(Right: Sandile Mabaso)
Enjoying a pint of craft beer and a chicken kebab under the trees outside
the beautiful Mariannhill Church of the Monastery with other concert-goers
after experiencing an hour of quite superb music was a rare and agreeable
experience. (Review by Keith Millar)
Baroque 2000 often features theme concerts and for
their November offering, they harked back to the month of October and the
Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany with a programme called Baroque and Beer.
Pairing baroque music with beer is not exactly a
new concept. There are many festivals and events overseas which feature
boisterous baroque music to go along with the supping of craft beers.
In fact the great JS Bach was known to perform his
music in the pubs and coffee houses of his day to make a living - so the idea
is not entirely unique.
Anyway, enjoying a pint of craft beer and a chicken
kebab under the trees outside the beautiful Mariannhill Church of the Monastery
with other concert-goers after experiencing an hour of quite superb music was a
rare and agreeable experience.
The concert itself proved be another agreeable
experience with a very pleasant and varied programme.
Impressive Durban tenor, Sandile Mabaso, performed
three songs – Love Sounds the Alarm
from Acis and Galatea by George
Frederic Handel and, from English composer Henry Purcell, Come Let Us Drink and Fill
the Bowl with Rosy Wine.
Mabaso who is an ex Drakensberg Boys Choir School
student and has had extensive overseas experience has a beautifully modulated
voice and a charming stage presence. His performance was very easy on the ear.
The Baroque 2000 ensemble anchored by the renowned
Cape Town Harpsichordist. Eric Dippenaar, for this concert was in fine fettle.
They delivered Les Indes Galantes by
Jean Philippe Rameau, Concerto Grosso Op 6 No 1 in G Major HMV319 by George
Frederic Handel, Danse des Sauvages
by Jean Phillipe Rameau and Part 5 of a piece entitled Harmonica Artificiosa by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Bieber, which is for two violins and Basso Continuo.
Rounding out the concert was Georg Philipp
Telemann’s Gulliver’s Travels 40:108.
Scored for two violins, this fun work was performed with some aplomb by
concertmaster Ralitsa Macheva and Refiloe Olifant, also a visitor from Cape
Town where she has recently relocated. Narration was provided by Eric
Dippenaar.
The last two performances of Baroque 2000 for the
year are scheduled for November 24 and a Christmas programme which will
take place three days before Christmas day on December 22. Both concerts will
take place at the Mariannhill Church of the Monastery.
For more information contact Michel Schneuwly on
031 312 5539 or 082 393 5241 or e-mail sursouth@iafrica.com
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