STANDARD BANK

MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS

Opera, jazz, chamber, popular, tradi-tional and classical music all have a place in the 1997 Standard Bank National Arts Festival which runs in Grahamstown from July 3 to 13.

This year's operas are firmly rooted in Africa. Set in the bush, Sacred Bones is a passionate meditation on love and be-trayal with libretto by Michael Williams and music by Roelof Temmingh.

Fred Abrahamse directs this Capab production with David Tidboald conducting musicians drawn from the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.

KZN INPUT

In the same vein is Opera Africa's The Magic Flute from Durban which features the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Paul Loeb van Zuilenburg of the NPO teams up with Kobus du Plooy for a trumpet and organ recital.

Kobus du Plooy
[du plooy pic]
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Apart from performing two symphony concerts, the NPO has the honour of presenting the opening night concert on July 3 at the Monument Theatre.

The programme, A Night in Vienna, fea-tures the music of composers associated with Vienna including Strauss's ever popular Blue Danube Waltz as well as tunes from Lehar's The Merry Widow.

NPO director Bongani Tembe (tenor) and Linda Bukhosini (soprano) will feature as soloists along with Beverly Chiat (so-prano), Isabella van Zyl (mezzo-soprano), Raphael Vilakazi (baritone) and the Durban Serenade Choir. The NPO will be conducted by the African-American maestro, Willie Waters.

BRITAIN

On an international front, causing a stir is sure to be the Endellion String Quartet from Britain. This ensemble has been hailed as one of the finest of its kind in the world.

Also from Cambridge comes the Choir of Trinity College comprising some 25

choral scholars. The choir was formed by organist and director of music Richard Marlow in 1982.

Choir of Trinity College
[trinity pic]
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A decade after his first appearance in Grahamstown with the musical, Sekun-jalo, the festival pays tribute to Gibson Kente with a programme of his lively township rhythms and vocals sung by Sibongile Khumalo. The director is Diphiwe Khumalo with choreography by Nomsa Manaka.

A special blend of old and new South African music comes courtesy of multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger Pops Mohamed.

Local-born tenor Robert Brooks, who has toured extensively and studied with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, will give a recital of Schubert lieder.

The 1997 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner, Sibongile Mngoma, will cover the whole musical spectrum supported by a string quartet, piano, percussion and backing singers.

Guitarist Avril Kinsey, well-known on the festival fringe, is presenting The



Sensual Guitar and a selection of virtuoso favourites from three continents.

Avril Kinsey
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In addition, a number of distinguished musicians will be performing at this year's festival, including pianist Jill Richards who will appear with Mathilda Hornsveld in a concert for two pianos and again as part of the Egoli Trio.

Adding further interest to the musical offerings are six cellists from the Transvaal Philharmonic Orchestra who make up Cellissimo, a chamber ensemble with a varied Bach-to-Beatles-type repertoire.

NEW MOVES

Several lively young South African companies present New Moves I and New Moves II offering dance lovers a fusion of dance styles.

New Moves II

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The two New Moves programmes show-case the talents of Durban's Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre as well as the Technikon Pretoria dance department, the Johannesburg Dance Theatre and the First Physical Theatre Company from Grahamstown.

Siwela Sonke will present Heritage choreographed by Simpiwe Magazi and Jay Pather's and then she blew in.

FINALISTS

BAT Centre artists, Joseph Manana and Ashby Sikhakhane are the two finalists in the Gauloise art competition, the finals of which will be held from July 4 to 8 during the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.