In honour of Women’s Month this August, the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra will host two concerts as part of its Early Spring Season offering.
Set against the elegant backdrop of the Playhouse Opera House, these performances will take place on Thursday, August 22, and Thursday, August 29, both starting at 7pm.
The concerts will feature the inspiring talents of female conductors and soloists, showcasing their vital contributions to the world of classical music.
The first concert on August 22 will be conducted by the renowned Polish British maestro Ewa Strusińska.
Strusińska will lead the orchestra through Robert Schumann’s Carnaval Op. 9.
This enchanting work, originally composed for solo piano between 1834 and 1835, consists of 21 variations on a theme by Schubert, each representing different masked revelers at a carnival.
The performance promises to offer a captivating blend of whimsy and drama.
The evening will continue with a performance by internationally celebrated Australian violinist Emily Sun, who will perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto.
The concert will conclude with Beethoven’s powerful Seventh Symphony, a masterpiece that has thrilled audiences since its premiere in Vienna in December 1813, where Beethoven himself conducted.
On August 29, the second concert will be conducted by the acclaimed Panamanian American maestra Kalena Bovell. Bovell will open the program with Gustav Holst’s St Paul’s Suite, a popular and charming piece for string orchestra.
This suite, known for its lively rhythms and rich textures, will set an engaging tone for the evening.
The concert will also feature the return of Indian American pianist Pallavi Mahidhara, a favourite among South African audiences.
Mahidhara will perform Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2, a dazzling work composed in 1868 that remains one of Saint-Saëns’ most celebrated pieces.
The evening will close with Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony, a stirring composition reflecting the composer’s religious faith and musical brilliance.
For those preferring not to drive, convenient bus services are available. Buses will depart from the following locations:
• Caister Lodge at 6:20pm (R60 return)
• Westville Senior at 6:10pm (R80 return)
• St Agnes, Kloof at 5:50pm (R100 return)
• Grace Church, Umhlanga at 18:10 (R100 return)
Please note that bus ticket sales close at 16:00 on the Monday before each concert.
Concert and Park & Ride tickets can be booked through Quicket.