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| Hilton, KZN Midlands: The Hilton Arts Festival |
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From Friday, 17 September 2010
To Sunday, 19 September 2010
Every day
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Hits : 145
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The MUSIC REVIVAL Concert Series
with
Christopher Duigan and Friends
FRI 2000 TWO PIANISTS
The Hilton Festival Concert Series opens with a thrilling and exhilarating performance featuring two outstanding pianists in concert. Resident in KZN, concert-pianists Andrew Warburton and Christopher Duigan join forces for a much-anticipated collaboration. Established concert soloists in their own right, and used to having the entire stage to themselves, they combine their musical prowess at two pianos (one each), on one stage, and for one evening only. Their well balanced programme of music includes three gems from the two piano repertoire; WA Mozart’s Sonata in D major, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s virtuoso Fantasie-Tableaux/Suite No1, and a lively tail piece by jazz-classic crossover genius, George Gershwin.
SAT 1000 BAROQUE MUSIC FOR TWO VIOLINS
The plaintive strains of music from the Baroque (1600-1750) for two violins, harpsichord and cello is a perfect start to your morning at the Hilton Festival. Expertly performed by Ralitza Cherneva, leader of the well- established ensemble Baroque 2000, she is joined by fellow Baroque 2000 musicians Cecilia di Cecco (cello) and newcomer Refiloe Olifant (violin). Christopher Duigan joins at the harpsichord. This intimate grouping, using ‘baroque’ bows and appropriate stylistic inflection, choose sonatas for one and two violins by masters of the Italian Baroque; Antonio Vivaldi, Tomaso Albinoni and Arcangelo Corelli, including his celebrated La Folia Variations. In keeping with the arched musical lines and buoyant rhythms they also include a selection of Mozart's Church Sonatas for the same combination, with organ. Showing a marked influence of the Italian Baroque style, Mozart composed these short effervescent Sonatas as a teenager. A spirited selection of music that soars through the resonant spaces of the Hilton College Chapel.
SAT 1200 CELEBRATING CHOPIN I
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Fredric Chopin’s birth near Warsaw, Poland in 1810, Christopher Duigan marks this special occasion with a selection on music focusing on this composer's highly engaging musical output. Chopin wrote almost exclusively for the piano. His unique balance of poetry and intellect, personal expression and classical principal makes this music profound and also widely appealing. This performance includes the Waltz in C-sharp minor, ‘Minute’ Waltz, Nocturne in E-flat, Ballade No 1, ‘Raindrop’ Prelude, Fantasie-Impromptu and 'Heroic' Polonaise op 53. In March 2010 Christopher Duigan was invited to join the Steinway Artists Roster joining an exquisite circle of renowned musicians, including Artur Rubenstein, Vladimir Horowitz, Alfred Brendel, Lang Lang, Keith Jarrett and Diana Krall.
SAT 1400 A POET’S SONG: THE MUSIC OF SCHUMANN I
A festival highlight is this special collaborative concert exploring the music of German 19th century composer, Robert Schumann (1810 - 56). Quintessentially Romantic, exuding personality, intimacy, lyricism and great imagination, Schumann's music is also celebrated this year on the 200th anniversary of his birth. This highly rewarding programme includes a representative selection of lieder, or art songs, performed by 2010 Kathleen Ferrier Award Winner, Njabulo Madlala. Madlala’s performance of Schumann’s dramatic ballad, Belsazar was described as ‘riveting’ by the The Times at the Wigmore Hall, London earlier this year. Complementing the songs is Schumann’s Quartet for Piano and Strings op 47, a richly scored and captivating work, played by Christopher Duigan (piano), Ralitza Cherneva (violin), David Snaith (viola) and Cecilia did Cecco (cello).
