Lovers of diverse piano music will soon be enchanted again at the 14th annual Klein Karoo Klassique in Oudtshoorn.
Festival goers can look forward to some of the most beautiful melodies in piano literature, virtuosic sets of variations from the Baroque, the timeless beauty of music by legendary composers and unique combinations.
From Thursday 3 August to Sunday 6 August, piano lovers can have the opportunity to chat with artists about their work at this winter festival of classical music, art, books, food and wine between performances.
On Thursday 3 August at 18:00, local pianist Sulayman Human will play a program that uses the variation technique, inspired by the idea of changing one’s tune. His program for Let’s change tunes, includes works by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Liszt. Dinner by the Tall Goose Restaurant is included in the ticket prices.
The multi-award winning pianist Nina Schumann shares the stage with flutist Louisa Theart on Friday 4 August at 10:30 for Aquila Duo: Echoes of Arcadia. On their program is music by Albert Roussel, Claude Debussy, Matthijs van Dijk, Carl Reinecke and Gabriel Fauré.
They explore the way in which these five composers from the 19th and 20th centuries were inspired to focus on two inhabitants of the mythological kingdom: Pan, the satirical god of nature, and Undine, a water nymph. A musical discussion will be held after the performance in the Banquet Hall.
Schumann can also be seen on stage on Saturday 5 August at 14:00, when she enters Sublime Sextets together with eight artists is featured in a program that includes Brahms’ first sextet for strings in B minor, as well as Ernő Dohnányi’s sextet in C major, Op. 37; a breathtaking work for the unusual combination of violin, viola, cello, French horn, clarinet and piano. After the performance, a musical discussion is offered.
Erik Dippenaar plays in Variations on 4 August at 16:30 on the organ and harpsichord a program of virtuosic sets of variations from the Baroque, including music by Corelli and Buxtehude, as well as an improvised set of variations on the organ. Ralitza Macheva joins him on baroque violin.
In Handel’s Roman Cantatas presents Dippenaar on the harpsichord, together with members of the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra and sopranos Lynelle Kenned and Hlengiwe Mkhwanazi, a selection of Handel’s dramatic and expressive canate gems. This performance follows their kykNET Fiesta award-winning Trade at Home-program. A musical discussion will be held after the performance in the Banquet Hall.
Megan-Geoffrey Prins plays in Harmony of Serenity: Arvo Pärt’s Musical Meditations on Saturday 5 August at 10:30, a beautiful tribute celebrating the life and work of the legendary Estonian composer, Arvo Pärt. Cellist Peter Martens and violinist Suzanne Martens join him for van Pärt’s favorite works, followed by a musical discussion in the Banquet Hall.
On 5 August at 19:00 during the ATKV Gala Concert with the Cape Town Opera, José Dias accompanies world-class soloists on the piano, who bring operatic glamor and enchantment to the Klein Karoo.
Award-winning opera stars Brittany Smith, Lukhanyo Moyake and Conroy Scott, as well as emerging young artist Alida Scheepers sing a program of timeless highlights from the most famous operas and musicals.
Amanda Tiffin, one of Cape Town’s best-loved pianists and singers, along with her jazz trio, bass maestro Shaun Johannes and young, up-and-coming drummer Langa Dubazana, take the audience on a musical for an evening of jazz My Own Song on August 5 at 8:30 p.m.
From personal and soft acoustic stories, soaring emotional heights and simple pop melodies embraced with jazz, to fiery samba rhythms and playful scat solos.
Elna van der Merwe plays on 6 August 10:30 with Zanta Hofmeyr (violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) and Susan Mouton (cello) in Take Four Piano Quartet two great works by Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvořák. Like these four musicians, Brahms and Dvořák were also good friends. This performance is a celebration of friendship and the uplifting power of music and is followed by a musical discussion in the Banquet Hall.
The Klein Karoo Klassique is presented by the KKNK, made possible by the Rupert Music Foundation and the ATKV, with additional support from Le Lude, the Rosenhof Country House and the Oudtshoorn municipality.
The festival’s accommodation sponsors are Hlangana Lodge, Kleinplaas Holiday Resort, Protea Hotel Riempie Estate, Queen’s Hotel by Bon Hotels, Ravenscliff Manor, Turnberry Boutique Hotel and Wildehondekloof Game Reserve.
The full festival program is available at www.klassique.co.za. Tickets are available from Webtickets, Pick n Pay, or the KKNK office.
Tickets are also sold at the door prior to each performance, subject to availability. An exclusive Klassique package offers access to nine performances at a total saving of 30%.
For accommodation options in and around Oudtshoorn, festival goers can also visit Klassique’s accommodation partner LekkeSlaap.
