Currently in its 6th year, the Festival will host some of
South Africa’s finest established and upcoming classical music talent in a
setting that is perfect for immersing in musical excellence.
The Festival opens at 19:00 on Friday 30 October with a
delightful evening at La Motte, starring Matthew Reid (clarinet) and
members of the string ensemble Camerata Tinta Barocca, performing Mozart’s
Clarinet Concerto as arranged for clarinet and string quartet. Tickets are
R125, including a light dinner and La Motte wine.
At 19:30 on Friday 30 October, acclaimed South African
soprano Bronwen Forbay (Fulbright scholar and Standard Bank Young Artist
Award winner 2007), will engage audiences in an Evening of Song at the NG
Church. Her programme will include arias from La Bohčme, La Traviata, The
Barber of Seville, as well as a selection of Spanish, French and Afrikaans
songs. Tickets are R80.
Saturday afternoon will be a showcase for emerging classical
talent, with a violin recital at 12:00 in the NG Church by 16-year-old
Jacqueline Wedderburn-Maxwell, winner of the 2008 Artscape National Youth
Music Competition Prize. At 14:00 is the Rising Stars: Young Artists in
Concert. This programme will be presented by outstanding young musician on
the brink of promising careers, including Odile Lecsh and Rifiloe Olifant
(violin), Megan Jeffrey Prince and Olga Rademan (piano), and percussion
due Cherilee Adams and Dylan Tibisher. At 16:00 Festival Director
Christopher Duigan (piano) will join the Valley Music Project from
Bridgehouse School, together with a brass quintet from the University of
Stellenbosch for a fun classical music experience at the Dennegeur Hall.
Tickets are R10, available at the door.
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At 19:00 on Saturday, homegrown piano maestro Ben Schoeman
will delight audiences with an appreciation for musical brilliance with a
90-minute recital including music from Beethoven, Franck, Mendelssohn and
Liszt’s spectacular Sonata in B minor. Schoeman has won all the major
prizes in South Africa, as well as being the first South African to win
the 2008 UNISA International Piano Competition. He also recently won the
Gold Medal and First Prize at the 57th Royal Overseas League Annual Music
Competition, and his much anticipated appearance in Franschhoek is part of
his 2009 South African tour, made possible with support from Vodacom.
Tickets are R80.
The operatic “band of gypsies” trio Belle Voci – Beverley
Chiat (coloratura soprano), Violina Anguelov (mezzo-soprano) and Nicky
Cencherle (tenor) – accompanied by accordion virtuoso Stanislav Anguelov,
can be joined for an interactive programme and a three-course meal at the
famous La Brasserie on Saturday at 19:00. Tickets are R270 (including
dinner and Cap Classique or La Motte wine on arrival.)
As part of Sunday morning’s 09:30 service at the NG Church,
Anneke Lamont (piano), Handri Loots (flute) and Elmarie van der Vywer
(viola) will perform music by Bach, Schumann, Fauré and others, compiled
to provide a contemplative Sunday morning experience.
Continuing in the spirit of a Sunday morning, Festival
director Christopher Duigan presents an energetic programme of piano music
at 11:30 in the NG Church, including uplifting pieces by Beethoven, Claude
Debussy and Liszt. The performance is made possible with the support of
the La Fontaine Guest House, and tickets are R80.
Husband and wife piano duo Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhăes
will be performing at Bread & Wine for a three-course Sunday lunch at
12:30. They will play a selection of music for two pianos by Rachmaninoff
and Arensky, but will also be later joined by festival pianists for six
and eight hands at one and two pianos. The eight-handed finale – four
pianists at one piano – is Lavignac’s Gallop-Marche. Tickets are R270,
including the meal and Cap Classique.
Lunch can also be enjoyed at Dieu Donné, with the Palm
Strings violin and guitar duo providing the entertainment between 14:00
and 16:00. The cover charge is R50.
Another highlight of this year’s programme is the
internationally renowned Stellenbosch Libertas Choir, conducted by
Professor Johan de Villiers, who will be telling a powerful story of
freedom, hope and faith through their divine musical, Jericho! on Sunday
at 15:30 in the NG Church. Music from Händel, Mendelssohn and Bach,
interwoven with African and other genres, is used to encourage the
audience to search for compassion and acceptance of difference whilst
still being true to personal convictions. Tickets are R80.
For the Festival Finale, operatic baritone Federico Freschi
and popular guitarist James Grace will join other Festival musicians for
an informal performance of various musicians in innovative and spontaneous
collaborations. Christopher Duigan (piano), Anneke Lamont (piano), Handri
Loots (flute) and Elmarie van der Vywer (viola) will all join in to end
the Festival on a high note at Café Bon Bon. Tickets are R150 and includes
Cap Classique and snacks, or book for lunch (served from 13:00) and add
R100 pp cover charge.
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