Namibia: Top Choir to Perform at Christuskirche

Namibia: Top Choir to Perform at Christuskirche

New Era (Windhoek)

26 October 2007
Posted to the web 26 October 2007

Frederick Philander
Windhoek

The Cantare Audire Choir will end its year's activities with two concerts in the German Lutheran Church (Christuskirche) tomorrow and Sunday evening.

"The programme for this year's concerts was carefully chosen to give all the members of the audience something interesting to listen to, but it also contains a couple of works that the choir is busy preparing for its participation in the Fifth International Choir Games that will be held in Graz, Austria, next year in July," said the choir director, Ernst van Biljon.

Plans are also being made to have the choir participate in an international competition in Spittal, Austria, as well.

"Cantare Audire participated in this competition in 1994 and were the audience favourites with their colourful African robes and their lively rendering of African folk music," he said.

The non-stop Christuskirche concert opens with a modern version of Viva la Musica by Hungarian composer Ivàn Eröd.

"This will be followed by a well-known Bach chorale, Komm süsser Tod, in a new arrangement by Norwegian composer Knut Nystedt. A smaller ensemble from within the choir will sing three madrigals by Monteverdi, John Bennet and the French composer Pierre Passereau. Pablo Casals is a well-known cellist but few people know that he composed as well. His beautiful O vos omnes (O ye people) will form part of the programme," the choirmaster said.

While adjudicating at the fourth world choral games in Xiamen Van Biljon met a composer from Serbia, who gave him two of his compositions with which he has won the European Grand Prix for composition.

One of these, Vater unser (Our father), will be part of the choir's repertoire and it will be the first time that the work will be performed in Africa.

The rest of the programme will be: Laudate Dominum a composition by Ernst van Biljon, Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd-Webber and a popular spiritual Ride the Chariot, will lead the evening to a climatic end while the last piece, NameThatTune, by English composer Grayston Ives will make the audience chuckle as he imitates different orchestral instruments and plays the fool with well-known melodies by other composers.

Entrance fees are N$50 for adults and N$25 for students and learners.

Tickets can be bought in advance at Medisun Pharmacy in the Wernhil Shopping Centre. There will be a N$5 discount on tickets bought in advance.

On the evenings of the concerts, tickets will be available at the door from 19h15.

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