The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra Winter Symphony Season 2017
Concert Three: Playhouse Opera, Durban: Thursday 15 June
Season: Playhouse Opera, Durban: 1 – 22 June
The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra gears up for its third concert in its four-week Winter Season on 15 June with piano taking centre stage.
The third concert on 15 June is under the baton of Daniel Raiskin has three glorious pieces on the programme featuring works by Weber; Rachmaninoff and Dvořák.
Raiskin, a hugely respected conductor who grew up in St Petersburg, the son of a prominent musicologist and known as one of Europe’s leading viola players, opens the evening with Carl Maria von Weber’s exhilarating Overture to his three act opera, Euryanthe.
The centre piece for the evening is the Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40 – a major work by Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. His fourth concerto is more finely textured and subtly oblique than his more celebrated previous three piano concertos and his often-played Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
The Rachmaninoff will be performed by Czech pianist Lukas Vondracek – who made his professional stage debut in 2002 at the age of 15 with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the recipient of last year’s International Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition.
Closing the concert is Antonin Dvořák’s visceral Symphony no 7 in D minor. Written at the height of his creative powers, the four movement work embodies the full spectrum of the great Czech composer’s flare for evoking a powerful concert experience.
Refreshments and light snacks may be purchased in the foyer before the concert and during interval. Single tickets are available from www.computicket.com, 0861 915 8000, or from Shoprite Checkers Money Market counters. It is cheaper to subscribe: Subscribers can save up to 30%. For subscriptions contact 031 3699438.
The KZN Phil continues its primary mission of bringing excellence in music making to the province of KZN. The Winter Season features top South African and international musicians in an eclectic programme of amazing music. “We are committed to bringing the highest quality concerts to Durban thereby enriching the city and province through music,” says Bongani Tembe CEO and Artistic Director of the KZN Philharmonic.
The final rehearsals for the Winter Symphony Season concerts are open to the public and provide a glimpse into the preparation needed for a symphony concert. Join us each Symphony Season Thursday at 10am. Entrance for adults is R30 / R10 for scholars, which includes a cup of tea. The final rehearsal is the perfect opportunity to introduce scholars to symphony concerts and also provides great outings for community groups and retirement homes. Please contact the KZN Philharmonic to enquire about special rates and to make arrangements for groups. Contact bookings@kznphil.org.za or call the bookings office on 031 369 9438.
You can gain a deeper understanding of the music you are about to hear by attending the Friends of Music’s Pre-Concert Lecture in the Tudor Room at the Playhouse starting at 6pm and entry is R10.
So come and join us for another amazing season of glorious music!
For more information, contact 031 369 9438 or email bookings@kznphil.org.za.
Listings:
Concert THREE
Date: 15 Jun
Conductor: Daniel Raiskin
Soloist: Lukas Vondracek
Featured instrument: piano
Programme: Weber Overture to Euryanthe; Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op.40; Dvořák’s Symphony no 7 in D minor
Pre-concert Lecture by Dr Teddy Pillay
