Years
2019 2018
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
Brahms love waltzes

Sunday, 25 May 2014

Odeion

16:00

A group of outstanding South African musicians – four singers and two pianists – have teamed up to perform both the Op. 52 and Op. 65 of Johannes Brahms’ exquisite Liebeslieder Waltzer for vocal quartet and piano duet.

Eighteen Liebeslieder form part of the Op. 52 set and a further fifteen Lieder (Op. 65) followed five years after Op. 52.  These Lieder are delectable specimens of their kind: pithy, roguish, and written in Viennese waltz-time with none of the soul-searching that went into so many of his serious songs.  The performers include Linelle Wimbles (soprano), Tina Tshupane (mezzo-soprano), Sandile Mabaso (tenor), Hendrè van Zyl (baritone) with pianists Ilse Myburgh and Peter Cartwright.

Soprano Linelle Wimbles studied for a BMusHons degree with Prof Werner Nel after which she continued her studies in München at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater.  She won several bursaries and competitions like the SABC Singing Competition and the International Belvedere Singing Competition.  Linelle has already sung opera roles such as Papagena (Mozart: Die Zauberflöte), Oscar (Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera), Susanna (Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro) and Monica (Menotti: The Medium). She regularly performs in oratoria and at several arts festivals.  She is currently studying with Emma Renzi.    

Mezzo-soprano Tina Tshupane received her vocal training from Prof Werner Nel.  She completed her BMus degree and is currently working as freelance singer in Johannesburg.  She performs as soloist with the Chamber Choir of South Africa (under the leadership op Michael Dingaan) and regularly performs in oratoria countrywide.     

Tenor Sandile Mabaso completed his BMus degree in 2005 (UP).  His first professional performances were with Opera Africa in 2006.  In July of 2006 he was appointed member of the Cape Town Vocal Ensemble which toured to Germany, France and Sweden.  In 2008 he was accepted as student of renowned soprano Elizabeth Connell.  In 2009 he started with private lessons with Prof Werner Nel and was chosen to take part in the International Baroque Symposium.  In 2010 he sang the role of Acis (Handel: Acis and Galatea), in 2012 he sang the role of Puck (Purcell: The Faery Queen), in 2007 he sang in the Messiah (Handel) and in 2009 in Stabat Mater (Rossini).

Bariton Hendré van Zyl studied under prof Werner Nel.  Since he made his debut in May 2002 with works by Bach and Mozart he has given recitals in concert halls throughout South Africa.  He has already worked with various local and international conductors such as Richard Cock, Petru Grabe, Gerben Grooten, Kåre Hanken and Peter-Louis van Dijk.  Highlights of 2013 include an Easter Concert of Baroque Music with an ensemble under the leadership of Antoinette Lohmann, performances of Bach’s Cantata (BWV140) and Lamentation No 1, ZWC53 (for Maundy Thursday) by Jan Dismas Zelenka, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, as well as performances of his Liebeslieder, Op. 52 and Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65.

Pianist Ilse Myburgh merges het talents as accompanist and piano teacher with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Influences of masterclasses with Fabio Bidini, Vladimir Viardo, Dorian Leljak, Svein Børkøy, Albie van Schalkwyk, Jill Richards and Peggy Haddon, has shaped her stylistic technique and interpretation of classical music.  Pauline Nossel and Prof Malcolm Nay were her mentors in achieving an MMus in chamber music.  As inspirational director and project manager of the Beka Bantwana Foundation, Ilse invests in a spectrum of pupils and colleagues who seek to showcase their talents, thus reaching out to young children through enjoyment of music. 

Peter Cartwright completed his BMus degree with distinction at Rhodes University, studying piano with Muriel Ilusorio.  Since then Peter has established himself as one of South Africa’s leading young pianists, performing in major venues across South Africa, as well as in Botswana, Zimbabwe and the USA.  He has attended masterclasses by various international pianists in Israel and England. He is currently studying towards an MMus in piano performance and also works as an accompanist, piano teacher and concert organizer.

PROGRAMME:

Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzer, Op. 52

Brahms: Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65

ADMISSION:

R110 (adults)

R70 (pensioners, students and learners)

R60 (UFS staff)

R40 (group booking of 10+)

Tickets available at Computicket.

ENQUIRIES:  

Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 – 401 2504)

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