We were delighted when we were invited to the RMB Starlight Classics Concert this year, held again at Vergelegen;
one of our favourite events to cover each year
Multi-talented performers at a great venue and some good food and wine to accompany it
We were welcomed by Joandra Griesel, Communications Manager at Rand Merchant Bank, and her team
A welcoming glass of Vergelegen Brut MCC
and a lovely walk through Mrs Phillips’ garden and the historic Manor House
The garden is filled with beautiful and unusual flowers this year
and the last pear of summer on a tree at the entrance to the Manor House
The public area was already becoming populated at 4.30pm
We were asked to collect our wine for enjoying with supper
and were given a bottle cooler bag to keep it in while we walked around
John went to find a seat on the aisle so he could take some good photographs during the concert
Lots of helpful and smiling staff
The weather did look a bit iffy and there was some rain during the late afternoon, but only intermittent showers
Sheltering under large umbrellas, which they have to put down during the concert,
so everyone was praying that it would not rain
There were various food stations for the invited guests and this is the Harvest Table
with a great selection of things to eat, hummus, tzatziki, rolls, breads, a good cheese selection,
lots of excellent smoked salmon, salads, biltong, droëwors, cheese straws, nuts
The Silwood students were manning different stands,
like this one serving pasta, a choice of Penne Arabbiata or Beef ragout pasta
A mixed salad on the Harvest Table
The bar had a very good selection of drinks
We found a lovely table in the middle of the wood
and in our bottle cooler we discovered two of these very useful rain ponchos
Two other food stations. Lynne tried the Paella which certainly had lots of prawns, mussels, calamari and fish
and John tried the rather gentle lamb curry and rice
Each station had a vegetarian option
and waiting staff were roaming with different canapés
The paying audience was keeping warm and dry
The concert was about to begin and as we took our seats, the heavens opened
Everyone quickly donned their ponchos and it did rather resemble a meeting of the Star Wars Storm troopers!
Everyone was in a great mood, having been well fed and watered,
so we all got ready to enjoy the concert and we didn't see anyone leave
In all the years that we have been coming to the Starlight Concert, this is the first time we have had rain
5 minutes to lift off!
and the Cape Town Pops Orchestra with beloved conductor Richard Cock
went into a rousing performance of the first number
Someone had turned the bass very high up, so it was a very rousing performance indeed
with light show added
Richard Cock introduced the evening
and then the CEO of RMB, Emrie Brown, welcomed us
We all stood to sing the National Anthem and the concert began
Sadly, we do think the rain affected the tuning of the orchestra’s instruments;
sometimes it did sound rather like a Mariachi band! It improved later as the rain departed
and they were able to dry out and the bass speakers were softened
The audience are not supplied with a programme of the music, so we do not have the titles of all of the songs
and taking notes under a plastic poncho in the rain was, frankly, impossible
Lukhanyo Moyake is an Internationally experienced South African tenor with a beautiful rich voice
He has performed in London with the ENO and at the State Opera in Vienna, ably opened the show
The rain ceased and the clouds parted
Katlego Maboe, singer, actor and joint host joined Richard Cock on stage for some of the evening
They had lots of banter!
Corlea Botha has a very versatile voice and sang many different songs and modes, from opera to rock
She was joined for this performance by dancers from the ballet
The very dramatic Habanera from Carmen
which was performed by Siphokazi Molteno. She is billed as a 'Dazzling mezzo-soprano' and she certainly is impressive
Great backdrops on the stage for each performance
Jesse Clegg, billed as SA’s hottest pop rocker, received a warm reception
Some very emotive slides showing him and his late father, Johnny, who was an iconic South African performer
There were several performers from the Zip Zap circus,
including this very talented and supple aerial gymnast and her hoop
She performed while the Cape Town Pops Orchestra played
A joy to watch and photograph!
More banter on stage between Conductor Richard Cock and Katlego Maboe
Time for some great Jazz from Langa Mavuso, acclaimed Afro-soul singer and songwriter
A beautiful Aria from Brittany Smith. a gifted young South African classical soprano
She sang the "Doll Song” (Les oiseaux dans la charmille) aria from Tales of Hoffman
Such a difficult aria, and so well performed
Her clockwork running out.... she was quickly wound up again to continue her performance
The Ndlovu Youth Choir performed several familiar songs, mostly in African languages
And we had a beautiful aria from Lukhanyo Moyake and Brittany Smith
Even the band was captivated by the lyrical music
Time for some rousing pop music, with multi performers on stage
The audience was encouraged to join in too
and we
did!
Langa Mavuso in full song
and joined by Siphokazi Molteno, showing their versatility
Time for the Compère and the Conductor to join in the fun
When you see gondolas, you know we have Italian opera
Back after the short interval, we no longer need our ponchos, as the sky is clear and the concert can begin again
and then it was Starlight time, when we light our candles and hold them high to support the stars on the stage
Corlea Botha and Langa Mavuso performed a familiar song in Afrikaans
An extraordinarily supple acrobat from the Zip Zap circus
who could manipulate his body so gracefully and skilfully
A final number from The Ndlovu Youth Choir
And some rousing Gloria Gaynor songs from the three Divas
Everyone on stage for the finale!
Singing joyful music and the audience was up on its feet
demanding encores to Don’t Stop Me Now, I'm having a good time.....and we were
A final visit to the bar and a taste of the desserts and sweetmeats on offer
This allows the public to depart, so that the roads are not blocked when the invited guests need to leave
All the stories we have published can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right
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