US orchestra to honour Mandela
THE CRITICALLY acclaimed Minnesota Orchestra is partnering with Classical Movements for an orchestral tour to South Africa to commemorate Nelson Mandela’s centenary year.
The tour will start on August 10 to 18 and include appearances at Cape Town’s City Hall, Durban’s City Hall, the University of Pretoria, the historic Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto, as well as Johannesburg’s City Hall, and will showcase musical traditions from Europe, South Africa and the US.
A special piece was created by Queenstown composer Bongani Ndodana-Breen, titled Harmonica Ubuntu. South African soprano Goitsemang Oniccah Lehobye will also participate in the celebrations, and will be conducted by Minnesota Orchestra’s Osmo Vanska. This piece was composed specifically to honour Mandela’s birthday.
According to Kevin Smith, Minnesota Orchestra president and CEO, the tour was inspired by Vanska’s experience working with the South African Youth Choir in 2014. “The moving experience of that event persuaded us to tour South Africa next,” Smith said.
The Minnesota Orchestra also won a Grammy Award for best orchestral performance in 2014, and is also nominated for another Grammy this year. The Minnesota Choral will also perform with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. These shows will take place in Johannesburg and Soweto.
Ticket prices range from R100 to R600, and can be booked via Computicket. For details, visit minnesotaorchestra.org/satour.