Klein Karoo Klassique Virtual Concert Series: 27 Aug - 25 Sept 2020

 

• Allegro
• Menuetto
• Adagio
• Menuetto
• Allegro maestoso

Peripatetic and versatile, Mozart spent his life travelling between Austria, Italy and France writing operas, symphonies, five violin concertos, some 30 concertos for one, two, or three pianos and various concertos for other instruments and works. Haydn called him the greatest composer he had known, a sentiment fully subscribed to by Mahler, Strauss, Tchaikovsky and many others. His Clarinet Concerto and his Gran Partita are recognised as his greatest achievements for wind instruments. 
 
The Serenade No. 11 in E-flat major K. 375 was composed by Mozart on 15 October 1781 for St Theresa's Day. It was originally scored for six players – two clarinets, two horns and two bassoons. Mozart later revised the score to include parts for two oboes.

With Lisa White (oboe 1), Caren Bam (oboe 2), Daniel Prozesky (clarinet 1), Annelize de Villiers (clarinet 2), Simon Ball (bassoon 1), Brandon Phillips (bassoon 2), Caroline Prozesky (horn 1) and Conrad van der Westhuizen (horn 2)
 
 
 
Mozart was peripateties en veelsydig en het sy lewe lank tussen Oostenryk, Italië en Frankryk gereis, waar hy operas, simfonieë, vyf vioolkonserte, ongeveer 30 konserte vir een, twee, of drie klaviere en verskillende konserte vir ander instrumente en werke geskryf het. Haydn noem hom die beste komponis wat hy geken het, 'n gevoel waarmee Mahler, Strauss, Tsjaikovski en vele ander saamgestem het. Sy Clarinet Concerto en sy Gran Partita word erken as sy grootste prestasies vir blaasinstrumente.
 
Die Serenade No. 11 in E-mol Majeur K. 375 is op 15 Oktober 1781 deur Mozart geskryf vir Sint Theresa-dag. Dit is oorspronklik vir ses spelers geskep – twee klarinette, twee horings en twee fagotte. Mozart het die partituur later hersien om dele vir twee hobo’s in te sluit.
 
Met Lisa White (hobo 1), Caren Bam (hobo 2), Daniel Prozesky (klarinet 1), Annelize de Villiers (klarinet 2), Simon Ball (fagot 1), Brandon Phillips (fagot 2), Caroline Prozesky (horing 1) en Conrad van der Westhuizen (horing 2)

• Allegro
• Menuetto in canone
• Andante
• Allegro

Of the more than 600 works that Mozart wrote in his short lifetime, several were devoted to the woodwinds, a section he is said to have made into stars. Mozart was perhaps the first to write parts for specific instruments – up until this time, the woodwind parts had been interchangeable, but he took the distinctive characteristics of each instrument into account and dedicated a part to each. Bassoonists can be grateful that he elevated that instrument from continuo to full player. 
 
The Serenade No. 12 in C minor, K. 388 is one of Mozart's most puzzling and mysterious works. It is orchestrated for an ensemble that is traditionally employed for light entertainment, yet it is defiantly dark in its character. Musicologists are not even truly certain when it was composed, although watermark research and other evidence have placed the composition at circa 1782.

With Lisa White (oboe 1), Caren Bam (oboe 2), Daniel Prozesky (clarinet 1), Annelize de Villiers (clarinet 2), Brandon Phillips (bassoon 1), Simon Ball (bassoon 2), Caroline Prozesky (horn 1) and Conrad van der Westhuizen (horn 2)
 
 
 
Van die meer as 600 werke wat Mozart in sy kort leeftyd geskryf het, is verskeie gewy aan houtblaasinstrumente, 'n orkesafdeling wat deur hom tot sterre gemaak is. Mozart was moontlik die eerste wat dele vir spesifieke instrumente geskryf het – tot op daardie tydstip was die houtblaasinstrumente vervangbaar, maar hy het die onderskeidende kenmerke van elke instrument in ag geneem en 'n deel aan elkeen toegewy. Die skuif van die fagot, van continuo tot volle speler, is aan hom te danke.
 
Die Serenade No. 12 in C-mineur, K. 388 is een van Mozart se mees geheimsinnig en raaiselagtige werke. Dit is georkestreer vir 'n ensemble wat tradisioneel gebruik word vir ligte vermaak, maar tog is dit uiters donker in karakter. Musiekwetenskaplikes is nie eens seker wanneer dit saamgestel is nie, hoewel navorsing oor watermerke en ander bewyse die komposisie in ongeveer 1782 plaas.
 
Met Lisa White (hobo 1), Caren Bam (hobo 2), Daniel Prozesky (klarinet 1), Annelize de Villiers (klarinet 2), Brandon Phillips (fagot 1), Simon Ball (fagot 2), Caroline Prozesky (horing 1) en Conrad van der Westhuizen (horing 2)

 

• Finale: Allegretto
• Scherzo: Allegro moderato
• Andante cantabile (quasi adagio) attacca
• Adagio - Allegro
• This ‘little symphony’ in B-flat for Wind Nonet was premiered in Gounod’s hometown of Paris, in 1885, at the Salle Pleyel. Gounod studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won the prestigious Prix de Rome when he was 21. He went on to compose sacred works including a mass, as well as the opera Faust and several orchestral works. Petite Symphonie, only published in 1904, well after his death, has four movements alive with melody, including the second movement which could be seen as an aria for flute.
   
