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Symphony Concert
2018-09-22

FSSO’s 4th Symphony Concert presented in collaboration with the OSM:

International guest pianist and FSSO virtuosi promise an evening of musical poetics

Conductor: Alexander Fokkens
Soloists: Vitaly Pisarenko (piano),
Odeion String Quartet,
Paul van Zuilenburg (trumpet),
Kobus Malan (oboe),
Danrè Strydom (clarinet),
Brahm Henkins (bassoon) and
Shannon Armer (French horn)
Date: Saturday, 22 September 2018
Time: 19:30
Venue: Odeion, UFS

On Saturday 22 September 2018, the Free State Symphony Orchestra’s (FSSO’s) fourth symphony concert of the year brings to the stage international piano virtuoso, Vitaly Pisarenko, and places a spotlight on the local talent of the Odeion String Quartet as well as a number of the FSSO’s principal players.

Regarded as one of the finest young musicians of his generation, Pisarenko has been dubbed as a ‘poet at the piano’ and is performing as guest piano soloist with the FSSO as part of the South African leg of his current world tour. After performing in a series of recitals and concerts with local orchestras, he moves on to the UK, Belgium, Hong Kong and Argentina. The concert in Bloemfontein will be his second last performance in South Africa.

Described by the New York Times as an “immensely gifted pianist… with prodigious technique, myriad shadings and scrupulous accuracy”, the Russian-born pianist already had his first public recital at the age of six. After winning the 8th International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in 2008, he took his place in the musical world as a pianist “of unusually soft touch and captivating expressiveness”, rapidly gaining worldwide recognition. His style has prompted more than one critic to compare his playing to that of “a young Franz Liszt”.

This evocative pianist will perform Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, Opus 31 with the FSSO’s Paul van Zuilenburg as the trumpet soloist. Shostakovich originally composed the concerto as an experimentation with a neo-baroque combination of instruments. Despite the title, the work might more accurately be classified as a double concerto rather than a piano concerto in which the trumpet and piano command equal prominence. The trumpet parts frequently take the form of sardonic interjections, leavening the humour and wit of the piano passage work.

The Odeion String Quartet with Samson Diamond (violin), Sharon de Kock (violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) and Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello) are the soloists in Elgar’s masterpiece, Introduction and Allegro for String Quartet and Strings. Scored for a string quartet and string orchestra, Elgar originally composed it to show off the players’ virtuosity. The score soon came to be recognised as a masterpiece and is likened to a multi-layered symphonic poem for string orchestra.

The programme concludes with Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds in E-flat major which is scored for solo oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon. The soloists for the Sinfonia Concertante will be four principal players of the FSSO: Kobus Malan (oboe), Danré Strydom (clarinet), Brahm Henkins (bassoon) and Shannon Armer (French horn).

When asked how he felt about joining the FSSO for this concert, Pisarenko responded by saying that this performance would represent a number of firsts for him: “Although this is my third visit to South Africa, it will be the first time that I perform in Bloemfontein. I’ve also always loved Shostakovich’s piano concerto and have wanted to play it for a long time. It is such a beautiful and expressive concerto, and I’ll be playing this fantastic piece for the very first time with the FSSO.”

Alexander Fokkens, CEO and Creative Director of the FSSO, concludes: “It’s very exciting to be able to showcase our immensely talented local orchestral musicians alongside a musician of Vitaly’s calibre. The programme for the evening will not only show off individual talent, but create an orchestral experience that will feel musically varied and poetically moving.”

Fokkens will also be conducting the concert on the evening. The FSSO’s fourth symphony concert for this year is presented in collaboration with the Odeion School of Music.


Admission:

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults - R150; Pensioners and block bookings of 10 and more - R100; Children 3 to 18 years - R50.

Tickets are available at any Computicket outlet or online at online.computicket.com. For enquiries, contact Ella Kotze at the FSSO on 051 401 2342, Ninette Pretorius of the OSM on 051 401 2504, or visit the FSSO’s Facebook page (@ Free State Symphony Orchestra) for more information and regular updates.

For media enquiries and visuals, contact Daphney Teffo on 082 506 3551 or e-mail rdteffo@gmail.com


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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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