Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Cape Town Opera concert in Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

We made a resolution this year to go to more music events
We both love music and have quite eclectic tastes
So, when we heard that Cape Town Opera was giving a Sunday concert of opera choruses at Kirstenbosch,
supported by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Brandon Phillips, we bought tickets immediately
It is such a lovely venue. You pack a picnic supper and some wine, get there for 4 pm,
take a rug and some small low backed chairs and walk to the concert area,
where the lawns slope down to the stage, and find your favourite place

The chorus and orchestra were rehearsing as we arrived, so we enjoyed a double whammy of joyous music

We like to sit quite far back, the sound towers bring excellent sound to everyone

Our wine for the picnic was Lothian's lovely Mourvedre Rosé, a classic Rhône style dry rosé,
just the thing to enjoy slowly with some good food and music
Lynne made Jambon Persillé, salad and some gooey chocolate Brownies

Broadcaster Africa Melane was the compère for the evening and announced the pieces
He also made a plea for funds in support of Cape Town Opera and the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra
 How can a large city like Cape Town exist without an opera company and a symphony orchestra?
We are very lucky to have them, but they both need funds
Check out their websites for their current programmes so you can buy tickets and support them
https://capetownopera.co.za/operas/ 
 https://www.cpo.org.za/new/

Orchestra tuning and ready to go at 5.30 pm

Goldilocks or, perhaps, Debussy's Girl with Flaxen Hair

Such rousing choruses and arias.  This shows the four main soloists performing what for Lynne
was perhaps the best rendition she has heard of the Quartet from Verdi's Rigoletto
We also had the Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly,
the chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco,
the Easter Chorus from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana,
the tenor and baritone duet from Bizet's Pearl Fishers and many more

We have many talented singers in South Africa and many are now singing in some of the top opera houses in the world
The chorus contains excellent singers just waiting to get their break

Watch the performance of Verdi's Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco
(apologies for the occasional wind noise and the focus blips)
It's the music that matters

One of the last performances was the final movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony
also known as the Ode to Joy and the European Hymn.  It really was such an enjoyable concert

Time to go home after two rousing encores. The crowd is usually very neat and tidies up after themselves

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