(Lykele
Temmingh)
The National Youth
Concerto Festival 2018 was a most satisfying and enjoyable event. Bravo the
young soloists, bravo the KZNPO and bravo maestro Temmingh. (Review by Keith
Millar)
The KZN
Philharmonic Orchestra rang the curtain down on their Early Spring Season 2018
with their annual National Youth Concerto Festival.
The festival
concert this year was dedicated to the memory of Dr David Tidboald who passed
away earlier this year at the age of 92. Dr Tidboald was the founder of what is
now the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983 and remained its inspirational and
creative force until his retirement.
The National Youth
Concerto Festival is a legacy left by this veteran conductor. Established in
1985 the annual festival features the cream of South Africa’s next generation
of classical musicians.
Despite the lack of
the usual international super star on the bill, this could arguably be the
KZNPO’s most important concert of the year where established orchestral
musicians provide the platform for the growth and development of young artists.
It seems as if
classical music lovers in Durban do not agree with this sentiment because
attendance at the concert was disappointing to say the least.
While the Festival
is not a competition, and no-one is declared a winner at the end, it remains a
important and proud addition to all the participants CV’s.
In 2004 Tidboald
handed over the reins of this significant event to the KZNPO’s Resident
Conductor, Lykele Temmingh. Temmingh who has a proud record in the development
of young artists – he is also the Artistic Director and Conductor of the KZN
Youth Orchestra – scours the country and conducts stringent auditions to select
only the best of the best to perform at the festival.
As usual he
unearthed 10 absolute gems (unfortunately only one from KZN) to entertain at
this year’s concert. Every one of them brought their A game and performed with
skill and aplomb which was both satisfying and exciting.
While it is
impossible to fault the performances of any of the artists there were, for me,
three standouts.
First was saxophonist
Hendrik Coetzee. Free State born Coetzee, who is now based in Stellenbosch,
were he also completed his B.Mus. degree last year, delivered an exuberant and
skilful interpretation of the second and third movements of Pierre Max Dubois’
virtuoso Concerto for Alto Saxophone. An exhilarating performance on one of the
lesser-heard instruments in the classical repertoire.
Only 14 years old,
violinist Gilah Kellner provided an astonishingly good performance of the
opening movement Edouard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole for Violin and Orchestra.
Her playing was beautifully nuanced, full of expression and masterfully
skilful. This young lady’s CV is already jam-packed with the awards and
competitions she has won and now she can add her triumph at the National Youth
Concerto Festival 2018 to that list. Definitely a future star in the making.
The final item on
the programme, and providing something of a cherry on the top, was pianist
William Mey’s performance of the first movement of Dimitri Shostakovich’s Piano
Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102. While it is difficult to take this frenetic
work seriously, 20-year old Mey from Stellenbosch certainly displayed all the
flying fingers and virtuosic skills required to make it a highly enjoyable
listening experience. A real party piece.
The others who
appeared at the concert where as follows:
Samantha Durrant (Violin)
Abongile Fumba (Mezzo-Soprano)
Jan Joubert Clarinet
Luxolo Jule Baritone
Zinhle Mfaba Bassoon
Nastassja Pretorius Cello
Avuya Ngcaweni Soprano
The orchestra under
the baton of Lykele Temmingh played a wonderfully supportive role. The members
have been through difficult times recently and it is to their great credit that
they are still able to make beautiful music.
The National Youth
Concerto Festival 2018 was a most satisfying and enjoyable event. Bravo the
young soloists, bravo the KZNPO and bravo maestro Temmingh! – Keith Millar
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