|
|
|
|
|
|
CPO in the City Hall
This stunning panoramic picture was taken at the FOM gala concert in December by Giles Ridley.
|
|
click image to download larger version
|
|
International Summer Music Festival begins!
The 9th International Summer Music Festival gets off to a great start with Stewart Goodyear, the brilliant young Canadian pianist playing the Third Rachmaninov Piano Concerto.
According to the Cape Times, “Focussed is a word that comes to mind when thinking of classical musicians, but Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear has taken it to new levels –Goodyear performed all 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas in one day in 2012 in Toronto. That was the first of several performances and the realization of a fantasy he had had since he first heard a box set when he was three or four.â€
|
|
The festival is sponsored by the City of Cape Town.
Read more about Goodyear, his life and his Sonata-thon here.
|
|
 We are delighted that Derek Han can manage to come to Cape Town in between performances in China and Hong Kong and then on to Florida. He is looking forward to coming back to Cape Town, having created quite a stir when he performed under the baton of Menuhin on his 80th birthday tour here nearly 20 years ago. We’ll have more on Han on the web in the next couple of days so please keep referring to www.cpo.org.za news section.
|
|
|
There’s still time to subscribe to the season and be entered in a draw to win a pair of tickets to the Yablonsky Trio’s Beethoven Triple Concerto in the next season. This will be a grand chance to give friends a late festive season gift and introduce them to the Cape Town Philharmonic.
|
|
Chinese-Canadian Yi-Jia Susanne Hou is beguiling
 According to Christina McEwan in the Cape Times last week, she’s talented (as her competition wins attest); stylish and beautiful (as her picture shows), innovative (as seen in her choice of music and interest in wine-making) and charming, as concertgoers who are lucky enough to hear her speak to the audiences at her two concerts in Cape Town will come to realize. She will play the Butterfly Lovers’ Concerto by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang.
Read on here.
|
|
 Die Burger also wrote about Maria du Toit, the soloist in the concert on February 12. We have posted it on facebook.
|
|
CPYO / CPWE Red Carpet Concert
 Carl Wastie is the host in the CPYO/CPWE red-carpet gala concert on February 19 at the Cape Town City Hall.
Read more
|
|
New season bookings open for subscribers February 9
The year has barely begun, but we are on track for the April season which is one devoted to fêted Russian musicians – we welcome back pianist Oxana Yablonskaya as well as her conductor/cellist son Dimitry Yablonsky and her violinist daughter-in-law Janna Gandelman. The concerts, which showcase this illustrious family in works by Beethoven (the Triple Concerto), Rachmaninov First Piano Concerto and Mozart Sinfonia Concertante, will take your breath away.
The renewal period is February 9 to 14. If you are not taking up your subscription for this season and would like it reserved for the next one, please ask Artscape Dial-A-Seat to do this for you otherwise you may find you have lost your seats.
More information in the calendar here.
|
|
Duet concert at Artscape Opera House
 On February 22, the Cape Town Philharmonic and Cape Town Opera are formally launching Duet, an initiative of Wendy Ackerman's, a board member of both companies, to establish a a combined endowment trust for the advancement and preservation of the classical performing arts in South Africa.
The CPO will be joined by some of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as ad hoc players; members of the CPYO will also perform, and CTO will embrace 30 youngsters from St Andrews Primary School in Saldanha Bay, all of which showcases the present and the future. The concert features vocal soloists Derick Ellis, Arline Jaftha, Bongani Kubheka, Goitsemang Lehobye, Mandisinde Mbuyazwe, Lukhanyo Moyake, Xolela Sixaba and Siphamandla Yakupa in works by Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini and more; TwoPianists Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães will play Poulenc. The concert is conducted by Kamal Khan and directed by Christine Crouse.
Tickets are R250, from Computicket and Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695.
|
|
STOP PRESS: Joshua Bell back with the CPO
 Joshua Bell will give two really exciting gala concerts with the CPO at the City Hall on August 26 and 27, one a homage to Sibelius, whose birth 150 years ago is being celebrated. The programmes are being finalized now but keep at least one of those dates open because there will be two different concerts with two different concerti and full symphony orchestra. Bernhard Gueller will be on the podium.
|
|
It's Valentine under the STARS again!
Last year’s romantic Valentine’s Day concert was such a success that the stylish magazine Opulent Living is offering another Valentine under the STARS concert at the Castle of Good Hope.
On Saturday 14 February, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Brandon Phillips and acclaimed musicians like soprano Magdalene Minnaar and crossover artist Selim Kagee will present a ‘classic-meets-pop’ concert under the magnificent Cape Town starry sky with Table Mountain as a backdrop. The evening will be hosted by Katlego Maboe of the SABC’s popular Expresso show.
General admission tickets, which includes a glass of bubbly, wine or soft drink, will be sold at R480 through Computicket. ‘Couple’ tickets (a ticket for two) are R900. Limited VIP tickets are on sale only 021 433 16 99/ valentine@opulentliving.co.za at R1800 per ticket. This includes prime seating, complimentary food and drinks before, during the interval and after the concert in the elegant VIP lounge. VIP guests will also have an opportunity to meet the performers. Doors open at 18h00.
|
|
Kamal Khan in Duet and Wagner
 You have the chance to see two sides of Kamal Khan next month – he’ll be conducting the CPO in the Duet concert on February 22, a week after he accompanies four young singers in a fund-raising recital which the Richard Wagner Society is presenting to raise funds for young singers to attend competitions like the Belvedere International. Three of last year’s finalists – Linda Nteleza who sang in the opera Viva la Mamma with the CPO, Khanyiso Gwenxane (tenor) and baritone Owen Metsileng, will sing arias, songs and ensembles by Verdi, Wagner, Rossini, Schumann and other composers. The mezzo is Bongiwe Nakani. Prof Khan will be playing a Steinway, courtesy of the CPO.
Tickets for seats placed on the stage itself for the recital are R275 for Wagner Society and Friends of Cape Town Opera members, and R295 for non-members. Sparkling wine is served at 18:00, the recital begins 30 minutes later, and is followed by a buffet and opportunity to meet the singers. Secure parking on the parade is available. Tickets may be booked through jillycohen@absamail.co.za / 082 459 6225.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Festival Concert no 1
Festival Concert no 2
Kirstenbosch Festival Concert
Festival Concert no 3
Galway Gala
Festival Concert no 4
Valentine under the Stars at the Castle of Good Hope
CPYO Festival Gala Concert
Duet
