GEORGE NEWS - George is celebrating its bicentenary this year and to start their contribution to the celebrations, the Music Society opened their programme with the vocal group Musico Magnifico who were greeted by a full theatre.

The varied programme of operatic arias, duets and lighter excerpts from musicals, opened with Mozart’s Porgi Amor sung by Suan Steyn. She has a lovely clear voice but she needs to match her strong upper register to the rest of her range. However, her singing of I could have danced all night seemed effortless and was very rewarding, as was her duet with Geran Steyn of Mozart’s Pace Pace.

Bizet’s Habanera was suitably coquettish as Jacobi de Villiers toyed with her suitors and her combining with Steyn in the duet from Delibes’ Lakmé was beautiful.

Jerome Kern’s Ol’ Man River was sung by Geran Steyn, who brought us all the pathos of those hard times in a very pleasing version of this well-loved song - deep bass notes and all.

Christiaan Olivier sang Schubert’s Standchen and here his upper register appeared a little insecure. He fared much better in his duet with Suan Steyn, Time to Say Goodbye, where the two voices blended well.
The quartet was accompanied throughout by Deline Steenkamp-Brits. Transcription of orchestral scores for piano are never easy but her accompaniments were fully supportive, sympathetic and, above all, musical.

On the whole the ensembles were well chosen to suit the voices and delight the audience. The finale, You’ll Never Walk Alone was very moving.

The Music Society must be congratulated on providing a most appropriate stage setting and the timing of a Sunday afternoon appeared to suit the enthusiastic audience.
We look forward to the rest of the "200 Celebration" concerts.

The George Music Society is celebrating its 55th year of existence. George music teacher Alma Oosthuizen was publicly thanked by opera singer Christiaan Olivier for her support and help in launching his career.



As founder-member and chairperson of the George Music Society, Martha Avierinos was thanked for her years of dedication. The Society celebrates its 55th year of existence. With her is founder-member Anna du Toit. On the right are the Society’s Sandra Tilbrook and opera singer Christiaan Olivier.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS