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| |  Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra | |
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The conductor, clad in a dark penguin suit, composes himself in front of the 80-odd musicians staring at him waiting for his command like soldiers about to make a battlefield tremble. But this time, the tremble will be that of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.7.
Eventually the conductor lifts his arms and gives the signal to the violinists to start the rendition Tchaikovsky described as “the complete resignation before fate”. The collective squeal of the violins echoes through the hall and startles the audience. Then with a swift movement of his arm, the conductor leads all the musicians into a serene melody, one that soothes the fright out of the audience’s limbs.
The concert has begun
This description is just one moment experienced at the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO), many more await those who appreciate the drama and romance of classical music.
A night out
The JPO has four seasons every year, each season comprising five weeks. Two concerts take place each week on Wednesday and Thursday. Concertgoers normally enjoy supper accompanied by a good wine at the Siyafunda Café, situated just outside the Linder Auditorium, followed by a pre-concert talk.
Top conductors and musicians
In the six years that it has existed as the JPO (it was previously called the National Symphony Orchestra), its success rate has attracted, not only followers, but top musicians within South Africa and around the globe. For instance, the first prizewinner of the Seventh International Franz Lizst piano competition of Netherlands, Yingdi Sun of China, performed at the JPO’s first season in 2006, and world-renowned conductor Nicholas Cleobury, who has conducted a great variety of international orchestras, featured in the second season of the same year.
Moving a country forward
To Cleobury, the JPO is a platform to entertain and educate people in classical music. “The arts are the lifeblood of any civilization. It would be a tragedy not to play this music here for all of the people all the time,” said Cleobury. “They are bringing this music to the people who were not exposed to it before.” Noam Zur, who majestically conducted the first concert of the third season, said if the arts are taken seriously “it raises philosophical and ethical questions and moves a country forward”.
Passion and innovation
Another performer who captured the audience at the first concert of the third season was solo cellist Natalia Khoma of the Ukraine, performing Dimitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.2 Op.126. Her passion was evident and the applause from the audience showed how much they appreciated her performance. The intricate sounds of her cello waxed and waned through the auditorium while performing the dramatic, yet depressing, Shostakovich rendition.
A unique and exciting addition to the third season was the African themed symphony “San Chronicle” by South African composer Peter Louis Van Dijk. The rendition incorporates indigenous African beats with parts of San Gloria and the Western Gloria in Latin.
Education and empowerment
Pro Musica Productions, encompassing Opera Chorus, Opera Company, Orchestra and Theatre, is known for helping young musicians launch their professional careers. Under the leadership of founder and conductor of the orchestra, Weiss Doubell, they have been involved in a number of outreach programmes, including an instrumental tuition programme that aims to develop instrumental performers from disadvantaged communities. In this way, Pro Musica educates communities about classical music and makes it available for all to enjoy.
Educating the youngsters is just as apparent if one looks at the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, which began life in 1976. The orchestra, one of eight orchestras under the wing of The Orchestra Company, is made up of about 450 students from over one hundred schools.
Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival
Since 2004 the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival has brought together students and professional musicians from around the world to celebrate the love for classical music. For ten days the Festival Symphony and Festival Concert Orchestra perform 30 concerts in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.
The festival serves as a platform for students to learn from and perform with the most experienced musicians. Just as encouraging is the opportunity the festival presents for South African composers to showcase their works to an international audience. Such works by Hans Roosenschoon and Roelof Temmingh were performed for the first time at the festival.
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