Last Amazing Grace concert is tonight
The Garden Route’s own orchestra and choir, Carpe Musicam!, has improved amazingly over the past six months or so.
Choir conductor and music selector and arranger, Norman Carless, says: "This is the opinion of many of the members of the audience of Carpe Musicam!’s latest production, Amazing Grace."
Two concerts of the production have taken place - in George on Friday, 5 April, and Mossel Bay on Sunday, 7 April.
Performance
There is only one performance of Amazing Grace left - today, Friday 12 April at the Sedgefield NG Church hall in Hoopoe Street at 19:00. Tickets are priced at R150 for adults and R50 for learners.
Book online at www. carpemusicam.co.za to avoid disappointment as the Sedgefield concerts tend to sell out early.
"See you at the music," Carless says.
Good reputation
He notes: "Carpe Musicam! has built a reputation for orchestra and choral music with a difference and this programme successfully managed to combine 15th century music, pop-rock and other musical styles without ever losing grasp of the stylistic needs of the music.
"Not only did the players and singers deliver well-polished renditions of the programme items, but their dynamic range and variety of musical textures was a pleasure to hear."
Carless says: "Violin soloist, Cherith Bain, proved beyond doubt that she is able to quickly cut from Irish reel fiddle style to soulful and rich lyrical phrasing. Debut Cello soloist, Ané Prins, showed great maturity and technique, and a rich, warm tone in her interpretation of the excerpt from Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei.
Skilful interplay
"The skilful interplay between brass, strings and woodwind was a feature of the performance, keeping the ear interested at all times."
Carless pointed out that although the choir ranks were a lot thinner than in the past, good sound management by Deon Scheepers resulted in a wonderful balance between choir and orchestra.