Durban music picks: November 5 2010

There are many reasons to head into the KZN countryside this week.

• An evening of orchestral music magic takes place in Pietermaritzburg this week when the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Alex Fokkens and featuring soloists
  Ralitza Cherneva and Rifoloe Oliphant (violin); Joanne Rozario (clarinet) and Christopher Duigan (piano) perform a rousing repertoire of some of the cornerstones of the classical canon. On the programme is the Overture from Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus opera; the Adagio from JS Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor; CM von Weber’s Concertino; Alexander Borodin’s In the Steppes of Central Asia; Jean Sibelius’ Finlandia; Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin; Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No 2 and Maurice Ravel’s immortal Bolero.
  Pietermaritzburg City Hall, Thursday November 11, 7.30pm. Tickets range from R90 to 150 and seats can be reserved at Parklane Super Spar. Tel: 033 3423487

• Two delightful musical soirees in the picturesque KZN Midlands this week feature visiting London-based clarinet and saxophone impressario Joanne Rozario who joins forces with Pietermaritzburg concert pianist Christopher Duigan. The first concert is entitled Music For A Summer Evening and takes place at St Agnes Church in Kloof and consists of a selection of classical and popular music for clarinet, alto saxophone and piano, much of which is contained upon their recent CD collaboration entitled Close Your Eyes And Listen. This is also the title of the second concert, a luncht-time affair at enchanting venue Tumble Downs at Curry’s Post. The programme includes selections from the Victorian Kitchen Garden Suite; Six Pint Sized Pieces by South African composer Richard Guinness and music of the ‘nuevo tango” by Astor Piazzolla and other crossover classic-pop originals.
  Music For A Summer Evening takes place on Tuesday November 9 at 7.30pm with entrance R80 in advance or at the door. Tel: 031 764 2037. Close Your Eyes And Listen takes place on Saturday November 13 at 12.30pm. Tickets are R250 which includes a three-course meal. Advance booking is essential. Email [email protected]