Arjan returns to Durban for Nordic Nights at City Hall
Berea Mail caught up with visiting Dutch conductor Arjan Tien between rehearsals with the KZNPO. He will conduct the Spring Season concert Nordic Nights on Thursday.
ARJAN Tien the world renowned conductor returned to Durban this week to join the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s World Symphony Series Spring Season at Durban City Hall.
The visiting Dutch conductor enjoyed some light moments outside the Durban City Hall before he will be on the podium once more for the fourth concert of the Spring Season with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra in the Durban City Hall on Thursday, 15 September. Tien said he loved returning to Durban and stopped counting the many trips he had been visiting the after the seventeenth time.
“I first came to Durban in 1998 when I was invited by Bongani Tembe, since then I must have been back at least 70 times. I do enjoy Durban the climate, people and have made many firends over the years,” he told Berea Mail between rehearsals. Initially a violinist and violist, Tien soon developed a strong interest in conducting. “As an instrumentalist I loved playing chamber music and playing in orchestras, the multitude of colours always interested me, and I love working with people and creating and making music together,” he added.
When in Durban, he said he loves going to the ocean. “I walk down the beach, or visit Umhlanga Rocks, or, time permitting, go and visit the game reserves.
While conducting may not seem like a physically demanding career, smiling Tien said conducting is part of his fitness regime. “When I have time I run, sometimes I’ll go the gym.”
Conducting is a serious job and requires many years of experience with both music to anticipate and cue intrumentalists and interpersonal people skills to be able to get the best out of orchestras at home and abroad, acording to Tien, but he has had some funny moments on stage. “Cueing an off stage musician, that was then stopped from playing by an doorman working at the concert hall, who told him he should stop playing because the concert had already started, not realising, that musician was in fact part of the concert….”
We asked Arjan three questions to get to know him better:
What does a renowned conductor listen to on hs iPod/ CD player?
Le nozze di Figaro with Nicolaus Harnoncourt, because my own production with Opera Zuid in the Netherlands of Le nozze starts rehearsing in less than two weeks!
What is your favourite meal? And least favourite?
Definitely sushi and curry. I can’t eat cheese (yeah I know, strange being Dutch…)
What are three things most people don’t know about you?
I’m married to a South African clarinet player, Maria du Toit, who has actually played solo with the KZNPO in the past. My South African debut was over 18 years ago with the KZNPO. I’m reading a nice book in Afrikaans at the moment by P.G. du Plessis; “Fees van die Ongenooides.”
It will be a busy week for KZN Philhamonic Orchestra as they rehearse for the Hilton Arts festival taking place this weekend, and preparing for a very special concert in the Durban City Hall on Thursday evening entitled “Nordic Nights.” On the programme will be Jacques Ibert’s exotic and evocative Flute Concerto performed by soloist Sabine Baird; and Edvard Grieg’s cheerful and buoyant Wedding Day at Troldhaugen.
The Spring Season concerts are every Thursday until 13 October. Call 031 369 9438 to subscribe to the Spring Season, or buy single tickets at www.computicket.com / 0861 915 8000 and Shoprite Checkers Money Market counters. Visit https://kznphil.org.za/ for more information.
