These are the words of violinist Annien Shaw, Concertmaster for Messiah, performed in the Oudtshoorn Civic Centre on Friday 8 December at 18:00. Shaw says the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra (CTBO) is very excited to bring Handel’s Messiah to Oudtshoorn, which will be a one-of-a-kind performance of this oratorio, like never heard or experienced before.
“Many of us have great memories of Oudtshoorn from our student days, performing in Pops concerts at the KKNK. It will be a trip down memory lane. We are also curious to see how our baroque instruments, many with gut strings, will adjust to the Klein Karoo’s drier climate, as baroque instruments are very sensitive to climate and temperature changes.”
Alto vocalist Lente Louw, one of the 12 singers and founding member of the Alto vocalist Lente Louw, one of the 12 singers and founding member of the Lutesong Consort, joining the CTBO on stage, describes this form of ensemble singing as her first love. “Performing an ensemble work of this magnitude with such esteemed colleagues is a tremendous joy and privilege. The fantastic emotional trajectory built with the smart use of texts from all over the Bible can truly be appreciated when called upon to sing every line of every chorus with care and expressivity, as Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord and director) is asking from us. Afterwards, it feels as if you were on quite an internal journey, and this is what we hope to share with audiences and take them along on the same journey.” Lutesong Consort, joining the CTBO on stage, describes this form of ensemble singing as her first love. “Performing an ensemble work of this magnitude with such esteemed colleagues is a tremendous joy and privilege. The fantastic emotional trajectory built with the smart use of texts from all over the Bible can truly be appreciated when called upon to sing every line of every chorus with care and expressivity, as Erik Dippenaar (harpsichord and director) is asking from us. Afterwards, it feels as if you were on quite an internal journey, and this is what we hope to share with audiences and take them along on the same journey.”
Soprano Lynelle Kenned says Handel’s Messiah is one of the most well-known choral works and to participate in this familiar project with the likes of the CTBO and Lutesong Consort is unique, special, and exciting. “Furthermore, I look forward to bringing this recital to Oudtshoorn, where I have performed with Erik Dippenaar and the CTBO in the past at Klein Karoo Klassique. It is a lovely and familiar audience, and it is exciting to share the work with them. The aspect of Messiah that I look forward to most is to share the spectacular choral works with the audience. To perform these works with this exquisite group of singers is an early Christmas present.”
Renowned Austrian natural trumpeters Raphael Pouget and Julian Ritsch complete the ensemble on stage. Pouget collaborates with the CTBO for a third time and says he, too, is excited to perform in the Oudtshoorn summer heat. “I am really looking forward to our concert in Oudtshoorn and it makes it extra special for me as I have never before performed Messiah on such hot days.” For Ritsch this is a first visit to South Africa. “I am overwhelmed with everything this country has to offer. I am looking forward to playing in Oudtshoorn and meeting many new people”, he concludes.
The 12 singers from Lutesong Consort on stage are Lynelle Kenned, Elsabé Richter & Louise Howlett (sopranos), Lente Louw, Minette du Toit-Pearce & Marcelle Steinmetz (altos), Jason Atherton, Willem Bester & Levi Alexander (tenors) and Aubrey Lodewyk, Keaton Manwaring & Patrick Cordery (basses).
This choral masterpiece, supported by the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) and Klein Karoo Klassique, is presented at the Civic Centre in Oudtshoorn on Friday 8 December 2023 at 18:00.
Tickets are available online from Webtickets, or in-store at Pick n Pay with prices starting from R100 per ticket. For more information, contact the KKNK office at 044 203 8600, via email at info@kknk.co.za or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.
The 28th KKNK takes place in Oudtshoorn from 23 to 31 March 2024, with the 15th Klein Karoo Klassique presented in Oudtshoorn from 9 to 11 August 2024.
Photos: Repetition photos of Handel’s Messiah presented in Oudtshoorn on Friday 8 December at 18:00.