As the last shimmers of the sun’s rays set over the mountains, making room for the moon, I sipped the produce of the winelands, surrounded by patrons eagerly awaiting the start of the concert. It was the perfect setting for an evening of classical music.
Oude Libertas Amphitheatre plays host to a variety of concerts for the classical music lover. Tonight’s concert, Landskap/Landscape, included the Stellenbosch Male Vocal Ensemble, guitarist James Grace and actress Anna-Mart van der Merwe as well as dancers from the JazzArt Dance Theatre group.
The artwork and stage design were done by well known local artist, Strijdom van der Merwe, who had created an African landscape, with large screens at the back showing images of the land and the floor tracing the roads of Southern Africa.
Despite the large crowds, there was an anticipatory stillness in the air, broken only by the occasional squawk of a hadeda. Then a loud boom sliced through the quiet evening air as a drummer announced the arrival of the 16 strong Male Vocal Ensemble, who gave a very impressive performance, which was improved still further by the accompaniment of James Grace. I’d heard of this award-winning guitarist, and I knew he was one of South Africa’s leading concert artists, but I hadn’t expected him to be so dashing! And his breathtaking playing gave a romantic Spanish overtone to the glorious African evening.
Next on stage was well known and loved Afrikaans actress, Anna-Mart van der Merwe. In her role as narrator, she gave a moving interpretation of the poem Afrika by poet Leeile Disang Raditladi, translated by Antjie Krog – a poem which depicts Africa as a young black girl, with all her treasures, beauty and richness.
Conductor Rudolf de Beer led the vocal group in song with the sounds of the guitar transporting us to another place and time, when things were much simpler, and the land was still ‘mother’. Songs that stood out for me included ‘Lacrimosa’ by Calizto Alvarez and ‘Song of the Blacksmith’ by Gustav Holst. Completing the massaging of our senses were the dancers from the Jazz Art Dance Theatre whose interpretation of the music was exotic and entertaining, adding yet a further element to the all-encompassing spectacle.
The climax of the evening was Anna-Mart’s moving and powerful rendition of the poem Dood (Death) by Dia!Kwain, translated by Antjie Krog. You could have heard a pin drop, so deep was the collective breath held in that tangible atmosphere.
As the men from the vocal ensemble group ended off the concert with an interpretation of ‘Peace I Leave with You’, the final drum beat was followed by a two second pause and then a heartfelt standing ovation from a very appreciative audience. As the crowd filled out of the theatre, and the warm night air greeted us, I once again counted my blessings to be in Africa and to have these wonderful opportunities to see world class performers.
Esmé Nothnagel
Landskap/Landscape was a part of the Oude Libertas Summer Festival, which runs at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre until 11 March.
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