25 years of democracy, and 25 years of Bongani Tembe’s leadership
2019 KZN Philharmonic Spring Season: Week Two:
Durban City Hall: Thursday 7 November at 7.30pm
A very special concert is planned for Thursday 7 November in Durban’s City Hall during which the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates 25 years of our country’s democracy, as well as 25 years of KZN Philharmonic’s Artistic Director and CEO Bongani Tembe’s leadership.
The eclectic nature of this celebratory concert has been carefully curated to showcase the breadth of the orchestra’s repertoire and mandate to address the rich cultural diversity that is celebrated among the communities it serves – both in regard to its audiences and its performers. The concert features a selection of top South African choral music, alongside Haydn’s celebrate Trumpet Concerto.
Daniel Boico takes the podium for the second concert of the season on 7 November. The bold programme juxtaposes Joseph Haydn’s brilliant Trumpet Concerto in E Flat, spotlighting the young British virtuoso Matilda Lloyd as soloist, against a mix of choral highlights which showcase the golden sounds of some of Durban’s leading choirs. Joining forces with each other, the Clermont Community Choir, Durban Symphonic Choir; SA Singers; and Joyful Sounds perform a selection of music by George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn and Felix Mendelssohn, alongside select musical highlights by acclaimed home-grown composers such as Mokale Koapeng, Nthuthuko Sibisi, Qinisela Sibisi, Michael Mosoeu Moerane and Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr.
Vocal soloists for the evening are Khayakazi Madlala, soprano; Joshua Littleton, boy-soprano; Nana Mkhize, alto; Menzi Mngoma, tenor; Njabulo Mthimkhulu, baritone and Andile Dlamini, bass.
The concert also commemorates 25 years at the helm for Bongani Tembe who serves as Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the KZN Philharmonic. “The KZN Philharmonic’s mission remains focused on safe-guarding the excellence in music- making which we offer to the City of Durban and to the province of KZN. We do so with steadfast conviction as we strive to present a world-class level of performance standards not only on our concert platform where we embrace the full range of cultural diversity but also in our schools through our community engagement programme,” says Bongani Tembe.
Hailed as one of South Africa’s pre-eminent managers of classical music, Tembe has led the KZN Phil during particularly challenging years. Tembe is a graduate from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York and is South Africa’s first black professional opera singer. Tembe has received some wide-spread accolades by bringing to South Africa leading artists and orchestras, including Renée Fleming, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pinchas Zuckerman, Zubin Mehta and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. His vision fosters a strong commitment to engaging with the diverse communities of South Africa. He has years of experience executing high profile international and South African projects – notably leading the SA-UK Seasons in 2014 / 2015 and the France-SA Seasons in 2012 / 2013. Tembe also serves as Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2019 Spring Season, featuring a stellar line-up of international and local talent, runs in the Durban City Hall every Thursday until 21 November, each World Symphony Series concert starting at 19h30.
Season tickets, and bookings for individual concerts in the KZN Philharmonic’s star-studded Spring Season, are available at Computicket outlets. Call 0861 915 8000, or book online at www.computicket.com. For more information call 031-369 9438, email bookings@kznphil.org.za or visit www.kznphil.org.za.
KZN Philharmonic Celebrates 25…
