When rock meets classical
THE BARNYARD Theatre at Gateway is presenting something different as Amadeus Rocks! sees rock and classical music collide on stage.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart comes back to life as a sexy, romantic composer who has finally been given the chance to rock ‘n’ roll.
Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era. Born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756, he showed prodigious ability from an early age. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of 5 and performed before European royalty.
Amadeus Rocks! features nine musicians and singers who are all superb at their craft as they run through more than 30 songs.
From the opening chords of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, until the closing bars of Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock And Roll, Amadeus Rocks takes the audience on a journey through four decades of rock and soul, with a few classical hits to spice up the show.
Throughout this two-hour musical extravaganza, the audience gets a showcase of music in which Bach meets Pink Floyd, and Mozart rocks to the music of Stevie Wonder, Meat Loaf, Pink Floyd, Vanessa Mae, Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, Christina Aguilera, The Moody Blues and many more.
Amadeus Rocks! opened this week and is set to run until October 9.
What will Mozart make of these classics of the rock and soul genre? His famous Rondo Alla Turca running into Bryan Adams’s All For Love… well, why not?
And that sets the scene for Mozart conducting the The Can-Can, and joining the band in the Electric Light Orchestra classic, Rock ’n’ Roll is King.
The result is great variety and fidelity to the originals, as well as a consistently high standard of music, both instrumental and vocal. Tickets are R155. For bookings and enquiries, call The Barnyard Theatre at 031 566 3045 or visit www. barnyard.durban, e-mail gateway@barnyardtheatres. co.za or visit www.facebook. com/gatewaybarnyard.