On Easter Monday, 5 April, Nelson Mandela Square will once again be celebrating Easter with an inspired African-style performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah featuring the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra and an exciting line-up of acclaimed South African soloists and choirs, under the baton of Richard Cock.

Across a span of more than 250 years, Handel’s Messiah still maintains an extraordinary appeal for musicians and audiences alike and this year’s performance of the most popular of all oratorios will be no different.

The event, now in its 26th year, is held as an annual fundraiser for Women for Peace (Basadi ba Khotso), and proceeds from programme sales will go to this charity. ‘Through this initiative we’ve supported Women for Peace over the years,’ says Sharon Swain, Nelson Mandela Square Centre Manager. ‘Women for Peace is a nonprofit organisation that empowers grassroots communities through education, self-esteem and skills development whilst re-instilling human values. Messiah highlights the spiritual grace of Easter time and each year it is wonderful to see families celebrating together and enjoying this time at the Square.’

The event will take place at Nelson Mandela Square on 5 April at 15h00. Entrance is free.

Cape Philharmonic Autumn Symphony Season  April- May 2010
Diary notices

 
Thursday 1 April, 20:00

Venue: City Hall

The multi-award winning Croation cellist Stjepan Hauser performs Dvořák’s Cello Concerto at the first concert of the CPO’s Autumn Symphony Season. The conductor is South-African born Pieter Daniel.   The programme also includes the Adagietto from Mahler’s Symphony No.5 and Brahms’ Third Symphony.
 

Thursday 8 April, 20:00

Venue: City Hall

The Mauritian-born soprano Danielle Halbwachs performs Richard Strauss’ “Four Last Songs” at the CPO’s Symphony Concert at the City Hall on 8 April. South African-born Pieter Daniel is again on the podium and the programme also includes Samual Barber’s  Adagio for Strings and Schubert’s Ninth Symphony (the “Great”).
  

Thursday 15 April, 20:00

Venue: City Hall

The soloist during the CPO’s Symphony Concert on 15 April in the City Hall is the sought-after Dutch violinist Simone Lamsma, performing Khatchaturian’s Violin Concerto.   The CPO is conducted by Bulgarian violinist, composer and conductor Martin Panteleev.    The other works on the programme are Mozart’s  “Idomeneo” Overture and Berlioz’  “Symphonie Fantastique”.
 


Thursday 22 April, 20:00

Venue: City Hall

The Bulgarian composer and conductor Martin Panteleev again conducts the CPO on 15 April at the Symphony Concert in the City Hall. The soloist is the South African cellist Heleen du Plessis playing Schumann’s Cello Concerto and the other two works on the programme are Rimsky Korsakov’s “Capriccio Espagnol” Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition”     

Thursday 29 April, 20:00

Venue: City Hall
 
The charismatic young British conductor Joolz Gale during the CPO’s Symphony Concert on 29 April in the City Hall.  One of Europe’s foremost pianists, Russian-born Katja Apekisheva performs Grieg’s Piano Concerto and the programme also includes Cherubini’s “Les Abencérages” Overture and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. (the “Scottish” ).
 

Thursday 6 May, 20:00

Venue: City Hall
 
Leading South African pianist François du Toit  & Guest Concertmaster of the CPO Farida Bacharova perform Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto for Violin and Piano during the CPO’s Symphony Concert on 6 May at the City Hall. The conductor is the British conductor Joolz Gale and the other works on the programme are Kodaly’s Dances of Galanta and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.
 

 
Thursday 13 May, 20:00

Venue: City Hall
 
The multi-award winning Russian cellist Grigory Alumyan performs Richard Strauss’ Romanze for Cello in F major, Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Tchaikovsky’s Pezzo Capriccioso at the last concert of the CPO’s Autumn Symphony Season  on 13 May in the City Hall.  This concert is conducted by German conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing and the programme also includes Weber’s Overture to Der Freischütz and Schumann’s Symphony No.2.

More details: www.cpo.org.za/calendar.q <http://www.cpo.org.za/calendar.q>

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