Mooiste Afrikaanse Liedere

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MOOI(ste) AFRIKAANSE LIEDERE

With Teresa de Wit (mezzo-soprano) & Lesley-Ann Mathews (piano)

8 May 2025 | Odeion | 19:00

Join us for a heartfelt musical celebration of Afrikaans – a language that has sung its way into the hearts of millions over the past century. Mooi(ste) Afrikaanse Liedere commemorates 100 years of Afrikaans as an official language through the timeless beauty of song.

This unforgettable evening features a hand-picked selection of beloved Afrikaans art songs – from the haunting melodies of S. le Roux Marais and the nostalgia of Koos du Plessis, to the poetic genius of composers like Arnold van Wyk, Gideon Fagan, and Pieter de Villiers. Expect a journey through emotion, memory, and heritage – a tribute to the richness of South African musical and poetic talent.

Featuring:

Teresa de Wit, an accomplished mezzo-soprano, brings decades of operatic experience to the stage. After earning her UNISA Performers Licentiate with distinction, she trained with both the Cape Town Opera Studio and Mimi Coertse’s renowned Black-Tie Ensemble. Teresa has captivated audiences in leading roles from Carmen to La Traviata and has performed major sacred works such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s B Minor Mass, and Jenkins' The Armed Man. With three cum laude music degrees from the University of the Free State, she now shares her expertise as a lecturer at the Odeion School of Music and the Kimberley Music Academy.

Lesley-Ann Mathews, a highly respected pianist and accompanist, graduated cum laude in piano performance from Potchefstroom University and later earned her master’s degree in chamber music under Albie van Schalkwyk. A trusted collaborator in countless concerts, festivals, and competitions, she has a UNISA Licentiate in Vocal Accompaniment (also cum laude) and serves as a staff accompanist at the University of the Free State.

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS:

Pieter de Villiers – 7 Boerneef-liedjies

Arnold van Wyk – Van Liefde en Verlatenheid or Vier Weemoedige Liedjies

S. le Roux Marais – Heimwee, Gebedjie, Rooidag, and more

Koos du Plessis – Kinders van die Wind, Skadu’s teen die muur

And other favourites by Gideon Fagan, P.J. Lemmer, Koos Kombuis, Laurika Rauch, and more!

Whether you’re a long-time lover of Afrikaans music or discovering its magic for the first time, this concert promises to stir your soul and celebrate a century of lyrical beauty. Come and experience some of the most beautiful melodies Afrikaans has to offer.

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