Cape Town Classical Culture

21/09/2016

The $9,000,000 woman... The first day of sales for the Bette Midler Broadway revival of 'Hello Dolly' breaks all records...

It's so nice to have her back where she belongs.

21/09/2016

'Sherlock' and its unique on-screen symmetry. A brief video demonstrates...

I’ve never actually watched an episode of Sherlock, but I’ve heard enough good things about the BBC series to know that it’s one of those Good Television shows. You know, the ones that smart-ish people love telling other smart-ish people that they need to watch.

18/09/2016

'Measuring' artistic quality. In England. With a checklist...

Most perturbed by the revelation that Arts Council England is planning "to impose quantitative measures of artistic quality" upon its Nation...

11/09/2016

Barbra Streisand sings a new version of Stephen Sondheim's 'Send in the Clowns', but with lyrics lambasting Donald Trump. It was filmed on a phone (and published via Twitter by actress Debra Messing "Will and Grace") during a Hillary Clinton fundraiser. The lyrics don't quite scan correctly; nonetheless, this will end up on one of those Barbra Streisand 'rarities CDs' someday...

Barbra Streisand via Debra Messing Twitter ongstress Barbra Streisand wowed a crowd at a New York fundraiser Friday night, turning Stephen Sondheim’s classic...

08/09/2016

Learning how to read music...

You’re probably familiar with the scene in Milos Foreman’s Amadeus (or its brilliant 30 Rock parody). Thomas Hulce as the irreverent musical prodigy feverishly dictates the “Dies Irae” section of his final, unfinished Requiem Mass in D minor, conjuring it out of thin air.

07/09/2016

Spend 'An Afternoon with Aurora' ('Sleeping Beauty')
and the Cape Town City Ballet
this upcoming Friday (afternoon) 9 September at 4:00pm
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The R100 ticket price includes:
1. Highlights from 'The Sleeping Beauty'
2. Meeting the ballet's cast
3. A 'curtain-up' guide to 'scene changes'
4. Programme signing by cast
5. A chance to win:
-- a Johnny Bovange-designed tiara;
-- a pair of Gaynor Minden pointe shoes from Ballet World; or
-- a leotard and matching skirt
NOTE: For more details, visit Cape Town City Ballet's excellent page...

05/09/2016

Many behind-the-scenes pictures from 'The Prisoner'- a BBC series from 1966. This often-bewildering supposed sequel to 'Secret Agent'/'John Drake' often seemed to have been co-directed by Salvadore Dali and Luis Bunuel...

Images from the cult television show The Prisoner mark the 50th anniversary of filming in Portmeirion, north Wales.

01/09/2016

The X(ylophone) Factor?
BBC's new reality show: 'The Great Orchestra Challenge'...

Amateur orchestras are the lifeblood of our musical culture, says Paul Daniel, one of the judges of the BBC’s new series searching for the country’s best

31/08/2016

'Sleeping Beauty' opens this weekend at the Artscape
Here are specifics: 'Notes' follow at end...
Fri 02 Sept 7:30pm- Orchestra (*CTPO) and Guest Artists
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Sat 03 Sept 2:00pm- Orchestra
Sat 03 Sept 7:30pm- Orchestra and Guest Artists
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Sun 04 Sept- No performance
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Fri 09 Sept 7:30pm- Recorded music
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Sat 10 Sept 2:00pm- Orchestra
Sat 10 Sept- No evening performance
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Sun 11 Sept 3:00pm- Orchestra
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Fri 16 Sept 7:30pm- Recorded music
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Sat 17 Sept 2:00pm- Orchestra
Sat 17 Sept 7:30pm- Orchestra
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Sun 11 Sept 3:00pm- Orchestra (FINAL PERFORMANCE)
******
Notes:
*CPTO- Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
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Tue 06 Sept 7:30pm- Dancers Love Dogs
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Fri 09 Sept 4:00pm 'An Afternoon with Aurora'- a one-hour event for children based on 'Sleeping Beauty'
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26/08/2016

Beethoven and... China...

The composer's music and life story are deeply woven into China's cultural, social and political fabric, inspiring revolution and providing comfort.

23/08/2016

'Trumpeters, saxophonists, and pipers beware'...

Trumpeters, saxophonists and pipers beware - playing a wind instrument could damage your lungs, say doctors.

20/08/2016

Schumann's advice to young musicians...

Classical musicians aren’t in it for the money; aimless practice does more harm than good; it takes a genius to recognise one … Schumann’s Advice to Young Musicians is key, writes Steven Isserlis