Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra Presents a Season of March Music

The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is set for a packed programme of performances throughout March and early April, reinforcing its reputation as one of Africa’s most active and versatile orchestras.

The busy schedule follows performances of The Kingdom of Ubuntu and Starlight Classics at Vergelegen on 13 and 14 March, as well as an appearance at the Mzansi Conductors’ Convention Concert at Cape Town City Hall on 13 March. The orchestra will also perform in the final round of the Hennie Joubert Piano Competition at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch.

A Family-Friendly Concert at Kirstenbosch

A highlight of the month is a children’s concert at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on Sunday, 29 March at 17:30.

The concert features comedian and actor Rob van Vuuren, who brings humour and theatrical flair to the performance. Audiences can expect him to appear as characters such as Darth Vader, Superman and Indiana Jones while interacting with the orchestra.

The programme includes Peter and the Wolf, Star Wars, the Raiders’ March from Indiana Jones and selections from The Lion King, E.T., Superman and Frozen.

Tickets are available through Webtickets

Easter Collaboration in Paarl

The CPO will also present its annual Easter Saturday collaboration with Cape Town Opera at the Toringkerk in Paarl on 4 April at 15:00.

Conducted by Jan Hugo, the programme celebrates Baroque and Classical works, featuring Vivaldi’s Gloria and Haydn’s Nelson Mass.

Performers include Cape Town Opera’s House Soloists Brittany Smith (soprano), Nonhlanhla Yende (mezzo-soprano), Lukhanyo Moyake (tenor) and Conroy Scott (baritone), alongside Judith Neilson Young Artists Khayakazi Madlala and Nica Reinke, as well as the CPO Vocal Ensemble.

Doors open at 14:00 and seating is unreserved.

Tickets

Autumn Symphonies Begin at City Hall

The CPO’s Autumn Symphonies series begins on 2 April at Cape Town City Hall and runs every Thursday until 30 April.

Conductors Bernhard Gueller, Nicholas Chalmers and Arjan Tien will lead the five concerts.

The opening performance features Spanish pianist Leo de María, winner of the 2024 UNISA International Piano Competition, performing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

Other soloists in the series include:

Roelof Temmingh Jnr performing his father’s Piano Concerto on 9 April
Petrus Coetzee performing Bartók’s Viola Concerto on 16 April
Dutch violinist Hawijch Elders performing Sibelius’ Violin Concerto on 23 April
Peter Martens performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 on 30 April

Major orchestral works featured in the series include Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 “London”, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique”, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang Symphony-Cantata, Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloë Suites and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6.

Subscriptions for the series are available through Artscape Dial-A-Seat at 021 421 7695, with individual tickets available via Dial-A-Seat and Webtickets.

Dress rehearsal tickets are available through Quicket.

Each concert includes a pre-performance talk at 18:45 by John Woodland or Albert Combrink. Conductor Nicholas Chalmers will join the talks on 9 and 16 April.

Cape Wind Ensemble Performs The Lord of the Rings

The Cape Wind Ensemble will present its next concert on Sunday, 22 March at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre under the baton of wind band specialist Faan Malan.

The programme includes Johan de Meij’s award-winning The Lord of the Rings, originally written for concert band and inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy. The work features musical portraits of characters including Gandalf, Gollum, Lothlorien and the Hobbits.

Also on the programme is the overture With Quiet Courage by Larry Daehn, a tribute to his late mother, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Concerto for Trombone and Military Band performed by Stellenbosch trombone virtuoso Wilmar Niehaus.

Cape Winds was founded in January 2023 by Faan and Kim Malan to create opportunities for semi-professional and advanced amateur musicians in Cape Town. The ensemble also collaborates with community groups and promotes music by South African composers.

Tickets (R80–R150) are available via Webtickets

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