À la Française: Piano and Violoncello Sonatas

À la Française: Piano and Violoncello Sonatas

with Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello) and Nicolene Gibbons (piano)

7 May 2026

Odeion

19:00

À la Française celebrates beautiful cello and piano sonatas played by two top South African musicians!

Anmari van der Westhuizen is an associate professor and head of the Odeion String Quartet. She graduated cum laude with a BMus (Hons) from Stellenbosch University, completed the Grosses Diplom (cum laude) at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and undertook further studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne with Professor Maria Kliegel (Konzertexamen). She also holds UNISA Licentiates in Performing and Teaching (both cum laude) and earned her PhD in Music Performance from the University of Pretoria in 2013. Winner of major competitions, including the ATKV Forté, SABC, Oude Meester, and the University of Natal 75th Anniversary Prize, Anmari received chamber music training from members of the Alban Berg, Amadeus, Borodin, Brodsky, and Hagen quartets, as well as Hatto Beyerle, Györgi Kurtág, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She has performed as soloist with all major South African orchestras and appeared widely in Europe, including with Music-on-Line and the Wiener Streichorchester. A former member of the Koehne Quartet Wien, she has performed across Australia, Europe, Asia, Africa, the UK, and the USA. Notable highlights include a 2007 solo recital of contemporary works in Vienna at the invitation of the Austrian Composers' Union, and numerous premieres by composers such as Wolfgang Nening, Hannes Heher, Hubert du Plessis, Hendrik Hofmeyr, Lise Morrison, Matthias van Dijk and Andile Khumalo. Her recordings include a debut solo CD with Ilse Schumann, featuring world premieres by Roelof Temmingh and Egon Wellesz, as well as the well-received Romantic Sonatas. Anmari previously directed the University of Cape Town String Ensemble and currently conducts the OSM Camerata and the Odeion Sinfonia.

Nicolene Gibbons was born in Bloemfontein. She studied piano at the UFS with Catharina Struthers while taking composition classes with Prof Johann Potgieter. Nicolene began playing on radio and television, particularly her own compositions, from a young age. She obtained her BAMus qualification at the UFS with Nettie Immelman as piano lecturer. She won overseas study bursaries from SAMRO, UNISA and ABRSM. Nicolene obtained a BMusHons cum laude at the University of Cape Town under the tutelage of Lamar Crowson. She then continued her studies at the Royal College of Music (London), where she received her master's degree in piano performance. Gibbons then obtained a master's degree in composition from the University of Cambridge. Nicolene has worked as a pianist, composer, and teacher for almost 30 years in England, including at the University of Cambridge and Uppingham School. Later, she specialized in chamber music and lied accompaniment. She moved back to South Africa five years ago and is now working and staying in Philippolis. She recently participated in the Klein Karoo Klassique with cellist Anmari van der Westhuizen. Nicolene's solo concert in Bloemfontein as part of the Vrystaat Klank & Klassik was met with great enthusiasm. She currently serves as piano lecturer at the OSM in an ad hoc capacity.

PROGRAMME:

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918): Sonata in D minor (1915) - Serenade et Finale

Francis Poulenc (1899 – 1963): Sonate pour violoncelle et piano, FP 143 (1948)

Olivier Messiaen (1908 – 1992): From the Quartet for the End of Time: Praise to the Eternity of Jesus

Cesar Franck (1822 – 1890): Sonata for violoncello and piano in A major