Carpe musicam delights Knysna
Carpe Musicam!’s Fantasia 2019 started late – a delay caused by the need to bring extra chairs into the already packed NGK hall.
But once it started, the pipers, drummers, Highland and Irish dancers, vocal soloists, large choir and 32-piece orchestra fiddled, blew, beat, skirled, sang and danced their way through a varied programme that had the audience on the edge of their seats.
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Special guest Steve Prophet was on form with his rich, ballad treatments of La Mer and The Parting Glass. Local “divettes” Heather Waters, Marlene Tagliavini, Tanja Storm and Bea Crawford added a contemporary touch with numbers by Sting and Prince as well as more traditional items.
Debuts of note
Bass-Baritone Rob Onraet, who is also a cellist, debuted as a vocal soloist with a warm and tender rendition of Danny Boy.
The Pipes and Drums of the Cape Field Artillery, based in Cape Town, joined in with gusto; and Pipe-Major Grant Scheffel’s Highland Cathedral with humming accompaniment left many an eye tear-bedewed.
Dancers a joyful treat
The Highland Dancers from Cape Town’s Albion School of Highland Dance were a joyful treat with their precise steps and colourful costumes.
Star performer of the evening was Aidan Hyland who Irish-danced his way through his solos in a manner that would have had Michael Flatley sitting up and taking notes.
The whole caboodle was masterfully held together by conductor Norman Carless, who also compèred the evening with a mix of quirky eccentricity, humour and snippets of information about the performers.
Best of all was the warm and appreciative audience who turned out in large numbers to support this home-grown cultural asset.
Do not miss Carpe Musicam!’s next performance Choruses, Concerti and Carmen on 19 May.
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News