Their programme will open with the Trio Elegiaque no. 1 in g minor by Rachmaninoff – a lugubrious single movement work that pre-empts the more famous piano trio Op. 9 in which Rachmaninoff pays tribute to his mentor Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky’s mammoth Piano Trio is one of the truly great Romantic masterpieces for this genre, but perhaps because of the virtuosity required to perform it, is less seldom heard in concert than concert goers might like. Between these two trios, Trio Elegiaque will aptly include the Piano Trio no. 2 by Shostakovich. This trio is full of emotion attributable to the Second World War, the opening harmonics in the cello part perhaps symbolizing the desolation and cold of Siberia to the aggression of the second movement depicting the terrors of the fighting itself.

The concert takes place on Friday 23 September at 20h00 in the Endler hall.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

The evening will open with Sea Songs, by Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Dyptych, also by van der Roost and Themes from the Overture to the Magic Flute, arranged by Mike Hannickel. The text for Lank, lank gelede, originally in Flemish, has been translated into Afrikaans by Karin Maritz, adding a local flavor to this Belgian/South African collaboration.

USSWE will share the Endler stage with the Paarl Boys Primary School Choir and the renowned ERUB Children’s Choir, trained and conducted by ex-Matie, Martjie Burger, and former lecturer in the music department, Keith Jenneker, respectively. Parts for narrator, and actors will see the involvement of the Stellenbosch University Drama Department. The narrator will be played by Prof. Petrus du Preez, head of the Drama Department at the University.

Internationally acclaimed Belgian conductor, Rik Ghesquière will conduct this unique performance. This is the third year in which he will be working with the University of Stellenbosch Symphonic Wind Ensemble (USSWE) as guest conductor. Rik is also principal trumpeter in the Brussels Philharmonic and divides his time between playing and conducting both choirs and orchestras in Europe.

Learners from local primary schools are invited to attend this exciting evening, which will see traditional Fairy Tales “come to life” on the Endler stage.

Refreshments will be on sale during the interval.

Tickets for R50 (regular) and R30 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door. For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

The singing students of Stellenbosch University are off to the local Aquilla D’oro coffee shop to catch up on some lost time with family and friends. Come join us at the Fismer Concert Hall to experience the intricate operatic conversations and splashy public confrontations one can only find in an Aquilla D’oro coffee shop. Opera Kaleidoscope allows you to catch the rising stars of tomorrow up close in intimate presentations with piano accompaniment. Directed by Johannes Slabbert and Musical Director Arno Jones in collaboration with the SU Singing Division staff.

The concerts takes place on Tuesday 13 & Wednesday 14 September at 20h00 in the Fismer hall, Stellenbosch Konservatorium.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door.

For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.

Originally from Cape Town, Myles has completed his Bachelor of Music and Master of music degree, majoring in flute performance at Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Prof. Corvin Matei. He is currently living in Milan, Italy and finishing his studies at the Civica scuola de musica under the guidance of Maestro Raffaele Trevisani.

Sulayman is currently enrolled for a Master of Music (Solo Performance) degree at Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães.

Myles and Sulayman will be performing a varied programme, consisting of Sonatas by Cesar Franck and Liebermann. The Violin Sonata by Cesar Franck is arguably the most popular sonata ever written by a French composer. Its charm and depth of emotional content has inspired many instrumentalists to transcribe the violin part for their instrument. This sonata has thus become popular in its violin, cello and flute guise. The second half of the programme consists of a selection of concert pieces such as the Grand Polonaise by Boehm, Air Valaques by Doppler, Dutilleux’s Sonatine, Mozart’s Andante, a Madrigal by Gaubert and the Stiffielio variations by Rabboni.

Doppler has in the absence of great Romanic composers’ works for the flute filled this gap with a multitude of fantastically virtuoso works for the instrument. Liebermann, having been commissioned to write at least three works for Sir James Galway is perfect example of a great modern composer who writes virtuoso but idiomatic music for flute.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door one hour before the show.

The first half of the concert will include Rachmaninov’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli, one of the 20 pieces for solo piano from Messiaen’s suite Vingt regards sur l’enfant-Jésus, and Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 4. In the second half, Prins will perform Haydn’s Sonata in C minor and Brahms’ Variations on a theme of Paganini. This is a programme one would expect from a mature seasoned virtuoso, and expectation is high that the young Prins will dazzle with musicality beyond his years.

Megan-Geoffrey is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he recently completed the Master of Music programme as a piano student of Antonio Pompa-Baldi. Prins received his BMus degree from Stellenbosch University under the tutelage of Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhães.

The concert will take place at 16h30 on Sunday 14 August in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch.

Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door. For more information contact Fiona Grayer at concerts@sun.ac.za or 021 808 2358.