(Sabelo Ngcobo. Pic supplied)
Pieter Scholtz and friends invite patrons to a special
musical evening in the Mondays @ 6 at St Clements programme on June 3, 2024.
Baritone Sabelo Ngcobo will entertain and delight audiences with a selection from his repertoire, which will include Metà di voi qua vadano (from Don Giovanni), Ombra mai fu (Handel’s Largo), O Sole Mio (a Pavarotti favourite), Malaika (Afro-pop), Lakutshon’ilanga (think Miriam Makeba), Mi Casa Su Casa (back to Perry Como), If I Were a Rich Man (from Fiddler on the Roof), The Holy City (gospel), Go Down Moses (think Paul Robeson), Your Man (country), My Way (Sinatra), Can’t Help but Falling in Love (Elvis). This brief selection will hopefully give you a hint of what to look forward to.
Sabelo Ngcobo started singing - as in first “found his voice” and had his early talent recognised - when he was a primary school pupil at Edamini Primary School, a pillar of the educational landscape in the Shongweni Dam community. “I started my singing career in 2008 while in the choir at primary school, where my music teacher was Mr Vusi Zwane,” he says.
In 2019, he took voice lessons with Ros Conrad, choir director for the Durban Symphonic Choir, for which he sings. He is currently doing private vocal training under opera singer and teacher Sandile Mabaso, who in turn began his musical training at the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School.
Ngcobo performed solo in 2011 and 2012 at the SA Schools Competition Eisteddfod. In 2019, he won first place in the adult section at the eThekwini Eisteddfod Competition.
He says: “Since then I have performed many times, both formally and informally. I love performing. Sharing my talent through song allows me to connect with my community and my audience on a deep and intimate level. Through song, I am able to bring smiles to the faces of others, tears of joy, and to invoke memories and happiness in people’s lives.
“Representing KwaZulu-Natal back in 2011 was truly special
for me. I realised then that whatever I was doing wasn't just for me. I saw I
was able to inspire the people back home as well. That moment pushed me to
continue singing and fed my passion.”
Among his many gigs, Ngcobo hosted a Christmas concert in December 2019 at The Talkhouse Café in Westville (where he often sings as the 'resident' baritone barista). He has sung a number of times at the Shongweni Market (most recently for Mother’s Day), at Music and Art in the Park, at corporate events, community events and in Mozart’s Requiem with the KZN Philharmonic.
When the donation box is passed around, generosity is encouraged and a minimum of R50 per person. The plan is to be outdoors. If it is chilly, remember to dress accordingly. If it rains, they will need to set up indoors.
Bookings limited to diners in support of St Clements restaurant and staff. They stay open specially for these programmes Be there in time to order before the performance, scheduled to start at 18h00
Table bookings essential: RSVP ST Clements 031 202 2511. Please cancel if you book then can’t make it as they often close booking due to space constraints.
St Clements is situated at 191 Musgrave Road in Durban. Mondays @ Six run between 18h00 and 19h00.
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