Classics for all Festival 29 May – 1 June 2014

The 2014 Greyton Genadendal Classics for All music festival takes place from Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June 2014 marking the 10^th anniversary of the first classical music festival in Greyton, an event that has grown in stature and popularity and which is today one of the biggest festivals in this genre in South Africa.

This year for the first time overseas act Harmonic Brass from Munich, Germany, will be part of the festival. Harmonic Brass has been described as “an ensemble that spreads good humour.” As a result, the five individuals who make up the ensemble “melt to a unity on stage that is hardly ever to be met.”

Harmonic Brass has been a cultural ambassador for the Goethe Institute all over the world since 2000, and the musicians from Munich also hold numerous international workshops. In keeping with this tradition, Harmonic Brass will also be presenting a brass workshop during this year’s music festival.

 

 

 

 

Full Program & Festival Highlights:

Thursday 29 May:

The Next Generation

18h00
High Hopes Retreat Centre and Guest House
tickets R80.00
Every year the festival introduces young artists who will be the face of South African classical music of the future, in a production called “The Next Generation”. This year two young, up-and-coming artists, Anele Mhlahlo (violin) and Axolile Hosa (flute) are featured in the “The Next Generation” concert, and they are accompanied on piano by Philippus Hugo. This is the official opening of the festival, and drinks and bites will be served after the concert.

Friday 30 May:

Harmonic Brass, Munchen

18h00
Genadendal Moravian Church
tickets R100.00
Genadendal has had a connection with brass music since 1838, and the Classics for All festival is delighted to host the first overseas artists to perform at the festival. Toccata and Fugue in d-minor by J.S. Bach, O Fortuna from Carl Orff`s Carmina Burana, the Triumphal March from Giuseppe Verdi`s opera Aida – the five gentlemen know exactly how to produce goose pimples with their audience. The Bolero by Maurice Ravel suddenly sounds like an original composition for brass, and with Susannata by Mulo Francel the audience plunge into the mellow sound of Smooth Jazz.

Friday 30 May: 

Mozart’s Opera Don Giovanni

19h30
Greyton Moravian Church
tickets R100.00
Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” has all the makings of a Blockbuster! A philandering womanising man, a string of scorned female lovers, a loose-lipped servant, murder, revenge and finally retribution. We all know the story about the “Don Juan” who gets his due but the Darling Music Experience presents a modern re-telling of this classic comedy as you’ve never seen it before. This sexy parable about morality is packaged neatly in an “alla breve” version of this infamous opera – it might be small in scale but it certainly is big in spirit. Presented by the UCT Opera School with guest artists Violina Angeulov and Beverley Chiat.

Saturday 31 May:

Workshop presented by Harmonic Brass Munchen

09h30
Genadendal Moravian Church
No charge
Harmonic Brass Munchen Ensemble Workshop. A workshop in Genadendal for brass ensembles in the Overberg and everyone interested in brass instruments

Saturday 31 May: 

Greyton Primary School Choir in concert with Emile Minnie and Godfrey Johnson

11h00
Dutch Reformed Church, Greyton
tickets R30.00 (available at the door)
Award winning musical duo Emile Minnie (clarinet) and Godfrey Johnson (piano) team up with the Greyton Primary School Choir to bring you an hour of classical magic – Minnie and Johnson will teach the audience the words, the tune and the choreography (!!!), and everyone can then join the Greyton Primary School Choir in a rousing celebration of the world of opera.

Saturday 31 May:

Appassionato Woodwind Quintet

15h00
Greyton Moravian Church
tickets R90.00
New Cape Town-based Woodwind Quintet, the Appassionato Quintet, was founded by two young South African musicians, Justin Carter and Hilary Mohr (oboe). The desire was to create a passionate group who could present the standard classical repertoire for wind quintet as well as new commissions, arrangements and collaborations with artists in other genres. The Quintet consists of Louisa Theart (flute), Hilary Mohr (oboe), Justin Carter (clarinet), Eugene Kierman ( horn) and Simon Ball (bassoon).

Saturday 31 May:

“Duelling Guitars”, with James Grace and Chloe Murphy

17h00
Greyton Moravian Church
tickets R90.00
Features an original and exciting programme including works from the English Renaissance to contemporary Brazilian folk music. Featured highlights include Fernando Sor’s L’Encouragement and a two guitar arrangement of Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte. Also featured will be solo works by both performers. As Oscar Wilde might have said, “the only thing better than one guitar, is two guitars!”

Saturday 31 May:

ATKV Gala Concert

19h00
Genadendal Moravian Church
tickets R110.00
Winners of previous ATKV competitions soprano Caroline Modiba, tenor Louis Loock and violinist Zanta Hofmeyr team up with local pianist Philippus Hugo and the community choir of Greyton and Genadendal under the baton of Janie Greeff in what promises to be one of the highlights of the festival.

Saturday 31 May

“Comedy Classics” with Emile Minnie and Godfrey Johnson

22h00
Includes the show and a 3-course meal
Overberg Theatre at Searle’s Trading Post 0282549550
tickets R280.00 (available from Searle’s)
The award winning musical comedy duo, Emile Minnie and Godfrey Johnson, will be performing their brand-new show in Greyton on 31 May 2014. The show will have a very strong classical music influence, and will also include more contemporary sounds. The clarinet, piano and vocal dexterity of these two will ensure a fun hour of laughs and theatrical wonder. And for the serious music lovers, do not fear: Bach, Abba and Mozart are all here.

Sunday 1 June

Cantique Chamber Ensemble

09h30
Dutch Reformed Church Greyton
tickets R80.00
The Cantique Chamber Ensemble performs works from the Middle Ages to the 70’s from composers such as Passereau, Gjeilo, Lauridsen and Van der Westhuizen, to name a few.

Sunday 1 June

Stellenberg Girls’ Choir under the baton of Andre van der Merwe

11h30
Moravian Church Genadendal
tickets R110.00
This is conductor Andre van der Merwe’s 4th visit to the Greyton Genadendal Classics for All Festival – in 2010 and 2012 conducting the South African Youth Choir and in 2013, the Choir of the University of Stellenbosch. The Stellenberg Girls Choir has since its inception won numerous first places in national and international choral competitions, including a record 96,7% in the category “Even Voices” at the 5th Olympic Competition for Choirs in Graz, Austria. This is the highest achievement ever.

Sunday 1 June

The Charl du Plessis Trio

15h00
The Oaks Greyton
tickets R110.00
“CHARL DU PLESSIS TRIO PLAYS BACH” features their signature new arrangements of works by Bach and other composers from the Baroque like Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Handel and Pachelbel. Regarded one of the most versatile and respected crossover ensembles in South Africa, the trio consists of Steinway Artist Charl du Plessis (piano), Werner Spies (bass) and Hugo Radyn (drums).