  It is a symphony of sorts, straddling the boundary of large-ensemble chamber music and wind symphony. Gounod wrote it at the instigation of his friend, Paul Taffanel, who is widely viewed as the founder of the modern French school of flute playing.
  
  With Gabriele von Dürckheim (flute), Lisa White (oboe 1), Caren Bam (oboe 2), Daniel Prozesky (clarinet 1), Annelize de Villiers (clarinet 2), Brandon Phillips (bassoon 1), Simon Ball (bassoon 2), Caroline Prozesky (horn 1) and Conrad van der Westhuizen (horn 2)
   
   
  
  Hierdie ‘Klein simfonie’ in B-mol nonet vir blasers is in 1885 vir die eerste keer in Gounod se tuisdorp, Parys, op die Salle Pleyel gespeel. Gounod het aan die Konservatorium in Parys studeer en die gesogte Prix de Rome op 21-jarige ouderdom gewen. Hy het ook gewyde werke, die opera Faust en verskeie orkeswerke gekomponeer. Petite Symphonie, wat eers in 1904 jare na sy dood gepubliseer is, bestaan uit vier bewegings met lewendige melodie, insluitend die tweede beweging wat as 'n aria vir fluit gesien kan word.
   
  Hierdie is 'n soort simfonie wat strek oor die grense van groot ensemble kamermusiek en ’n simfonie van blasers. Gounod het dit met aanmoediging van sy vriend, Paul Taffanel geskryf, wat beskou word as die stigter van die moderne Franse skool vir fluit.
   
  Met Gabriele von Dürckheim (fluit), Lisa White (hobo 1), Caren Bam (hobo 2), Daniel Prozesky (klarinet 1), Annelize de Villiers (klarinet 2), Brandon Phillips (fagot 1), Simon Ball (fagot 2), Caroline Prozesky (horing 1) en Conrad van der Westhuizen (horing 2)
  
   

Made possible by Francesco Walter and Festival Musikdorf Ernen (www.musikdorf.ch)
 
With Charl du Plessis (piano), Werner Spies (bass) and Hugo Radyn (drums)
 
This recital was recorded in 2017 at the Festival Musikdorf in Ernen, in the spectacular St. Georg Church. It can now be seen in South Africa for the first time, as part of the Klein Karoo Klassique Concert Series.
 
The programme consists of J.S. Bach's Concerto for Two Violins, as well as a new creation by Du Plessis: a suite that combines music from Bach with jazz favourites. This suite includes Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme, two parts from Anna Magdalena Notenbüchlein, Take the A Train and Chick Corea's well-known Spain.
 
The Charl du Plessis Trio is one of the most successful crossover ensembles in South Africa and has already won two SAMA Awards. They have been guest artists at the international music festival in Ernen, Switzerland for several years. This festival has existed for 47 years and invites artists from Europe and America to perform in the Alps. The Charl du Plessis Trio's interpretation and arrangements of Baroque music were particularly popular at this festival.
 
The Swiss press describes this recital as follows: “Famous themes from the Baroque observed through a jazz lens – he did this with perfection. Du Plessis proves himself in his rhythmically charged performance as a virtuoso pianist of big style” – Walliser Bote
 
 
Charl du Plessis Trio in Ernen
 
Moontlik gemaak deur Francesco Walter en Festival Musikdorf Ernen (www.musikdorf.ch)
 
Met Charl du Plessis (klavier), Werner Spies (bas) en Hugo Radyn (tromme)
 
Hierdie uitvoering is in 2017 by die Festival Musikdorf in Ernen, in die skouspelagtige St. Georg Kerk opgeneem. Dit is nou vir die eerste keer in Suid-Afrika, as deel van die Klein Karoo Klassique Konsertreeks te sien.
 
Die program bestaan uit J.S. Bach se Concerto for Two Violins, asook ’n nuutskepping van Du Plessis: ’n suite wat musiek van Bach met jazz-gunstelinge vermeng. Hierdie suite sluit Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme, twee dele uit die Anna Magdalena Notenbüchlein, Take the A Train en Chick Corea se bekende Spain in.
 
Die Charl du Plessis Trio is een van die mees suksesvolle crossover-ensembles in Suid-Afrika en het reeds twee SAMA-toekennings verower. Hulle is al vir jare lank gaskunstenaars by die internasionale musiekfees in Ernen, Switserland. Hierdie fees bestaan 47 jaar en nooi kunstenaars van Europa en Amerika om in die Alpe op te tree. Die Charl du Plessis Trio se vertolking en verwerkings van Barokmusiek het veral byval gevind by dié fees.
 
Die Switserse pers beskryf dié uitvoering as volg: “Famous themes from the Baroque observed through a jazz lens – he did this with perfection. Du Plessis proves himself in his rhythmically charged performance as a virtuoso pianist of big style” – Walliser Bote