-  An exceptional collaboration stretched over three continents -

19 March 2013

Odeion

19:30

featuring

Heleen du Plessis – cello

Malcolm Nay – piano

Magdalena de Vries – marimba

OSM Camerata directed by Hans Huyssen

The renowned South African cellist Heleen du Plessis (currently Williams Evans Executant lecturer for cello at the Music Department of the University of Otaga, New Zealand) is the initiator of a project with the title Cello for Africa. The project is a practical investigation of new cello repertoire with a specific focus on the instrument’s suitainability and potential role in music of hybrid styles, resulting from contemporary reflections on South Africa’s diverse musical cultures.  Envisaged as a series of performances in New Zealand and South Africa with ensuing a CD recording – she wishes to present and advocate South African compositions for cello in her current professional environment in New Zealand. Simultaneously it amounts to a reflection on the thrust of her career as an international cellist, with a strong prevailing awareness of her African roots and a definite urge to convey this sentiment and its energy by means of her unique performance style. On 19 March 2013 the Odeion School of Music (OSM) presents a concert with a varied but carefully combined programme of early and contemporary orchestral and chamber music.

Heleen has requested several new South African works for cello, two of which will be premièred on this occasion: she will be the soloist in Hans Huyssen’s Concerto for an African Cellist (with the OSM Camerata, directed by the composer).  Given his specific interest in indigenous African music, the SAMRO Foundation has granted Du Plessis' request to commission Hans Huyssen to this task.  Together with Magdalena de Vries, she will première Peter Klatzow’s A Sense of Place for marimba and cello.  Commemorating the 100th birthday of Benjamin Britten (1913 – 1976) the programme furthermore includes his beautiful Sonata for Cello and Piano Op. 65, for which Malcom Nay joins Du Plessis. 

Cellist Heleen du Plessis

http://heleenduplessis.com/

Odeion School of Music Camerata (UFS) directed by Hans Huyssen

http://www.huyssen.de/

Admission:

R110 (adults), R70 (pensioners), R40 (students and learners)

Tickets available at Computicket or at the door

Enquiries:   

Ninette Pretorius (tel. 051 401 2504)