Orchestra welcomes spring in powerful concert

The Rand Symphony Orchestra kicked off the spring season on a high note, with its Spring Concert at the NG Church in Malcolm Road, Blairgowrie, on 31 August and 6 September.

Carel Henn was the guest conductor and pianist Elize Kruger was the soloist.

Henn is a resident of Blairgowrie, and a founding member of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

He performs as a cellist with various chamber music groups, has released his own albums and teaches cello. Kruger is a freelance musician and teacher, and head of music at Jeppe High School for Girls.

The concert included an Overture to Stradella by Friedrich von Flotow, followed by Mendelssohn’s First Piano Concerto in G Minor, and ended with Haydn’s London Symphony, No. 104 in D Major.

The majority of the concert could be described as upbeat, loud, bold, even intense or turbulent.

But often the music would soften, juxtaposing the moods of the pieces.

Henn conducted the music in such a way that Kruger and the orchestra complemented each other extremely well.

It was in Haydn’s London Symphony, No. 104 that Henn’s musical genius was revealed. The piece was long, but loud and soft, and rough and gentle music were balanced perfectly. The oboes were allowed freedom to play on their own at times, which perfected an evening heralding in the start of a season symbolic of hope and new beginnings.

“It was lovely,” said chairperson of the orchestra, Isabel Bradley. “Everyone played well and Carel [Henn] did really well.”

Kruger said that she and Henn had first met when they played together in the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1997. The two have since performed together many times and released a CD. “We work well together,” Kruger said. “We have an understanding.” Henn said that he enjoyed the concert, and praised the orchestra’s performance.

Details: Rand Symphony Orchestra info@randsymphony.co.za, 011 793 4936.