Standing together for Elisabeth Potgieter

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - Music lovers from around George were treated to a varied programme of beautiful vocal and instrumental music by acclaimed musicians on Saturday 13 June.

This was a benefit concert arranged by musicologist Dr Ronell van Aswegen, the founder of the Music Club Benefit Fund. The proceeds will assist Elisabeth Potgieter (a mezzo-soprano) with her medical expenses incurred by a significant hearing loss she is suffering due to a recent illness.

The concert kicked off on a high note with Gerrit Jordaan playing the much-loved Toccata and Fugue in D minor by JS Bach. The notes of the pipe organ filled the Dutch Reformed Mother Church and the hearts of all who attended. Johan Potgieter and Guido Brits, both tenors, entertained with classical lieder and songs from Werther, Les Misérables and South Pacific. Calvin Steyn played one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written ("Meditation from Thais" by Massenet) on the violin, accompanied by Throy Petersen. Steyn mastered the art to convey the reflection and bittersweet peace of the prayer-like piece from the opera to the audience.

Other works by composers such as Bach, Beethoven, Grieg, Lloyd Webber and Rutter were presented through piano recitals, piano duets, violin solos, the classical guitar, the flute as well as several solo singers from George, Mossel Bay and Cape Town.

The concert included a perfor-mance by the Eden Camerata Chamber Choir, directed by

Dr André van Zyl. The choir sang, among others, compositions by Lee Dengler and Chris Lamprecht. Sir John Rutter's beloved choral piece, "The Lord Bless You and Keep You", a celebrated staple of classical music sung to Potgieter by the choir, was very moving.

The programme concluded with a grand performance of Beethoven's "Die Himmel rühmen des Ewigen Ehre", during which soloists and anyone from the audience who was familiar with this piece joined the choir and organ.

An amount of R34 000 was contributed by the local community thus far. Further donations will be highly appreciated.

Carin Smit and Elize Munro. Photo: Supplied

The artists in performance were Gerrit Jordaan - organ, Johan Potgieter - tenor, Carin Smit, Elize Munro, Henta Essel - clarinet and piano, Margriet Venter - piano, Throy Petersen - cello and piano, Drini Botha - piano, Leoné Pharaoh - soprano, Anne-Marié Buchholz - piano, Leoné and Kirstin Pharaoh - vocals, Cuemi Tsai - soprano, Jake Pheiffer - piano, Kirstin Pharaoh - soprano, Guido Brits - tenor, Gideon van der Merwe - classical guitar, Alet Potgieter - soprano, Kaléne Roux - flute and glockenspiel, Calvin Steyn - violin, and Eden Camerata Chamber Choir - choral.

Throy Petersen. Photo: Supplied