A Rotating Culture Capital for Africa?

Mike van Graan has written an interesting article on the cultural capitals in Europe, America and the Arab world. The intention is to showcase the cultural life and development of the city for one year. It is used to promote integration and co-operation getting to know and respect the heritage of each other. Participating cities have found benefits in terms of tourism, cultural development, image-building, infrastructural growth, the attraction of skilled citizens to the city and sparking new enterprises. This issue will be discussed at the World Summit on Arts and Culture to be held in September.

Sounds good to me. I think that our arts community needs a boost like this. As South Africa is constantly building itself into a tourist destination, it looks like a win-win situation for all. Just imagine full houses at the theatres! It will also open links with the rest of Africa.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival: 3 & 4 April 2009

The 10th Annual Festival festures more than 40 international and local artists to perform over two days on five stages. It has earned the status of being the most prestigious event on the African continent.

Camerata Tinta Barocca Concerts

19 February - Soloist Bridget Rennie-Salonen will perform works by Bach, Stamitz, Vivaldi and Corelli
19 March - Soloist Matthew Reid will perform Mozart's Clarinet Concerto

Pictures of You

The story of a perfect marriage and what happens when one partner decides that they want something more. It is described as visual theatre experimenting with different forms, masks and puppets. fth/conspiracy of clowns combines hearing and deaf actors to create new forms of theatre

It is brilliant! Although not a word is spoken, the actors are eloquent in portraying the different emotions and telling the story of the struggle when one partner in a marriage wants to change. The story is so true about how people change in relationships over time, sometimes losing something of themselves.
Angela

Romanz

Romanz is a group of four young South African men performing romantic Afrikaans music as well as some golden sounds, which will remind you of Josh Groban, Il Divo and Westlife.

Karen Zoid

SAMA 2008 Best Female artist with her own distinctive brand of music

Florian Uhlig

Piano repertoire from Bach to compemporary compositions

CODA

CODA is a unique collaboration between vocalist Yolanda Yawa, electric cellist Carol Thorns, saxophonist Judy Brown, electric violinist Cristina Chiselev and House DJ Nick Matthews. Their distinctive sound is a mix between house, jazz and African rhythms.

Cape Philharmonic Orchestra

Dvořák Symphonic Variations Op.78
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante K. 364 E-flat Major
Mendelssohn Violin concerto Op. 64 E Minor

Cape Classic Concerts

Cape Classic is a set of live concerts of classical music and a cultural exchange between South Africa and Europe, which takes place each February/March.

Amanda Strydom

Well known Afrikaans singer and cabaret artist performs Van Brel tot Briel at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre for the University of Stellenbosch Miss Matieland Beauty Competition

So You Think You Can Mince?

Keiron Legacy and Lilly Slaptsilli share the art of 'mincing' in a new hysterical show

Laugh

David Newton's new show where he explores the fundamentals of what makes us all laugh.

Angels on Horseback

This tongue-in-cheek show is inspired by country music legends such as Dolly Parton and John Denver, and with songs about relationships, break-ups and sports icons, Angels on Horseback leave no issue as sacred with their unique and hilarious take on all aspects of South African life. Adult content.

We saw it last year and had a good laugh. I must admit that John Denver's songs now have a whole new set of hysterical lyrics - will never be the same. Great night out.
Angela

Barleycorn Annual Music Festival

Artists include Boulevard Blues, Louise Day Band, Little Kings, Albireo, Julia Jakobsen Band, Wayne Pauli, Ripcord, Broken Back Blues Band and Bill Knight & Julia Conradie. The Barleycorn Music Club offers a stage for local musicians to perform original compostions every Monday night at the Reygersdal Sports Club

La Sylphide

A romantic tale set in the Scottish Highlands, this ballet brings the gossamer-light sylphs out to play, with tragic consequences. A must for all ballet lovers!
Showing at Maynardville and Masque Theatre

Carmen

The story is set in Seville, Spain, circa 1830, and concerns the eponymous Carmen, a beautiful Gypsy with a fiery temper. Free with her love, she woos the corporal Don José, an inexperienced soldier. Their relationship leads to his rejection of his former love, mutiny against his superior, and joining a gang of smugglers. His jealousy when she turns from him to the bullfighter Escamillo leads him to murder Carmen.
Directed by Teddy Davis and conducted by Victor Trichart

Opera in a Convent Garden

The annual event organised by the Rotary Club of Kromboom. This year features Pretty Yende, Given Nkosi, Thato Machona, Victoria Stevens, the Springfield Chamber Choir with Albert Combrink, Musical Director leading the ensemble of Elina Koytcheva (Violin), Alex Fokkens (Double Bass) and Jane Theron (Harp).

We go every year as a must do and are never disappointed. It is through light programmes such as this that I have developed an interest (not quite love) of opera.
Angela

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts

What a wonderful way to end the weekend - having a picnic in the most magnificent gardens in an open air concert, listening to fantastic local musicians. In the next 3 months there is the Parlotones, Arno Carstens, Jonny Cooper Orchestra, Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Malaika and Friends, The Rudimentals, The Dirty Skirts, aKing and HHP and Friends.

