Win tickets to the St John Passion show

STAFF REPORTER

A number of choral masterpieces performed by top South African choirs can be heard at Bishops in Rondebosch from Thursday May 12 to Saturday May 14.

Inspiring works ranging from the gripping St John Passion by J.S. Bach to a selection of Sergei Rachmaninov’s haunting Vespers (‘All-Night Vigil’) can be heard.

Participating choirs include the Cape Soloists’ Choir, Tygerberg Children’s Choir, Cape Chamber Choir, Tygerberg City Choir and the Cape Town Youth Choir. Well-known choral conductors like Leon Starker, Hennie Loock, Jaco Dippenaar and Linda Claassen will lead their respective choirs with the internationally acclaimed, Norwegian choral pedagogue and conductor, Kåre Hanken, appearing as guest conductor with both the Cape Soloists Choir and the Cape Town Chamber Choir.

The first not-to-be-missed concert on May 12 features maestro Hanken conducting the Cape Soloists Choir and Camerata Tinta Barocca in a performance of the remarkable St John Passion by JS Bach. For this special performance, Hanken will include the original opening to the second part which is not often heard in concerts.

On May 13, three choirs can be heard in a concert titled Romancing the Tone. The Tygerberg Children’s Choir, conducted by Hennie Loock, will enthrall the audience with their award-winning singing and the Tygerberg City Choir, conducted by Linda Claassen, will perform Louis Vierne’s beautiful and not often heard, Messe Solennelle, Op.16, with Mario Nel at the organ. The Cape Town Chamber Choir’s programme will be conducted by Kåre Hanken.

In Nature and Humankind, the last concert on May 14, the Cape Soloists Choir, conducted by Jaco Dippenaar, and Cape Town Youth Choir, conducted by Leon Starker, will treat the audience to a very special programme which includes Knut Nystedt’s famous Three Motets and a selection from Rachmaninov’s Vespers (‘All-Night Vigil’).

All concerts take place in the Memorial Chapel on the grounds of Bishops and start at 7pm. Tickets are available through www. quicket.co.za

This mini choral festival forms part of the second International Choral Conductors’ Seminar to be hosted in South Africa from May 12 to May 15.

For more information about the seminar you can visit www. ccsinternational.co.za

* Southern Mail is giving away two double tickets for the performance of the St John Passion on May 12 at 7pm. To stand a chance to win, SMS SMChoir your name and contact details to 34445. SMSes cost R1.50. Lines are open and close on Sunday May 8 at midnight. Winners will be notified telephonically.