The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra creates music to warm our hearts and souls every Thursday in a six concert Winter World Symphony Series 2016 starting on Thursday 19 May in Durban’s majestic City Hall.
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra continues its primary mission of bringing excellence in music making to the city of Durban. The Winter Season features top South African and international musicians in an eclectic and carefully created programme of amazing music. “We are committed to bringing the highest quality concerts to Durban thereby enriching the city and province through music,” says Bongani Tembe: CEO and Artistic Director of the KZN Philharmonic.
The season opens on Thursday, 19 May at the Durban City Hall with a programme of grand choruses, an elegant piano concerto and a fantastic symphony under the baton of associate guest conductor Daniel Boico. The orchestra is joined by the Durban Symphonic Choir (celebrating their 50 years milestone) and the Clermont Community Choir, performing Haydn’s The Creation: The Heavens are Telling of God. Singapore-born British classical pianist, Melvyn Tan performs Mozart’s concerto No 23 in A major. The evening’s programme also features Mozart’s Ave verum corpus and Berlioz’s massive Symphonie Fantastique inspired by an opium inspired dream!
Daniel Boico remains in the podium for the second concert of the season on 26 May with superstar horn player Jeff Nelson as the soloist – acknowledged as one of the most accomplished horn players in the world! He performs Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2. The evening opens with the quirky Chairman Dances by John Adams, and the programme closes with Schumann’s gritty and earthy Symphony No. 4.
The third concert on 2 June in the 2016 World Symphony Winter Series celebrates youth month. The KZN Phil is joined by the Bochabela String Orchestra from Bloemfontein in a programme which features Shostakovich’s Festive Overture performed with the KZN Youth Wind Band. Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, a 22 year old African American violinist from a Detroit-based minority youth string programme, performs Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No.2. The evening wraps up with Lutoslawski’s Concerto for Orchestra, all under the baton of resident conductor Lykele Temmingh.
The music continues on 9 June, under the baton of American conductor Michael Morgan leading the KZN Philharmonic through a concert showcasing the work of Niccolo Paganini – one of the first classical music superstars. Hungarian Kristof Barati performs his mountainous Violin Concerto No.1. Also on the programme is Dvorak’s Nocturne for Strings and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4.
The penultimate concert in the series features a programme of music from Germany and Italy. Conductor for the evening is Dutch maestro Arjan Tien. The evening opens with Humperdinck’s Overture to Hansel and Gretel. Polish pianist / composer Maciej Grzybowski joins the KZN Phil to perform Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor. The second part of the programme turns to Italian opera from the Romantic period with a selection of overtures and arias by Donizetti and Verdi. Soloist is PE soprano Noluvuyiso Mpofu.
The Winter Season of the 2016 World Symphony Series comes to a close on 23 June with an evening of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Carlos Izcaray is on the podium conducting a programme which begins with Mozart’s “Haffner” Symphony. The soloist for the evening is Zimbabwean American violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama performing both Bach’s Concerto for Viola and one of her own compositions: Concerto for Viola. The season closes with Beethoven’s Symphony No.8
Refreshments and light snacks may be purchased in t1he foyer before the concert and during interval.
Single tickets are available from www.computicket.com, 0861 915 8000, or from Shoprite Checkers Money Market counters. Subscribers can save up to 30%
The final rehearsals for the Winter Symphony Season concerts are open to the public and provide a glimpse into the preparation for a symphony concert. Join us each Symphony Season Thursday at 10am in the Durban City Hall. Entrance for adults is R30, which includes a cup of tea and R10 for scholars.
The final rehearsal is the perfect opportunity to introduce scholars to symphony concerts and also provides great outings for community groups and retirement homes. Please contact the KZN Philharmonic bookings office to enquire about special rates and to make arrangements for groups. Contact bookings@kznphil.org.za or call us on 031 369 9438. Please note that there are no open rehearsals for operatic programmes.
You can gain a deeper understanding of the music you are about to hear by attending the Friends of Music’s Pre-Concert Lecture at the City Hall starting at 6pm and entry is R10.
For more information, contact 031 369 9438 or email bookings@kznphil.org.za
Additional information and updates can be found on the KZN Philharmonic’s website, www.kznphil.org.za and Facebook pages.