Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Classical music lovers are bound to be in a state of Nirvana
ANTOINETTE ISAMA
A QUARTERLY event named Co/Mission returns for the fourth time with music by Nirvana, arranged for a classical ensemble.
It is an experience for the young and hip to reminisce about the height of 1990s rock through classical music. South African composers Matthijs van Dijk and Amy Luyendijk will present on Wednesday their deconstructed take on Nirvana, with the help of Ariella Caira on cello, Olga Rademan on piano, Vasti Knoesen with vocals, and Louisa Theart on flute.
“Nirvana really had a massive influence on rock and grunge music at the time,” said Magdalene Minnaar, soprano, founder, and producer at Biblioteek Music Productions. “Their music is very simplistic, so we gave the composers a chance to put their own complexity to it.”
Hosted at Youngblood Gallery, the multi-function space also plays a role with the ambience of the evening.
“It’s a very nice social event and the vibe is so awesome,” Minnaar said. “There is always art to look at and the acoustics are fantastic.”
The composers and musicians alike are challenged to develop and make the arrangements their own, since recordings are not available for reference.
The second half of the programme will showcase original music from Van Dijk and Luyendijk. Minnaar noted the plan for four instalments of Co/Mission a year gives the composers enough time to put the music together and for the musicians to get the music under their fingers.
Launching its first instalment to a sold-out crowd in August, featuring arrangements from Radiohead, Co/ Mission taps into a new and niche classical audience that Minnaar noticed a lack of young people when she performed in other spaces.
“This was an idea I’ve had for years,” Minnaar said. “Having a platform for my friends to enjoy amazing music in a different set- ting is important to me.”
The success of the first instalment is encouraging to Minnaar, and that pushes her and her new musical family to continue to progress in an experience that is uncommon in South Africa. “My aim is to serve the audience,” she said. “We’ve had an incredible response from them, where they come up to us freaking out in appreciation that we’re pushing the envelope.”
● The show begins at 7.30pm, with tickets at R120. Light dinner and wine available at Youngblood Gallery’s cafe. For more information, see www.facebook.com/biblioteek.
● To win tickets, e- mail info@ youngblood- africa. com by Monday.