Years
2019 2018
Months
February March April May June July August September October November December
Stefan Velkov Guitar Recital
2018-04-19

19 April 2018

Odeion

19:30

Bulgarian-born Stefan Velkov was introduced to music since earliest childhood. His official training in music theory, piano and guitar started at the age of seven.

Stefan received his first music degree as a guitar and light music performer from the Bulgarian State Conservatoire (later renamed to Bulgarian Academy of Music). At this stage (the late seventies of the 20th century) the guitar in Bulgaria was still regarded mostly as a light-music instrument. That is why it was included as a study subject only within the Light Music Department of the Conservatoire. The interest and the knowledge of the classical guitar was still at its infancy, but its popularity was growing fast. This made it necessary for the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture to make a historic decision: for the first time in Bulgarian music history, a decision was made to send a young Bulgarian guitarist to Germany to receive a proper music degree in classical guitar and to return to Bulgaria and introduce classical guitar as a subject at the Bulgarian Academy of Music.

After competing with all the most talented guitarists of the country, Stefan won the competition which enabled him to receive a master's degree in classical guitar from the Berliner Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler. He completed his studies in guitar, piano and composition with a special reward of the Hochshule as one of the five best students. During his studies he also won the competition for the best guitar composition.

During his studies abroad (1981 - 1988) Stefan met and had masterclasses with most of the best guitar professors and guitar maestros of our time: Maria-Livia Sao Marcos (Switzerland/ Brazil), Costas Cotsiolis (Greece), Dieter Kreidler (Germany) and Leo Brouwer (Cuba).

In 1986 he was appointed as the first classical guitar lecturer at the Bulgarian Academy of Music and chairperson of the guitar festivals and competitions. This was the time when his own active concert career began. Stefan's repertoire includes most of the great masterpieces ever written for this instrument, but he became more and more known for his own compositions for guitar which, according to critics, outshine the best known masterpieces created for classical guitar.

Stefan’s arrival in SA (1991), coincided with the search of the Free State Musicon for a qualified guitar lecturer in order to introduce the subject classical guitar as part of its music training programme. He was offered the position of senior guitar lecturer at the Musicon which he holds until present day. During this time he also taught at the University of the Free State (1992 - 1999).

Stefan has given concerts in Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, England and South Africa.

PROGRAMME

  • Velkov: Summer Dream
    From the golden heritage of the classical guitar:
    • Villa-Lobos: Prelude
  • Two Magnificent Arpeggios
    • Giuliani
    • Brower
  • Two Romantic Pieces:
    • Velkov: Serenade
    • Velkov: Adagio (The Magic Of Love)
  • Velkov: Bulgarian Suite for Guitar
    • I Bulgarian folk dance
    • II Bulgarian folk-singing
    • III Bulgarian folk dance in 7/8
    • IV Bulgarian folk-song
    • V Bulgarian folk dance in 9/8
  • Velkov: Tango
  • Velkov: Two Modern Dances
  • Velkov: The Wild Horse

ADMISSION

  • R120 (adults)
  • *R80 (pensioners)
  • *R70 (UFS staff)
  • *R50 (students, learners and block bookings of 10+)

Tickets available at Computicket or online at http://online.computicket.com/web/

*Please note that tickets for pensioners, students, learners and UFS staff can only be purchased at a Computicket outlet (Shoprite Checkers) or at the doors since a valid card or ID has to be presented to qualify for the above mentioned discount.

ENQUIRIES
Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 401 2504)


Back
Caesar

Original Script By Shakespeare (Julius Caesar)

Adapted By: Thys Heydenrych

Directed By: Thys Heydenrych

Venue:  Wynand Mouton Theatre, UFS-Main Campus

Language: English & Afrikaans

Genre: Drama

 

Caesar adapted and directed by Thys Heydenrych, is a modern re-telling of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The production is in Afrikaans and English, with the title character portrayed by a woman.

 

Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is unique due to the lack of both villains and heroes. This adapted political thriller tells the story of the conspiracy against Caesar, her assassination and the defeat of her conspirators. The adaptation explores the ideas of women and leadership, political turmoil, fear and betrayal.

 

In the Roman Republic, political decisions were made through public debates and persuasive arguments, and in theory, the ideas that would be best for Rome would prevail rather than the will of one ruler; very similar to most countries’ political systems. Imagine a Trump, Malema, Zuma, Putin or Mugabe becoming king?

 

However, what happens when a nation purges their leader and replace him/her with a new leader? Does it not create new problems? Look at our current political environment. In Caesar, the assassination for the sake of democracy, as Brutus blindly believes, leads to civil war, mass slaughter, multiple executions and the installation of an emperor.

 

Brutus struggles with these issues; should he murder Caesar before she even does anything wrong? In his mind, it's better to sacrifice an innocent ruler than risk her becoming a dictator.

 

Upon Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome from the war against Pompeii, the Roman republic prepares to crown her king, which causes concern and dismay among some senators who fear that she will have too much power. Caius Cassius plots a conspiracy to murder Caesar, enlisting the support of Brutus, who is also concerned about Caesar becoming king. At Caesar's funeral, Brutus addresses the people and successfully explains the conspirators' motives. However, Antony speaks next and turns the mob against the conspirators, who are forced to flee from Rome. Antony with Caesar's niece, Octavia, take command of Rome and lead an army against the conspirators. At Philippi, Brutus and Cassius are defeated, and they kill themselves rather than to be captured.

 

Caesar, performed by 2nd-year drama students of the University of the Free State, is playing in the Wynand Mouton theatre, 21 – 23 November at 19h30. Tickets available at Computicket.

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful, to better understand how they are used and to tailor advertising. You can read more and make your cookie choices here. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept