(Samson Diamond, Jeanne-Louise & Daniel Boico)
I thought the orchestra played very well on the night, under the inspirational and charismatic leadership of conductor Daniel Boico. (Review by Keith Millar)
The good news is that live orchestral music can one again be heard in Durban with the start of the KZN Philharmonic’s Winter Season.
The bad news is that the concerts are once again been presented at the acoustically-challenged (for classical music) Playhouse Opera Theatre. This venue does the orchestra no favours when it comes to the quality of the overall sound and a serious re-think should be given as to where these concerts are staged.
Will we ever see and hear orchestral music again in our beloved City Hall? One lives in hope.
It is perplexing to arrive at a venue expecting to hear flute music (a particular favourite of mine) and then to be presented instead with Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, K.264 in E Flat Major. Ironically, this work has no role for flutes at all.
The change was not the fault of the organisers, however. Apparently, the flautist who had been scheduled to perform was unable to travel due to passport issues - and the last-minute stand-ins, violinist Samson Diamond and violist Jeanne-Louise Moolman from Bloemfontein, certainly brought their A-game with them.
These two seasoned artists are both stalwarts of the award winning Odeion String Quartet which is resident at the University of the Free State, where they are also both lecturers.
In addition, both have travelled and performed widely in pursuance of their musical careers.
Their synergy as performers was apparent as they produced a blended and sensitive performance of this work which is regarded by many as Mozart’s grandest work in this genre.
The concert opened with Beethoven’s delightful Overture: The Creatures of Prometheus Op. 43. Composed as the curtain raiser for his one and only ballet by the same title.
This short piece served as a high-spirited and uplifting opening to the concert which was a cheerful and vivacious event.
Completing the concert was Felix Mendelssohn’s masterful Symphony No 4, Op. 90 in A Major, “Italian”. Written after his travels through Italy in 1830 where he found inspiration in the colours and atmosphere of the country.
A credit to the ability and experience of this group of musicians as no less 16 “extras” had to be used on the night to make up numbers.
The next KZN Philharmonic concert will take place on Thursday June 9 at 19h00. The soloist will be pianist Leo Gevisser and he will play Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No.5 – The Egyptian. Booking is at Quicket– Keith Millar
(KZNPhil: 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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