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| Christopher Duigan |
Following the recent drive to raise funds for the purchase of the piano in the NG Church, Franschhoek, a special piano celebration concert marking the completion of this project and presentation of the piano to the wider public will take place at the NG Church on Friday 18 February at 7:00 pm. With all of the 88 keys of the 7ft Kawai grand piano ‘sold’ to members of the local community the piano will remain in the NG Church and be used for concerts and other musical events that bring top-class performance to Franschhoek. In the last year local audiences have had the opportunity to hear the piano in number of concerts in both the Franschhoek Classic Music Festival and Franschhoek Literary Festival as well as a free concert by visiting pianist Anthony Spiri and other community events. A plaque listing the names of the donors will be mounted shortly.
To mark this special occasion pianist Christopher Duigan, the driving force behind this project, will be performing along with a number of musicians he has invited to join him in a special celebration concert. These include London-based Joanne Rozario (clarinet) and Johannesburg-based baritone Federico Freschi, both of whom have won a popular following with local audiences. Other artists participating in this once-off event are to be confirmed. All the artists have generously agreed to perform for free, and no entrance fees will be charged, but donations toward artists’ travel expenses will be gratefully accepted after the performance. True to the exceptionally high standard that Franschhoek audiences have come to expect from Steinway Artist Duigan, the concert will feature a varied and entertaining programme. This is not to be missed!
On the following evening, Saturday 19 February at 7:00 pm, Duigan highlights this wonderful instrument in a solo piano recital of music by Franz Liszt (born 1811). Entitled ‘Liszt vs. Liszt’, this programme follows on Duigan’s ‘Celebrating Chopin’ performances last year commemorating the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth, which he presented in over 40 performances nationally including those in Franschhoek. Tickets for ‘Liszt vs. Liszt’ are R80 and will be available at the door. The programme includes the Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 and Liebestraume no 3, two of the composers most celebrated compositions. Both performances are 60 minutes in duration.
With the piano now secure local audiences can look forward to more concerts in this wonderful venue. “This piano offers a wonderful performance opportunity for musicians and I am particularly thrilled that the Franschhoek community has contributed so generously to ensure the future of musical performance here” said Duigan. “I personally rank the piano and the venue as one of my favourite performance spaces in the country, a sentiment which been echoed by both artists and audiences alike. The piano is a pianist’s ‘voice’ and any pianist is totally reliant on what each piano is capable of. This particular instrument is wonderfully flexible and responsive and its pure and even tone make for inspiring music making. In addition the exquisite environs of Franschhoek, the position of the NG Church as an historic landmark in the centre of the village, the superb acoustics, the intimate stage setting ‘in the round’, all contribute to make it an extraordinary musical experience for both performer and audience. It is an honest and real musical encounter. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have invested in this project to secure this piano for the future enjoyment of the greater Franschhoek community.”
Speaking on behalf of the NG Church Franschhoek, Karen Minnaar says: “We are privileged to give a home to such a magnificent piano and to host many enjoyable concerts. Thanks to Christopher Duigan for organizing these wonderful concerts, for all his effort to make a dream come true (keeping the piano in Franschhoek) and especially for all the heavenly music he produces on the piano. A big thanks to David Walters for his personal involvement and lending a big and generous hand in this project. His continuous support is valued tremendously. And then a huge thank you to the community of Franschhoek and especially to each and everyone who made a donation towards the piano fund. In 15 months 88 keys and 3 pedals were “sold” – a total R159, 250.00. We could even buy a piano stool! We are proud to be part of this wonderful generous community of Franschhoek. We hope to see every donor and all music lovers at the concert on Thursday 18 February!”
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