The final concert of the 13th annual Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, conducted by Kazem Abdullah, with the French violinist Nicolas Dautricourt as soloist, was a “grande finale” in the true meaning of the word. PAUL BOEKKOOI reflects on music making that continued the kind of frisson which was experienced in just about every concert […]

With the 13th Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival nearing its final hours, my impressions as a first-time visitor by far overshadowed any expectations I may have had – all due to the unique and boldly interactive nature of it. At times one felt like a runner on a fast moving treadmill. You are left breathless […]

Musical careers are seldom built on a continuation of triumphs, but rather on a consistent growth in both musical maturity and, in tandem with that, technical finesse. Just prior to 2008 when the remarkable pianist Alfred Brendel made a personal, rational decision to refrain from giving concerts in public after a career of 60 years, […]

Our century is characterised by two prominent social phenomena: a hunger towards everything, but time for just about nothing. For most of our grand-parents music history ended with Stravinsky and Britten. Since that era until now an impressive list of new composer’s voices, literally from John Adams to Alois Zimmermann, has been added to those […]

Typecasting in any form does not fit into the picture of Denis Goldberg, one of a small, elite group of legendary South African struggle heroes. Apart from being a rare humanitarian and mensch, he is as active as ever at the age of 83. He was the main focus at the 2016 Stellenbosch International Chamber […]

The 13th edition of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival has passed its halfway mark by the time you read this. What a fascinating journey it has already been and the best is still to come! Standing strong in that category is the world premiere of this year’s commissioned work, Moments in a Life. It […]

The heat is on at the SICMF 2016 – not outside where the Western Cape is in the grip of winter, but in every available rehearsal space as well as nook and cranny where student ensembles can fit in to prepare for their daily concerts. The feeling of expectation regarding this coming weekend’s orchestral concerts […]

A life spent with music as the predominant driving force is more enriching in comparison with what almost any other profession can provide. This is one of the main reasons why this incredible art form should be a birth right: not an option or a second choice. It encapsulates emotional wellbeing which can be accumulated […]