(Left: Evelien
Ballantine)
(… a
particularly lovely piece of music and was performed to perfection by
Ballantine and the baroque strings which were not only tuned to a lower pitch
to accommodate the baroque flute but were using gut strings. – Review by Keith
Millar)
Baroque 2000’s penultimate concert for
2019, performed last Sunday (November 24, 2019) at the Mariannhill Church of
the Monastery, featured two pieces performed on the Traverso, or Baroque Flute.
This instrument is a predecessor of the modern
flute and made its appearance in the late 17th century. It was the invention of
the Hotteterre family of woodwind makers and players in Paris. The wooden
instrument has a warm, mellow and quite robust sound quality.
Guest soloist was experienced Durban-based
flautist Evelien Ballantine. Ballantine who was also a member of the KZN
Philharmonic Orchestra for many years, showed off the baroque Flute (Traverso)
with wonderful skill and energy during her execution of Georg Philipp
Telemann’s highly ornamental Concerto for Flute in D Major. The third movement
of this work, the Largho, is a particularly lovely piece of music and was
performed to perfection by Ballantine and the baroque strings which were not
only tuned to a lower pitch to accommodate the baroque flute but were using gut
strings.
(Right: Ralitsa
Macheva)
Later in the programme, Ballantine was
joined by concertmaster Ralitsa Macheva for an inspiring performance of George
Frederic Handel’s, the Trio Sonata for Flute and Violin Op2 No1 HWV 386b.
Ralitsa Macheva also shone in her solo
performance of Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne. This romantic piece with its
far-reaching harmonic modulations was performed by Macheva with all her
hall-mark energy and charm. A truly virtuosic performance.
Also on the programme was the concerto for
Strings in D Major RV121 by Antonio Vivaldi and a real crowd pleaser with
Johann Patchelbel’s Cannon and Gigue which is so popular at weddings.
The final Baroque 2000 concert of the year
which will be a Christmas Celebration concert will take place on December 22,
2019.
Good news is that Baroque 2000 has secured
funding from Die Rupert Musirkstigting for 2020 and they will be running a full
programme of concerts.
Visiting during the course of the year will
be the acclaimed Ensemble Caprice from Canada and Darragh Morgan, a previous
concertmaster of both the baroque 2000 ensemble and the KZNPO.
Tickets for Baroque 2000 concerts are sold
at the door at R150. There is ample, safe and free parking and the Monastery
Tea Garden will be open for refreshments and light meals. Contact Michel on 082
303 5241 or sursouth@iafrica.com – Keith Millar
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