The second – and final – concert of the KZN Philharmonic’s Early Spring Season takes place this evening (September 4, 2025) at 19h00 in the Playhouse Opera.
The conductor will be Daniel Boico with violinist Susanne Hou as the featured soloist.
The programme features:
Mendelssohn: The Hebrides Overture
Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 in d minor
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C Major, “The Great”
This programme of Mendelssohn, Wieniawski, and Schubert
heralds the popular return of Daniel Boico to the KZNPO podium.
In 1829, Mendelssohn’s visit to Scotland inspired the composition of his celebrated Hebrides Overture, also known as Fingal’s Cave. Contrary to his reputation for compositional fluency, Mendelssohn struggled with the music. This gladly resulted in an intense portrayal of rushing water that is unmatched by anything his peers produced on the same subject.
Henryk Wieniawski's style has the bravura stamp of Liszt and Paganini, although the brooding lyricism and formal discipline of Brahms also characterise his d minor violin concerto. His writing for the violin employs the full expressive range of the instrument, including both the lyrical and virtuoso elements for which Wieniawski himself was so rightly celebrated. The KZNPO eagerly awaits its interpretation by the accomplished Susanne Hou, who has performed as soloist with major orchestras in over 50 countries.
Schubert's 9th symphony stands out amongst his other symphonic works. It is 15 minutes longer than any other piece he composed and its grand nature points towards future works by Mendelssohn, Schumann and Brahms. The Great is a fitting finale to the Season.
Tickets are available through the KZNPO office (click on the website advert at the top right-hand side of this article or via Quicket.
Contact details +27 31 369 9438 or email: info@kznphil.org.za
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