(Conductor:
Justus Frantz)
German conductor Justus Frantz takes the
podium for the second programme of the KZN Philharmonic’s current World
Symphony Season Series. The concert is titled A Centenary Celebration Of The Birth Of Albertina Sisulu - “A Woman Of
Fortitude".
Devoted mostly to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
the evening’s repertoire showcases the astonishing early flowering of the 18th
century Austrian composer’s genius. Presenting three of his early works, the
conductor opens with the Overture to the opera seria, Lucio Silla, commissioned when Mozart was a mere 17 years of age.
The libretto was written by Giovanni de Gamerra and the work was first
acclaimed in 1772 at the Teatro Regio Ducal in Milan with the young composer
conducting. Alfred Einstein, the great Mozart scholar, famously hailed the
creative phenomenon evidenced in the Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-Flat Major as
“the first outbreak of genius” among the composer’s unique body of some 24
masterpieces created for piano and orchestra.
(Dina
Ivanova)
The extraordinary piece was written for a
visit to Salzburg by a lady virtuoso from Paris, one Mlle Jeunehomme, who had a
high reputation as a performer. With its abundance of inspired confidence, and
revolutionary flouting of conventions, such as a formal orchestral introduction
to usher in the soloist, the work offers a superb debut vehicle to introduce
the award-winning young Russian virtuoso Dina Ivanova to the KZN Philharmonic’s
family of music lovers.
The second half of the evening sees the
orchestra paying homage to stalwart and matriarch Mrs Albertina Sisulu who
would have celebrated her centenary birthday in 2018. Bongani Ndodana-Breen’s Ma Sisulu Sinfonia is a work drawing
from Sisulu’s Xhosa roots in the Eastern Cape’s Tsomo district and reflects on
the quiet strength and resilience of one of South Africa’s giants in the
journey to liberation.
Following this moving tribute comes
Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C Major,
another Salzburg composition, dating from 1779, offers a marvellous platform
for the evening’s vocal artists to shine as they perform this overtly operatic missa brevis, with its wealth of melodic
solo and choral writing, offset by luminous orchestral writing.
The choir is Sounds of Joy and soloists
include soprano Linda Nteleza, mezzo-soprano Abongile Fumba, tenor Wayne
Mkhize and bass Andile Dlamini.
The concert will take place tonight (November
08, 2018) at 19h30 in the Durban City Hall. Book now through Computicket or
tickets at the door.
(To link direct to the KZN Philharmonic’s
website click on the orchestra’s banner advert on the top of the page or visit kznphil.org.za)
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