 July/August Newsletter24 July 2008Winter Symphony Season reminders The CPO’s Winter Symphony Season starts on 7 August and continues until 31 August. The season includes three concerts conducted by Benjamin Zander, the world-renowned American conductor, inspirational speaker on leadership and author of the Art of Possibility (23, 28 and 31 August). Among others, he will conduct Beethoven’s 9th Symphony twice (28 and 31 August) and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Ravel). The other two conductors for the season are Pieter Daniel (7 August) and Theodore Kuchar (14 and 21 August). The soloists for the season include two of the most exciting pianists today - Hungarian-born Klará Würtz (who plays Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major on 21 August) and Venezuelan star pianist Gabriela Montero (who performs twice - Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto on 23 August and Beethoven’s 5th piano concerto on 28 August) as well as Liesel Stoltz (flute, who plays Rodrigo’s Concerto Pastoral for Flute and Orchestra on 7 August) and Pieter Daniel (violin – playing Shostakovich’s 2nd violin concerto on 14 August). Concert-goers are reminded that the Parade will not be available for parking during August – but we will be arranging for additional security in the streets around the city blocks near the City Hall. Full details appear on the Concert Calendar of our website. Booking is at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat ( Other upcoming events: · Friends of Orchestral Music fundraising concert: on 31 July (18:30 for 19:00 at The Old Townhouse, Greenmarket Square) the Friends of Orchestral Music present a flute and piano recital by Gabriele von Dürckheim (flute) and Este Visser (piano). The programme includes works by Bach, Schubert, Rachmaninov, Mouquet, Burton and Mower. Call Henk at · Beethoven recitals: Two recitals in the 7-recital cycle of Beethoven’s 32 sonatas by celebrated pianist Gustavo Romero take place on 3 and 17 August at the Centre for the Book. The 7-part cycle of all Beethoven’s Sonatas is presented by Steinway Recitals in collaboration with Pianoforte, the CPO and Fine Music Radio. · Artscape/CPO Youth Music Festival: Artscape and the CPO host the 37th annual classical Youth Music Festival on 16 August at the Artscape Theatre. Young singers and solo instrumentalists will perform with the CPO conducted by Theodore Kuchar. Book at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat (
· Book now for the 3rd Cape Town International Summer Music Festival taking place from 20 November until 18 December. The final (18 December) concert under the baton of Krzysztof Penderecki, one of the most highly rated modern composers and conductors in the world, will be preceded by 17 other concerts with many highlights. Full details appear on our website and booking is at Computicket. In Short · University of Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival: During the July vacation members of the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Youth Wind Ensemble participated at the University of Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. Five of these members were sponsored by the CPO to participate in this event - Siyathemba and Noluvuyo Nteta (violin), Genevieve Wheatley (viola), Kwazi Mkula and Dane Coetzee (cello). · Updated information about the first Len van Zyl Conductors’ Competition will be made available on the website within the next few weeks. · Staff news: Steve Coltrini, the CPO’s ad hoc percussionist has succumbed to cancer. Coltrini last performance with the CPO was during Peter Louis van Dijk’s “Windy City Songs” concert on 22 June. He will be dearly missed at the CPO’s concerts.
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