City Hall set to light up to the sound of music in June

THE Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will set the tone at the City Hall to mark 30 years of democracy, in its “Winter Symphonies” four-part concert in June.

From the Baroque and Bessey to Schumann and Tchaikovsky, the season covers a wide range of music, culminating in a Celebration of Africa. The concert includes the world premiere of Rise of the Hunter, a powerful musical journey which compels us to reflect on where we are concerning human rights in South Africa, written by Canadian-SA composer Warren Bessey.

The four-concert season runs on Thursday nights from June 6 to 27.

Bessey told the Weekend Argus: “We celebrate 30 years of democracy with the world premiere of Rise of the Hunter, a powerful musical journey through history which compels us to consider the indigenous voice and deeply reflect on where we stand concerning human rights and righteous humanity in SA.”

Dutch conductor Conrad van Alphen returns to the country of his birth, for two concerts – on June 6 and 13 – with US oboist James Austin Smith and Czech pianist Jan Bartos.

Smith will perform Mozart's Oboe Concerto in C and Bartos will perform the second piano concerto by Mendelssohn. The other works on the programmes are, respectively, Schumann Overture, Scherzo and Finale and Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony, and Handle Water Music Suite No 1and Wilms' Symphony No 6. Wilms is enjoying a Renaissance, particularly in his home country of The Netherlands, and Van Alphen recently conducted the symphony there, to great acclaim.

Having performed in SA for more than 10 years, Smith said he was looking forward to his debut with the CPO.

“I want to engage audiences on

multiple levels – music is a balm in many ways, but it also asks questions. It bears witness, it stands as an historical document to a time and place. So how are we engaging with our audiences to deliver its layers? How are we exercising the full value?”

In the spirit of Youth Month, there will also be a side-by-side piece performed by the CPO and members of the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. The third concert, on June 20, honours youth and features a brilliant young South African pianist, Isaac van der Merwe, who will perform the Grieg Piano Concerto.

Also on the programme, which is conducted by the CPO's principal guest conductor Bernhard Gueller, will be the Holberg Suite by Grieg and Symphony No. 7 by Dvorak.

The Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble will perform in a side-by-side work with the CPO.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is its commitment to youth and how it manifests itself – there are two side-by-side performances with the CP Youth Orchestra and the CP Youth Wind Ensemble, and the 21-year-old award-winning pianist, Isaac van der Merwe, is making his full concerto debut with the CPO. I have had the pleasure of accompanying Isaac in competitions and I look forward to his interpretation of the Grieg Piano Concerto with great anticipation.”

The season concludes with a celebration of Africa to mark 30 years of democracy and will feature the CPO Afri-Arts Choir, with soloists such as mezzo-soprano Bongiwe Nakani Mcetywa. Conductors include Brandon Philips and Monwabisi MbamBani. There will be several traditional folks songs, some orchestrated, and including the evocative Plea for Africa by John Knox Bokwe. The concerts begin at 7.30pm; pre-concert talks open to ticket holders at 6.45pm and dress rehearsal tickets will go on sale on Quicket for an 11am rehearsal on concert days. Tickets range from R174 to R400 via Webtickets.

JAMES Austin Smith.