February 24, 2004
By Tshepiso Mogotsi
TALENTED pianist Ben Schoeman will be showing why he is currently the talk of the town when he takes part in the Pro Musica Theatre's birthday celebrations on Sunday, 29 February.
Sunday's concert to celebrate Pro Musica Theatre's 23rd birthday will start at 3.30pm.
Schoeman, who was named the most promising South African participant in Unisa's 10th international piano competition held at the end of January, will be playing Mozart's Concerto no. 17. This concerto, which premiered in 1784, demands great grace and fluidity from the soloist.
The Pro Musica Orchestra
Keeping the theatre going has been tough, says Pro Musica's public relations and marketing officer, Cecil Doubell. "Since the Pro Musica Theatre opened its doors in 1981, it has been all work and no play to keep the arts alive."
But during its 20 plus years the theatre has seen some of South Africa's brightest talents shine: more than 50 singers have made their professional debuts on the Pro Musica Theatre stage. Head of the theatre's orchestra, the Sasol Pro Musica Orchestra, Weiss Doubell remembers vividly the debut performance of soprano Angelina Thabane in 1982. "What a superb performance by Thabane. I knew her voice was going to take her very far." Thabane is now residing in the UK, continuing to dazzle audiences with her beautiful voice.
A regular performer at the Roodepoort theatre, South Africa's lady of soul Sibongile Khumalo, will be a guest at the birthday festivities, while the Sasol Pro Musica Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Weiss Doubell, will be performing Handel's Water Music, Suite no.1 in F-major and Mozart's Symphony no. 41 in C-major, also known as the Jupiter Symphony.
Sasol Pro Musica Orchestra was founded by a group of young South African musicians under the guidance of Weiss Doubell and had its first rehearsals in 1984.
The orchestra has performed in many parts of the world. In 1992, when UNESCO lifted the 26-year old cultural boycott on South Africa, the group was invited to tour France where they played to many heads of state at a concert in UNESCO's Great Hall in Paris. "That was a spectacular performance and it gave us international recognition as it was televised worldwide," said Weiss Doubell.
Originally known as the Roodepoort Theatre, it was the home of the Roodepoort City Opera Company for several years. When the company changed its name to the Pro Musica Opera Company, the theatre followed suit.
Apart from staging ballets, dances, dramas, and, of course, orchestral performances, the Pro Musica Theatre has also been used as a venue for conferences and launches. Since 1981 the theatre has witnessed over 60 opera seasons and over 400 symphonic concerts. "Over all these years it has been an eternal love affair with the arts for the theatre," said Cecil Doubell.
The company, which now has three divisions with the Pro Musica Opera Company, the Pro Musica Opera Chorus and Sasol Pro Musica Orchestra, has long being involved in community outreach projects. The company has established relationships with numerous choirs within Johannesburg and beyond its boundaries, including the Mohlakeng Methodist Church Choir in Randfontein and the Pretoria Oratorio Chorus.
The company also has an instrumental tuition scheme, established in 1997 to facilitate the development and upliftment of instrumental performance in disadvantaged communities. This programme currently has 28 promising pupils who are being taught the basic musical skills to enable them to master their instruments. "I am very proud of these students. They have a passion for classical music and that's the key to their success," said Weiss Doubell.
Sunday's concert starts at 3.30pm at the Pro Musica Theatre in the Roodepoort Civic Centre, Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park. For more information contact Cecil Doubell on 011 674 1357.
Tickets for the concert are available at Computicket from R30, R60 and R90 and credit card bookings can be made at 011 672 2217.
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