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Virtuosic Violins, Lyrical Melodies

Virtuosic Violins, Lyrical Melodies

Date: 2014-10-03
Joanna Frankel, who was born in Philadelphia in the United States, consistently garners worldwide acclaim for her technical prowess,her artistic sensitivity and her captivating performances of the classical repertory's most challenging masterpieces. She has been hailed as "formidable" in Palm Beach, "riveting" in South Africa, "heartfelt" in TheNetherlands, and "an uncommonly fine young violinist" in Washington D.C.

With her passionate vision of performance excellence her appointment as the leader of the KZN Philharmonic in February 2013 reignited the entire orchestra's fervour to ensure the Orchestra's reputation as the finest in Africa.

She has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician worldwide, at such important venues asCarnegie Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Rachmaninoff Hall, Glazunov Hall, Suk Hall, Rudolfinum,Slovak Philharmonic Hall, Vanemuise Hall, and The Sibelius Academy's Chamber Music Hall. On Thursday evening the audience will have the singular opportunity of hearing her interpretation of Brahms' Violin Concerto.

As she describes the work, "It is a favourite of mine because it so brilliantly achieves a tour de force of virtuosic violin playing while including the orchestra so seamlessly - it is like a large scale chamber music work for violin and orchestra, and I can really feel the interaction between the two as such. Also, the concerto features solo orchestral players frequently, for example the huge lyrical oboe solo which begins the second movement, allowing the partnership of violin and orchestra to really shine."

As an ambitious young musician of the 21st century, Joanna is also committed to serving the communities inwhich she performs. She is passionate about making classical music relevant, accessible, and life changing to those who hear her play. She rarely visits a city without performing in a school or hospital, speaking to her audience during a concert, teaching a master-class, or making time to help an aspiring student, since she knows well that not all those in need of music are able to journey to a traditional concert hall. For Joanna, music is simply the language she speaks - and a sacred vehicle for connection, communication, andinspiration.

If this isn't sufficient inspiration to be at Thursday evening's concert, the rest of the programme is. Based on a trip through time in Vienna, one of the most musical cities in the world, the Orchestra will perform Haydn's Symphony No 8 and Webern's Passacaglia, Op 1 under the baton of acclaimed conductor, cellist, keyboarder and musicologist, Kenneth Slowik, also from the US. The concert starts at 7.30 pm on Thursday 2 October in the Durban City Hall.

There is a pre-concert lecture at 6.15 pm in the Alhambra Room of the Playhouse (across the road) at which Dr Liezl Marét Jacobs will offer listener's a deeper understanding of the music they will hear in the concert.

The remaining concerts of the Spring Symphony season on the 9th and 23rd October will be preceded by performances of the Durban Music School's Jazz Band and the KZN Youth Wind Band respectively. These young musicians offer a free curtain-raiser to concert goers on Church Walk at the entrance to the City Hall from 6.30 - 7.15 pm.

From virtuosic violin playing this week to the thrills of Carmina Burana on 23 October - a concert not to be missed as it includes massed choirs and the KZN Philharmonic under the baton of world-renowned Conductor Justus Franz. It is a milestone event for Mr Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive and Artistic Director, who will be celebrating twenty years at the helm of Durban's beloved orchestra.