Celebrating Schumann’s Bicentennial

If Robert Schumann had been around, he’d have been turning 200. Of course, he is no longer with us, but it seems that his music always will be - at least for as long as there are still people in the world who appreciate the finer things that life has to offer.

Our esteemed performers for the day are Zanta Hofmeyr (violin) and Malcolm Nay (piano).

Hofmeyr and Nay have become known for their memorable renditions of the ten violin sonatas by Beethoven, the two Prokofiev sonatas, the Brahms violin sonatas, and the three Grieg sonatas. They often perform complete programmes of one composer's works, and they decided this year to tuck wholeheartedly into the works of Robert Schumann, in celebration of the two centuries of his music that the human race has relished. The larger part of the programme will be occupied by Schumann's two sonatas for violin and piano, Opus 105 and 121.

These works were composed near the end of Schumann's life, and they are full of the longing and melancholy beauty that often characterises his music. The programme will also include two arrangements of his most famous songs, Mondnacht and Widmung.

This is a programme not to be missed, especially since these works have not been performed much in our concert halls. They are magnificent in both their scale and musical expressivity.

The Programme:
Sonata no. 1 in a minor Opus 105
-Mit leidenschaftlichen ausdruck
-Allegretto
-Lebhaft
Mondnacht (Song arranged for violin and piano – Hofmeyr/Nay)
INTERVAL
Sonata no. 2 in d minor Opus 121
-Ziemlich langsam
-Sehr lebhaft
-Leise, einfach
-Bewegt
Widmung (Song)

Venue: Promusica’s Main Auditorium
Date: Sunday, September 12
Time: 4pm
Tickets: R75 per person
R40 per person for pensioners/students/groups of 10 or more

The Joburg Promusica Theatre, situated within the Civic Centre at Florida Park, Roodepoort, offers ample free, guarded parking for patrons.

Bookings can be made at any Computicket outlet, or online at www.computicket.com