May 18, 2006
By Shamin Chibba
FOR the next five weeks, cello strings will be plucked, flutes will hum sweetly and violins will wail as the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) brings to life the compositions of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Beethoven.
The orchestra's second season of the year kicked off on 17 May and runs until 15 June at the Wits University Education Campus's Linder Auditorium. There are two shows a week.
British conductor Nicholas Cleobury says: "It would be a tragedy not to play this music for people here all the time. The arts are the lifeblood of any civilisation.
"The arts have a wide range of expression and creativity. And … in the history of the arts of the world, these are some of the greatest volumes of work ever. Mozart, Tchaikovsky … they were geniuses."
This is Cleobury's fourth visit to South Africa and he is delighted to be performing in front of a South African audience again. "The [JPO] is a wonderful orchestra. They are young, keen and hard working. I like that they are rebuilding the music scene."
His first appearance in the country was at the Linder Auditorium and Cleobury has become "very fond of it". A veteran conductor, he has led the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London and has conducted at numerous festivals in Austria, France, Australia and the United States.
In the first week of the season, British violinist Matthew Trusler is the soloist. His passion for music can be seen on his face when he plays, and he handles intricate notes with perfect ease. From the Royal Academy of Music, he has performed around the world.
At the rehearsal, Cleobury stops the orchestra, turns to Trusler and pats him on the back. Then he faces the cellists and sternly tells them to stretch the sound of a single note. "It must go 'padam-padam-pam-padam-padam,'" he says.
They continue from where they left off, playing Walton's Violin Concerto. Cleobury nods his head, showing his approval, while his arms swivel demandingly in the air.
First concert of the season, on 17 and 18 May, features an overture by Glinka, called Ruslan and Ludmilla. It mixes sounds that ignite feelings of terror in the listener, and serene sounds that ease the listener back into his seat.
Following that is Walton's Violin Concerto, which will feature Trusler's exceptional violin skills. The concert will end with Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 5. During the composing of this symphony, Tchaikovsky was depressed.
"At the time he thought he was a bad composer," Cleobury explains. "But of course we don't think so."
Tchaikovsky described this symphony as "the complete resignation before fate".
Each concert in the season starts with a pre-concert talk at 7.15pm, followed by the main feature at 8pm. Tickets can be booked through Computicket on 083 915 8000, at Computicket outlets, or online at the Click here for the JPO second season programme.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
