September 27, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
THE Pro Musica Theatre has lined up a number of classical acts as part of its Summer Music Festival.
Due to take place on weekends from 8 October to 26 November, the festival is being held to celebrate various important events within orchestra circles. Among these are the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, the 100th anniversary of Shostakovich's birth and the last of Pro Musica Productions' 25th birthday celebrations. The other reason the festival is being held is simply for the joy of music.
It kicks off with a Chorus Concert on Sunday, 8 October at 3.30 pm. Conducted by Dennis Stander, the programme features works from the operatic, sacred, traditional and film music repertoire to cater for those with both a lighter and a more serious taste.
Works by the composers Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ennio Morricone, Zoltan Kodaly and Johann Strauss Junior will all feature, both as solos and as ensemble works.
Chorus Concert with an ensemble will also perform on Saturday, 4 November at 11.30pm. Tickets are R50,00 and are available from the Pro Musica Theatre. To book, contact Cecile on 011 674 1357/8.
Miroslav Chakaryan and the Johannesburg String Quartet perform a Chamber Music programme that includes
String Quartet Number 8 by Shostakovich. It is concerned with the bombing of the beautiful German city of Dresden by the Allies during the Second World War. The falling bombs are cleverly illustrated in the music, reminding listeners of the cruelties of war and the beauty of peace.
Works by Mozart are also on the programme. Musicians performing with Chakaryan are Liezl le Roux on violin, Jeanne-Louise Moolman on viola, Susan Mouton on cello and Malcolm Nay on piano. Chamber Music is on Sunday, 22 October at 3.30pm. Tickets are available from Computicket for R30, R60 and R80.
On Sunday, 12 November, again at 3.30pm, Solo Recital features soprano Ivayla Hinkova Bobcheva and Jacobus Swart on piano. They will focus on operatic works, including arias from operas by the composers Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini.
Bobcheva sang the leading role of Mimi in Pro Musica's production of Puccini's
La Bohème in 2005. Although she regularly performs solo, this marks her first time as a solo performer at the Pro Musica Theatre. Tickets are available from Computicket for R30, R60 and R80.
The Pro Musica Orchestra performs in Symphony Concert on Sunday, 19 November at 3.30pm. Conducted by Weiss Doubell, the programme focuses on works by Mozart as part of international celebrations to commemorate his birth 250 years ago. However, Beethoven's
Symphony Number 7 is also on the programme.
Mozart is regarded as a genius, who composed 12 operas and 46 symphonic works, among other works for the voice, chorus and solo instruments. Tickets are available from Computicket for R40, R70 and R100.
The Summer Music Festival ends with a choral and symphonic performance of Mozart's
Requiem and
Jupiter Symphony. It features the Pro Musica Orchestra, the Pro Musica Opera Chorus and the Johannesburg Bach Choir. The concert is on Saturday, 25 November at 8pm and on Sunday, 26 November at 3.30pm. Weiss Doubell will conduct.
Mozart's masterpiece, his
Requiem, is an appropriate way to end the year as it is aimed at building hope. Promising to be a very special concert, the
Requiem is rarely performed in South Africa. Tickets are available from Computicket and cost R40, R70 and R100.
There is a 25 percent discount for learners, students, pensioners and block bookings of 10 or more, for the two top price structures of concert bookings through Computicket.
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