane SUPERSPAR in association with the
City of Pietermaritzburg, CPW Printers, The Witness, Wedgewood Nougat and
Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa. Booking www.ticketpros.co.za
South African TV personality Andy
Capostagno will be sharing the stage with renowned soprano Nozuko Teto, and
pianist, Christopher Duigan, at two special Christmas concerts in Durban.
Music-lovers can look forward to an evening of readings, carols and seasonal
music at the Grace Hall at Ashton International College in Ballito at 19h30 on December
5, and at St Agnes Church in Kloof at 19h30 on December 8.
Capostagno will entertain the audience with
his humorous selections of seasonal stories, readings and anecdotes while Teto
will sing Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus
and O Holy Night. Together they will
lead the audiences in the singing of carols with Duigan at the piano.
Andy Capostagno has been a familiar voice
on Supersport for almost quarter of a century, commentating on everything from
rugby to netball. Educated in Bath and Cambridge in the UK he is the author of
four books and writes extensively for magazines and newspapers. He comes from a
musical family and is a cattle and horse farmer in Lidgetton in real life.
Nozuko Teto studied in Durban and Cape
Town. Thanks to a scholarship from the Nicolai Ghiaurov Foundation she was able
to study with the famous soprano Mirella Freni in Italy. She sang in many
concerts at the Teatro Comunale Pavarotti in Modena with the Puccini Festival
Orchestra, in Amsterdam with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, with the Rotterdam
Symphony, and she made her debut as Mimi in La
Bohème in South Africa in 2010.
Booking for both concerts is via
www.webtickets.co.za or email booking@musicrevival.co.za. Tickets R160.
Finally, note that annual Rising Stars
concert, presented by Friends of Music in collaboration with the South African
Society of Music Teachers, takes place on December 5 at 19h30 at the Durban
Jewish Centre, 44 KE Masinga Road (Old Fort). This important event features a
line-up of highly talented young musicians from KwaZulu-Natal, who will be
accompanied by a variety of pianists. Tickets at the door are R50 (R20 students
and scholars). Safe parking is provided.
– William Charlton-Perkins
Posts