SAT 1800 LAST NIGHT OF THE HILTON PROMS
A visit to the popular Last Nights the Hilton Proms is set to become an annual event following last year’s whopping performance. Together with massed choirs from the Pietermaritzburg and Midlands Youth Choir and other local choristers, this gathering of festival soloists offers festival goers an impressive line-up. Come and sing along in the Hilton College Chapel the rousing anthems Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia and I Vow to Thee, My Country. Festival soloists offer a variety of performances including Stanislav Angelov (accordion) with a five-piece tango ensemble, Federico Freschi sings Granada, soprano Michele Corbin sings Ebben ne'andro lontana from La Wally, Njabulo Mdlala sings a selection of songs including those from his traditional Zulu repertoire, and Christopher Duigan, together with the Festival String Quartet, play the beguiling Romance from Chopin's Piano Concerto No1. A rousing and varied musical celebration where you the audience are encouraged to join in.
SUN 1000 MUSIC FOR A SUNDAY MORNING: THE MUSIC OF SCHUMANN II
The second of the Schumann programmes features a wonderfully evocative hour of music for two of the most captivating orchestral instruments, oboe and viola. In an engaging yet gently melodic morning concert enjoy Schumann’s Adagio and Allegro for oboe and Marchenbilder for viola, along with rarely performed compositions by Schumann’s wife, Clara Wieck, - Three Romances. The instruments also combine in an evocative selection of seldom performed music by 19th century German composers that continue Schumann’s imaginative legacy; Charles Martin Loeffler (1861-1935) - Two Rhapsodies, and August Klughardt (1847-1902) - Schilflieder. The performers are outstanding soloists from the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra; Durban-born Magrit Deppe (oboe) and British-born Principal Viola, David Snaith with Christopher Duigan (piano). A must for lovers of beautiful music.
SUN 1200 CELEBRATING CHOPIN II
The second volume of Chopin's piano music details another selection of the composer’s magnificent piano writing, and one that gives voice to his Franco-Polish heritage. Christopher Duigan includes the ‘Military’ Polonaise, ‘Revolutionary’ and ’So Deep is the Night’ Etudes, Mazurkas op 7, together with the Barcarolle and Ballade No 4, acknowledged as Chopin's music perfectly crafted compositions. Celebrating Chopin I & II were received with critical acclaim the Grahamstown Festival where the Cue: In some spellbinding playing, Duigan highlighted and interpreted Chopin's emotionalism. [He] revealed his total immersion and identification with Chopin's repertoire and compositional idiom. ... performances of sheer magic. Moments such as these…will stay with me for some while.
SUN 1400 CAFÉ EUROPA
With both instrument achieving a familiar presence in popular cultures around the world the original combination of accordion and piano is one that reveals an uncanny range of possibility. Bulgarian born Stanislav Angelov, now based in Cape Town and leader of the famed Cape Town Tango Ensemble, joins forces with pianist Christopher Duigan. In a combination of easy going café solos from France and Italy, jazz improvisations and tango rhythms, they explore many popular styles together with music from tango halls of Argentina, French sidewalks and Italians cafes; music that exudes appeal, charm and great passion.
SUN 1600 I GRANDI VOCE: CELEBRATION OF GRAND OPERA AND SONG
Federico Freschi (baritone) a favourite with audiences at the Hilton Arts Festival, is joined by dramatic soprano Michele Corbin. Michele recently returned to South Africa after extended studies in London. In a programme of grandly conceived operatic highlights and songs from classic musicals they perform duets and arias from Verdi's La Traviata, and Il Travatore plus arias from La Wally and Bellini’s Norma. A must for lovers of opera, song and thrilling vocal performance.
SUN 1900 HILTON FESTIVAL MILONGA
By popular request we present the inaugural Hilton Festival Milonga– a traditional dance event live tango music. In the casual a but atmospheric setting of the Dining Room, Stanislav Angelov, leader of the Cape Town Tango Ensemble, with pianist Christopher Duigan, are set to perform a set of tangos, milonga and vals, traditional and Argentinean, for dancing and listening. Calling all milongueros; end the festival on a bold note with a genuine mix of performance and participative experience.
Christopher Duigan is a Steinway Artist.
Visit Hilton Festival online for more details.
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Location: Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Contact: 033 383 0127 to book
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