REVEIWS
The Symphony Choir, in collaboration with Windworx, The Stellenbosch Symphonic Wind Ensemble, SACS Boys High School Choir, and the Herschel Girls High School Chorale, lead by Music Director Levi Alexander, put on a moving and dramatic production of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Plea for Peace, in the City Hall on the evenings of August 16 and 17. They performed to a full auditorium on both nights. Thank-you Cape Town for supporting this spectacular work.
The programme began, amongst other works, with a rousing compilation of Olympic fanfares and tunes followed by two movements from The Planets by Gustav Holst: Mars, the Bringer of War and Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity, with the famous I Vow to Thee melody. The choir then joined them in John Williams’ Hymn to the Fallen from the film score of Saving Private Ryan, and the hymn Lead on, O King Eternal.
The main work of the evening was The Armed Man, the moving and beautiful anti-war piece, accompanied by visuals which reminds us of the heartache, pain and futility of war and calls for peace, in the words: “Better is peace than always war” and the last chorus:
“God shall wipe away all tears, and there shall be no more death, Neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain”.
Karl Jenkins’ work embodies our unified Plea for Peace in bringing together selected text of the Catholic Mass, with the poignant addition of the Islamic Call to Prayer, chanted movingly by Muezzin, Hassen Khaka, filling the City Hall to the rafters, as well as the Jewish funeral chant of Psalm 23 sung in Hebrew, by Beverley Chiat and the sounding of the Last Post, played by SACS student, Jake Dreyer. Our treble soloist, James Little, from the CT Children’s Chorus and a Grade 4 learner at SACS Junior School debuted his talent bravely and confidently in front of so many people.
Well done and thank-you to all the musicians; the school choir masters, Warren Patientia and Johan Swanepoel; Albert Combrink for his assistant accompanying as well as those training the bands to concert readiness and to our inspired Music Director, for bringing this wonderful work to fruition. We are privileged to have been part of this musical experience.on
Reviews from Quicket:
“Was an amazing experience. Mass Choir was super good. The soloists were fantastic. Orchestra wonderful. It was a soul-enriching event.”
“It was truly overwhelming Again it so strongly brought over the message of the futility of war-just blind killing. The light effects were superb and the choirs were so well blended. May we never go deaf to the message we heard.”
“Absolutely awesome. Have seen several performances in CT over the year. This was tops.”
“It was breathtakingly beautiful. Absolutely the most beautiful performance I have seen in years. Well done to this amazing group of people who organised the event and the talented people who performed. I salute you!”
“A very professional performance, and emotional at times. Very well done, worthy of any stage in the world.”
“World class. Haunting but beautiful. Should be compulsory viewing for all politicians. Blown away by the performances. Thank you.”
“Great concert and staging-lovely to see that awesome collaboration with the various choirs. Awesome.”
“Absolutely breathtaking!”
“Powerful, moving and inspiring. It should be compulsory viewing for all!”
“What a moving experience! The orchestra, soloists and choirs were superb.”
That was absolutely brilliant! So emotional and cleverly done! Standard was world class!”
“The revamped City Hall is fabulous. The singing and the orchestra were superb. Found the overall theme rather morose, but I guess that is what it was about stop wars and encourage peace.”
“A magnificent performance. Deeply moving. An absolute treat. Thank you!”
Rossini’s Stabat Mater was certainly a highlight on Cape Town’s classical music calendar. Please see what the audience had to say, below:
Reviews from the Cape Town Opera Facebook site:
“It was an amazing occasion. The music, soloists just sublime”.
“It was an extraordinary concert in this beautiful church”.
“Most enjoyable performance showcasing exceptional talent from all participants. Bravo. The standing ovation was well deserved”.