Love to hear what you think about each concert.
Angela

Theatre Sports

Improvisation theatre at its best. Two teams of actors compete against each other and are rated by the audience. There are different games where the actors must act out stories based on topics selected by the audience. Capetonians can see the show twice a week: Mondays at the Intimate Theatre and Tuesdays at Kalk Bay Theatre.

It is a hilarious and spontaneous evening where no two shows are ever the same. It must be the longest running show in Cape Town. Megan Furniss and her team are brilliant.
Angela

Tannie Evita Praat Kaktus

A revisionist look at the history of white South Africa from the arrival of Jan van Riebeek in 1652, the Great Trek, Blood River, the arrival of the National Party, the end of apartheid, the birth of our democracy to the realities of today.

Icons and Aikonas

Evita Bezuidenhout, the diva of Pieter Dirk Uys, presents South Africa's history from A-Z: apartheid to Zuma in a way that only she can. She remembers the past to celebrate the future featuring many familiar characters such as PW Botha, Pik Botha, Adriaan Vlok and Nelson Mandela and newer characters like Grace Mugabe, Nowell Fine and Bill Clinton.

I love the irreverent sense of humour and the opportunity to laugh at the absurdity of our time. Evita's shows are alwaya a favourite of mine.
Angela

PYTHONesque

Pythoneque tells the story of the Oxford and Cambridge graduates John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Eric Idle and the previously American, Terry Gilliam, who came together in 1969 to form one of the best loved comedy troupes ever – Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Jazz Season at Backsberg Estate Cellars

Backsberg Estate Cellars in Paarl will feature a different band on the last Friday of each month until June 2009

Richard Cock Opens the 2009 Konservatorium Concert Series 31 January 2009

The concert, entitled Baroque Spectacular is commemorating 200 years since the death of Haydn (1809) and 250 years since the death of Händel (1759).This sparkling programme includes Händel's Concerto Grosso Op 6 No. in D major, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No 5 BWV 1050, which contains the spellbinding virtuoso harpsichord cadenza thought to be the first ever written, Haydn's violin concerto in C Major VII A and Bach's double violin Concerto in D minor BWV 1043 in which the joy of life itself captivates listeners at each and every performance!

Theatre Attendance Survery - South Africa

Karen Jeynes in Cape Town is conducting research into theatre attendance in South Africa. It will produce valuable information on trends which will be used to develop the performing arts industry. It's only ten questions and takes no time at all. Click on the title to go to the survey. Thank you for your help.

What is good acting?

In the past week I have been fortunate to go to two productions which both got standing ovations. It made me wonder what the difference is between good and great acting. For me it is a case of I know it when I see it, but I have no idea what I am looking for. I suppose it is the ability of the actors to transport the audience into the story and keep us spellbound throughout the play. To create a new believable reality and observe life from another perspective. I would be interested to hear from people who are more knowledgable about this how they define great acting and what it takes to achieve greatness.

Tshepang

Laura Foot Newton's play about the rape of a baby girl in the Northern Cape of South Africa. The story is narrated by Simon who introduces the audience to life in the forgotten dusty town and the events leading up to the rape and what happened afterwards. The play is described as a story of love, forgiveness and coming to terms with a devastation of this magnitude.

This is an incredibly powerful and disturbing play, not for the faint hearted. The fact that the audience sat in silence for about two minutes after the lights went down at the end of the play was a testimony to the emotions evoked and the skill of the actors. As one of our group said, "It hits you in the gut."
Mncedisi Shabangu, who plays Simon, is amazing holding the audience in the palm of his hand as we observe the comedy and tragedy of life in the town. Constance Didi who plays Ruth was a powerful presence on stage and eloquently portrayed the lost hope and betrayal. This is definitely only for adults. It is a must see but as I said, not for the faint hearted.

The Tempest

A story of love, revenge and forgiveness. A storm brings the enemies of Propero to his island. Prospero is a magician who uses the spirits to exact his revenge. At the same time there is the unfolding romance between Miranda and Ferdinand. As with all romances the tragedy is resolved and the play has a happy ending.

The press release notes that the production is filled with African ritual, music and dance. I was a bit cautious about this as I have found in the past that adaptations do not always work well. It was fabulous and I was totally caught up in the story. The drawcard is to see Sir Anthony Sher and John Kani perform. However all the characters were strong and I particularly liked Ariel. The spirits in African costumes added to the supernatural sense of the story and worked so well. The audience loved it and gave the cast a standing ovation and was rewarded with two curtain calls. Highly recommended. Love to hear what others think.

Carmen

Playbill Productions present Bizet's Carmen at the Masque Theatre as part of the Theatre's 40th anniversary

Flamenco: Fire and Grace

Saudiq Khan, Robert Davids, Andre Webb and dancer maria Cortes are performing at the Masque Theatre 28-31 January

Zoe Beyers and Francois du Toit

Zoe Beyers (violin) with Francois du Toit will be performing works by Beethoven (Sonata No 8), Stravinsky's Suite Italienne, the Porgy and Bess Suite by Gershwin, four pieces by Kreisler and Tchaikovsky's Valse Scherzo Op. 34.

As You Like It

As You Like It brings love and hope alive and celebrates the joy of losing your heart and finding your soul. This production, unabashedly romantic and flat-out funny. Suitable for the family. Duration two and a half hours