Sign up here to receive our free newsletter
| << Jan 2009 >> | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Back to News
Franschhoek Spring Festival of Classical Music
Date Published: 29 Oct 2008
Franschhoek has to be the only village in South Africa that has the audacity to put on a Classical Music Festival every year for five years – and each one of them has made a profit – even if it is sometimes a small one – that goes to local charities.
This year’s Festival was no exception. And the Festival seems to me to have reached a serene maturity of purpose, of attendance and of audience appreciation. Every concert was well attended by a rapt, attentive and appreciative audience. I don’t have figures yet, but I am sure that there were a record number of tickets sold, in spite of hard times, and the extreme difficulty of securing sponsorships.
As usual the genius of Christopher Duigan on his piano was only matched by his brilliant ability to present just the right music for each occasion, played by his exceptional ‘group’ of musicians, and presenting fresh, new and innovative interpretations. Those who attended the Ave Maria concert on Sunday morning will know exactly what I am talking about.
Sadly, the beautiful Kawai Grand piano in the Church has to go. It needs to be paid for – R140,000 to be precise, and it is used for all kinds of events in the community – Church, weddings, concerts, the Christmas Carols and so on, but Christopher Duigan can hardly be expected to keep it here to play just two festivals a year. Anybody willing to help? To hire something similar when we need it will cost R6000 each time.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that this Festival is now a sparkling feature of our lexicon of offerings in the valley. Its good for us. I now, more than ever, need help to run it please – ring me on 876 4304. David Walters.
Do you think the SA tourism industry will benefit in the long term from the 2010 Soccer World Cup?
