WEDNESDAY 10 APRIL: 6.30PM FOR 7PM
The Friends of Orchestral Music are delighted to present a fundraising Sunset Soiree of music and conversation – in collaboration with Bowmans featuring their breathtaking city views, delicious food and statement wines.
Due to renovations during 2023, it has been a year since we have been able to return to these glittering evenings which take place on the 11th floor of the Bowmans’ Cape Town office. Guests will be greeted to a sunset drink overlooking the city, before settling down to a mix of classical music featuring some of South Africa’s finest rising star musicians and a fascinating talk ‘behind the music’.
Our first soiree this year focuses on the piano – what makes them work and what makes them special. Piano specialist Ian-Burgess Simpson will take you – literally – inside the workings of the hand crafted Fazioli grand piano, and discuss with Albert Combrink, who will be highlighting the pianists and programmes being featured in the CPO’s upcoming Symphony Season. Music will come from Unisa Piano Competition winners Gerhard Joubert and Isaac van der Merwe who will demonstrate the amazing soundscape of the piano. In addition violinist Nicholas Bruiners will perform on his newly acquired violin, which was sourced through generous sponsorships drawn from the 2023 Soiree at Bowmans – bringing the first instrument fundraising drive to fruition.
Thanks to the generous support of Bowmans and Bill van Rensburg, the Friends of Orchestral Music are able to bring you these unique evenings in order to raise much needed funds for the upliftment and development of orchestral music and musicians across Cape Town.
The concert is followed by sumptuous canapes, delicious wines and the chance to talk to Ian, Albert and the musicians about the music.
All proceeds go to projects of the Friends of Orchestral Music. Limited tickets for the intimate event are available at a price of R600 per person – available from Quicket. (FOM members can book directly with us and receive a FOM discount)
Start time- 6.30 for 7pm. Bowmans’ Cape Town Office, 22 Bree Street, Cape Town.
Guest parking available.
For more information contact: Louise Howlett info@fomct.com or call 084 682 1337.
2023 Fundraising Soirees return to Bowmans Law Cape Town
The Friends of Orchestral Music were excited to return to Bowmans Law for an evening of music and conversation to fundraise for classical music in Cape Town on Thursday 23 March from 6.30pm
Breathtaking city views and a welcome drink greet you as you enter the 11th floor at 22 on Bree Street before settling down to a mix of chamber music with some of Cape Town’s finest established and rising star musicians. Renowned pianist François du Toit opened the evening with Brahms’ Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano with Annelize de Villiers and Graham du Plessis. Award winning pianist Gerhard Joubert performed Lizst’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.12 and, along with violinist Nicholas Bruiners- works by Sarasate and Kreisler. We thank Ian-Burgess Simpson for providing the piano.
The programme was introduced by FMR presenter John Woodland and music expert Albert Combrink who connected the music of the soiree to the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s upcoming season, aswell as highlight the important work the Friends do to encourage classical music development in Cape Town.4
Thanks to the generous support of Bowmans and Bill van Rensburg, the Friends of Orchestral Music are able to bring you these special evenings which offer a unique and intimate experience to talk with the musicians after the concert while enjoying a delicious mix of canapes and wines.
**The Soiree Series will continue in 2024 following the completion of renovations at Bowmans**
The Friends of Orchestral Music, in partnership with Bowmans, are proud to present their 2019 Soiree series featuring some of South Africa’s finest musicians. This year’s theme is ‘the other side’ – exploring the other dimensions that learning and playing classical music can bring.
14 April – Best of Both features the piano duo Francois Botha and Johun Chun, with guest saxophonist Dan Shout in a programme that showcases the diversity of these three talented musicians who use their classical experience to explore their love of jazz. For our soiree they present a programme that celebrates composers who excelled in, and were influenced by both jazz and classical music. George Gershwin, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel will be represented alongside jazz greats Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck.
21 July – The Other Side of the Orchestra features a selection of musicians from the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert of short chamber pieces that give the audience a chance to hear a unique variety of music – from double bass and trombone to viola and violin – and get to know the musicians you have often seen in the City Hall, up close in this special setting.
20 October – The Misshapen Pearls – is a concert that explores the true spirit of the Baroque. The term ‘barocco’, originally used by 17th century jewellers to describe a misshapen pearl, was used from the mid-eighteenth century to refer the perceived imperfection and bizarreness of music from the Baroque, when a simpler style of music became popular. This programme will focus on the stark contrasts found in Baroque music, leaning on the idea of chiaroscuro (light-dark), as well as exploring the improvisational aspect of music from this period.
Baroque specialists Ralitza Macheva and Refiloe Olifant – baroque violins, and Erik Dippenaar -harpsichord perform works by Castello, Bertali, Telemann, Couperin, Biber and Hotteterre, with Vivaldi’s ‘outrageous’ set of La Folia variations as the centrepiece. They will also answer any questions you may have regarding ‘the other side’ of Baroque – both the differences between modern period instruments as well as the technique of playing.
The evenings start with sunset drinks at 6pm on arrival at the 11th floor of Bowmans’ Cape Town office, with stunning panoramic views of the city centre. The concert begins at 18h30. During the concert, the artists will talk about their music making and share stories around the pieces they have chosen, and after the 60 minutes presentation, they will join with the audience for drinks and sumptuous canapés created by Bowmans’ chef.
Bowmans is situated at 22 Bree Street. There is free secure parking for all FOM guests via the garage entrance on Bree Street. All inclusive tickets cost R400 per person, R350 for FOM members and are available from Quicket.
Thanks to the generous support of Bowmans and artist sponsorship by Bill van Rensburg, the Friends of Orchestra Music are able to bring you these unique evenings in order to raise much needed funds for the upliftment and development of orchestral music and musicians across Cape Town. It is the mandate of FOM to place specific emphasis on fostering the playing of classical music amongst the previously disadvantaged communities. All the musicians performing have been part of the projects supported by FOM and are now considered some of the finest of the new generation of classical musicians in South Africa. Each group featured are also longtime friends – brought together through music.