Another KZN Philharmonic Orchestra spring season concert
Blowing your own trumpet! Guest soloist for this evening’s Thursday KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s final Early Spring Season concert, violinist Susanne Hou, serenades the hadedas at Cowey Centre ahead of the second and final concert in the Playhouse Opera, starting at 7pm this evening, She is photographed in the shade of a magnificent golden trumpet tree (Tabebuia chrysotricha)
Image: Shelley Kjonstad
The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra (KZNPO) is set to enchant music lovers with another 'Early Spring Season concert on Thursday (September 4) at the Playhouse Opera in Durban.
As an emblem of orchestral excellence for over three decades, the KZNPO is committed to delivering an optimum of musical fulfilment, as articulated by Bongani Tembe, the orchestra's Chief Executive and Artistic Director.
Tembe said: “We extend a welcoming hand to the music lovers of Durban, and across KwaZulu-Natal to our 2025 Early Spring Season. Our upcoming season comprises programmes perfectly curated for a rich listening experience.” He also emphasised the orchestra’s dedication to school visits, community engagement, and nurturing the next generation of artists.
On August 28, the season commenced with renowned Cape Town conductor Brandon Phillips leading the orchestra in Mozart’s enchanting Overture to The Magic Flute. This piece, which premiered in Vienna on September 30, 1791, just two months before Mozart’s untimely death, was a masterful prelude that intricately blended themes of light, darkness, love, and virtue – setting the stage for the adventure that unfolded in the opera.
The festivities continue on September 4 with conductor Daniel Boico returning to the podium for an evening filled with beloved classics. The concert opens with Mendelssohn's celebrated Hebrides Overture, famously known as Fingal's Cave, which paints an evocative portrait of Scotland's tumultuous coast, ensnaring audiences with its vivid imagery since its premiere in 1832.
Canadian violinist Susanne Hou, will also be in action. She will perform Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No 2. This concerto is a hallmark of the Romantic era, showcasing fiery virtuosity and lyrical beauty, renowned for its dramatic first movement and a lively finale infused with Gypsy flair. The concerto premiered in 1862, with Wieniawski himself as the soloist, establishing its status as a staple of violin repertoire.
The evening will climax with Schubert's Ninth Symphony, affectionately dubbed ‘The Great’. As the pinnacle of Schubert's symphonic achievements, the audience can expect a breathtaking finale driven by the exhilarating energy of the fourth movement, Allegro vivace, as maestro Boico and the KZNPO deliver a performance that promises to resonate long after the last note.
For attendees who prefer not to navigate traffic, convenient bus services will operate from several suburbs, including Upper Highway, Westville, North Coast, and Berea. Tickets are available through Quicket or via the KZNPO offices for subscribers.
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