Soloist             :           Ockie Vermeulen (organ)

Dates               :           Thursday 13 August

Venue             :           Odeion

Time                :           19:30

Music lovers will get the opportunity to listen to two of the most famous works for organ and orchestra during the next concert of the Free State Symphony Orchestra. The Pretoria based organist Ockie Vermeulen will be the soloist in Albinoni’s famous Adagio in G minor as well as Poulenc’s Organ Concerto in G minor. Also on the programme are Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 and Arvo Pärt’s Fratres. The internationally acclaimed conductor Bernhard Gueller will be on the podium. This concert is made possible by a grants from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and the Rupert Foundation.

Albinoni’s Adagio has been used in several film soundtracks, including Gallipoli and Rollerball and it was also performed at the funeral of Lady Diana, Princess of Wales. Fratres, in its many reincarnations has also appeared soundtracks, most notably There Will Be Blood, starring Daniel Day-Lewis.

Ockie Vermeulen is an active concert organist and music arranger. In 2011 he was invited to perform in Monaco where he played for as service which was attended by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene and also gave a solo recital. His debut CD, Highland Cathedral has been met with critical acclaim and has been topping the South African charts for 50 consecutive weeks. In November 2010 he released his second CD Arena on which he collaborated with musicians such as Christa Steyn, Wessel van Wyk, Charl du Plessis and Helen Vosloo.

For the last 13 years music director of Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax, Canada, Bernhard Gueller continues to enthral audiences with his profound and exciting interpretations. Well known to audiences internationally for the passion, mastery and drama he brings to the concert hall podium, Gueller is also acclaimed for his “profound interpretations”, the “stunning responses he gets from musicians” and the excitement he elicits. He is loved by musicians, critics and audience for his musical purity and continually garners praise for the fresh approach he brings to the podium. This is maestro Gueller’s third visit to Bloemfontein and the Free State Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets for the concert in the Odeion are available from Computicket outlets or book online at www.computicket.com.

Admission:

R130 (adults)

R100 (pensioners)

R50 (students/learners/group bookings of 10+)

Enquiries:

Ella Kotze (FSSO), tel. (051) 401-2342 (office hours)

www.fsso.org.za