Let the notes of the flute carry you away

AWARD-WINNING South African flautist Liesl Stoltz is the star of the second concert in the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Summer Season on Thursday. And acclaimed Canadian-Caribbean conductor Kwamé Ryan returns to the podium in a programme of French classics.

Stoltz has spent several years in Paris and Italy where she studied with the world’s foremost flute virtuosi. Based in Cape Town, she performs extensively as a soloist and chamber musician and also teaches. The programme includes Fauré’s Masques et bergamasques suite, which pays homage to the world of the 18th century fêtes galantes. Comprising eight movements drawn from music the composer had written previously, the suite premiered in Monte Carlo in April 1919.

Stoltz performs two short works for flute and orchestra. The first is Chaminade’s 1902 one-movement Flute Concertino in D major, which has a highly decorative solo part, while Borne’s sultry

Fantaisie brillante, based on themes from Bizet’s opera Carmen, has its own allure. Sandwiched between these two pieces is the

Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune by Debussy. It is one of his most famous works and is considered a turning point in the history of music. The second half concludes with Symphony in D

minor by Franck, his only mature symphony. The public can also watch the final rehearsal on Thursday at 10am in the Playhouse Opera. Tickets are R35 adults/ R15 scholars, which includes a cup of tea or coffee at the interval.

The main performance is at 7.30pm. Tickets from Computicket or the Playhouse box office at 031 369 9438. – Staff Reporter