Reviews from Quicket:
“I saw STABAT MATER for the first time. It was simply awesome. I had tears in my eyes at the end. The composer, the conductor, the orchestra, the solo artists, the choir, the venue, everything was just perfect. I wish more people could have the joy of seeing this work of art.” ~ Hartmut
“A thrilling performance. The choir was extraordinary, the soprano and mezzo soprano duets were glorious, the bass soloist with the male section of the choir gut wrenching. Orchestra was superb in a very difficult space and the conductor’s interpretation brought sections of the score to the fore that I never focused on in recordings. An hour I will revisit many times in the future.” ~ Karen
“A wonderful performance of a sacred oratorio on Holy Saturday. Bravo! I enjoyed the venue in Paarl, too.” ~ Kevin
“An absolutely sublime event. Well organised and an absolute joy to attend. Thank you! I hope there will be more such events in the future.” ~ Linda
“Excellent performance by each of the choir, soloists, orchestra and conductor! Thank you for a very special and emotionally moving experience of the Passover!” ~ Petrusa
A Celebration in Song was certainly a celebration, and a “royal” affair, performing I Was Glad, by Hubert Parry, composed for the crowning of King Edward VII and performed again at the Coronations of King George V as well as King Charles III, and Crown Imperial by William Walton, commissioned for the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
The recent concert was a magnificent coming together of voices – of the Symphony Choir and the youthful voices of SACS Boys High School and St Cyprians Girls High School. I’m sure, for the scholars, it was one of the highlights of their school choir careers, to raise the roof of the City Hall in joyous singing! What an experience, and to perform the S.A. premier of the Rohrau Mass by a South African composer to boot!
The performance of the mass received high praise from Shane Woodborne. He had this to say:
“Congratulations, I am so happy for your interpretation of this work. You [Levi] conducted the dynamics beautifully and controlled the forces perfectly. This is musically probably the best I’ve heard and it was a fantastic performance!”
What more could one want from the composer himself!
John Rutter’s Magnificat and anthem, Look at the World were equally rousing!
It was a wonderful collaboration with the Symphonic Wind Ensembles of the University of Stellenbosch and Windworx, with whom we hope to forge an ongoing relationship and look forward to performing together again in the future.
The enthusiasm and exuberance of the scholars was contagious and has also set the scene for future collaborations with school choirs. We hope that this experience will foster a love of classical oratorio-style music in the youth so that they will go on to sing in choirs later in life and become the audiences of the future to keep this style of music alive.
Reviews from Quicket:
“Beautiful music – an excellent performance by Wind band and the 180 member Choir. The Conductor was excellent- all in all a fantastic concert.” ~ Pamela
“What an evening of musical magic. Thank you to the SACS music family for broadening our son’s horizons” ~ Fagmieda
“A magnificent performance. It was a feast for the ears. A truly uplifting experience. Thank you!” ~ Karen
“This was one of the best choir productions I’ve ever seen. The sound quality was unbelievable. The children’s behaviour was impeccable. The scores performed were world class. It was really goose bump inspiring!” ~ Liezl
“Absolutely awesome, heartwarming; commitment was evident, excellent performances” ~ Anon
“It was a wonderful and joyous event. It is an especially laudable initiative by the Symphony Choir to collaborate with school choirs to foster the love and understanding of choral and classical music among the youth to educate young musicians and grow future audiences. Really fantastic!!! A huge amount of rehearsal time must have gone into this concert, thank you all so much for enriching the cultural life in Cape Town. A special thanks to the conductor.” ~ Anon
Rossini’s Stabat Mater was certainly a highlight on Cape Town’s classical music calendar. Please see what the audience had to say, below:
Reviews from the Cape Town Opera Facebook site:
“It was an amazing occasion. The music, soloists just sublime”.
“It was an extraordinary concert in this beautiful church”.
“Most enjoyable performance showcasing exceptional talent from all participants. Bravo. The standing ovation was well deserved”.
Reviews from Quicket:
“I saw STABAT MATER for the first time. It was simply awesome. I had tears in my eyes at the end. The composer, the conductor, the orchestra, the solo artists, the choir, the venue, everything was just perfect. I wish more people could have the joy of seeing this work of art.” ~ Hartmut
“A thrilling performance. The choir was extraordinary, the soprano and mezzo soprano duets were glorious, the bass soloist with the male section of the choir gut wrenching. Orchestra was superb in a very difficult space and the conductor’s interpretation brought sections of the score to the fore that I never focused on in recordings. An hour I will revisit many times in the future.” ~ Karen
“A wonderful performance of a sacred oratorio on Holy Saturday. Bravo! I enjoyed the venue in Paarl, too.” ~ Kevin
“An absolutely sublime event. Well organised and an absolute joy to attend. Thank you! I hope there will be more such events in the future.” ~ Linda
“Excellent performance by each of the choir, soloists, orchestra and conductor! Thank you for a very special and emotionally moving experience of the Passover!” ~ Petrusa