Dear Music Lovers
It is with great sadness that Cape Town is facing major closures of live music in the months ahead. Notices came out today following the government announcement last night regarding Covid-19 and strict safety measures.
The Fugard Theatre and Theatre on the Bay are closed until further notice. Artscape is closed until the end of May. This includes the upcoming opera in concert of Fidelio. Cape Town Opera and Cape Town Philharmonic have also cancelled the Duet Gala with Pumeza Matshikiza this coming Sunday at Kirstenbosch.
The Baxter is due to be closed until at least the end of April – which means all UCT School of Music concerts and Cape Town Concert Series will be cancelled for March and April.
The Greyton Genadendal Classics for All in May is cancelled and the Franschhoek Chamber Music Workshop due to take place in the next two weeks is postponed until (hopefully) June.
Further information can be found via Fine Music Radio, Facebook, Whatsonincapetown and the ticket agencies Computicket, Webtickets and Quicket.
Here at FOM we were planning the first of a series of ‘behind the scenes’ talks with Fine Music Radio. This will now be postponed until a later date along with our first fundraising soiree at Bowmans.
However there is still music to enjoy – and from the comfort of your home you can still connect to music with a number of online music resources offering free streaming during this time of shutdown which has affected all corners of the globe. These include The Met Opera: https://www.metopera.
Closer to home Fine Music Radio will keep you company with 24 hours of classical and jazz on 101.3fm as well as DSTV channel 838 and streaming via their website http://www.fmr.co.za
Meanwhile, as the lock down is for groups of 100 or more, some smaller venues including some jazz venues, Gate69, Erin Hall and the Rockwell Theatre remain open with strict precautions in place. We will keep you posted on these performances.
Do let me know if you have any queries about upcoming events. We hope all FOM members keep well and safe and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Kind regards
Louise Howlett
for Friends of Orchestral Music
Please spare a thought for all the musicians out there…
All these concerts below are now CANCELLED or POSTPONED with more to follow:
Mar 17: UCT Symphony Orchestra @Baxter
Mar 18: Art and Piano @Youngblood
Mar 21: CT Concert Series @Baxter
Mar 22: Duet Gala @Kirstenbosch
Mar 27-29: Fidelio in Concert @Artscape
Mar 28: Franschhoek Chamber Workshop
Mar 27-28: Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Mar 31: Piano Recital with Greta Nöthling @Baxter
April 4: St Matthew Passion @Ridgeworth
April 5: Vivaldi 4 Seasons @Christchurch Constantia
April 5: Enoch Garden @Wagner Society
April 10 & 12: Messiah @City Hall
April 25: CT Concert Series @Baxter