09 September 2022
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Story Dr Nitha Ramnath
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Photo Sonia Small
On 2 September, the foyer of the Odeion Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) was abuzz with excitement and anticipation as guests made their way into the auditorium. The lights slowly dimmed, a deafening silence
engulfed the room, and with immense energy, the
Free State Youth Wind Ensemble kicked off the evening's programme with their rendition of ‘Pata Pata’. The
tone for the evening was established. The 2022 Rector’s Concert, one of the highlights of the UFS annual calendar, brought plenty to cheer about, especially after being hosted virtually for two years.
Tidimalo Mholo's incredible passion followed as she kept the momentum with her performance of ‘Rolling in the Deep’, tailed by the Odeion
String Quartet's ‘Libertango’, after which Mafusi Leseo transported the audience with her rendition of the much-loved ‘Loliwe’ on the Quartet of Peace.
The trio of Du Preez Stoltz, Levert Solomons, and Riaan Naudé certainly did not disappoint as they pelted out ‘Lisa se Klavier’ – they were indeed a pleasure to watch. The audience rose in rapturous applause with the performance
of ‘Aya Ngena’, a traditional Zulu folk song by the
Bloemfontein Children’s Choir, conducted by
Werner Stander. The choir had us all in the palm of their hands with the choral sound from 64 magnificent voices.
A shared gasp could be heard as guest artist and UFS alumnus,
Dr Wilhelm Lichtenberg – a talented full-time practising cardiothoracic surgeon, also known as
‘the singing surgeon’ – performed the deeply moving ‘Granada’. His delivery reminded me why people chose music.
Sibongile Mngoma delivered a mind-blowing vocal of the soulful, calm, and magical ‘Inner Peace’, making the song her own and wowing the audience in the process. Mngoma was accompanied by
Joseph Kunnuji on trumpet and
Anton Esterhuyse on piano.
The UFS’ Dr Patricks Otomo captured the audience with just enough vulnerability to make one smile and shed a tear at the same time as he delivered ‘Feels like Home’. Blessed with a serene voice, Otomo’s approach to the song
was utterly remarkable. Dr Otomo is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the UFS.
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor. Photo: Sonia Small
Martinette Spoelstra hit the high notes with her strong angelic voice in delivering the classic ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, followed by a first-rate performance of ‘Everything’ by Naledi Mohapi.
The
UFS Choir, conducted
by
Sibongile Mngoma, captivated the audience with an effortlessly blended medley of genres by 49 majestic voices.
‘The Show Must Go On’, which brought the programme to a close in the glorious finale, was received with appreciation by the audience as they encored with applause, signalling that the event concluded too soon … they wanted more!
The foyer was once again filled with chatter as the audience made their way to cocktails and a light dinner, gushing with remarks about the splendid performance of the evening.
“A beautifully crafted programme with talented musicians in an exquisite setting,” said Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS. “This evening’s event is certainly indicative of incredible talent, immense preparation,
and hard work,” added Prof Petersen.
This affirmed that the UFS 2022 Rector's Concert was the place to be on the evening of 2 September as we ushered in spring, finally getting together staff, students, alumni, and the community to witness a spectacular programme of performances by a
star-studded line-up of artists.
Relive the 2022 Rector's Concert