When a conductor has a sense of humour…

Published on 2 June 2015

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][IN THE NEWS] Richard Cock, South Africa’s most charming conductor, was interviewed this morning on internet radio station CliffCentral. After the show, he tweeted a cartoon to show listeners what conductor’s really do:

 

Richard Cock plays an important part in the Festival’s success. He is a member of the National Arts Festival Artistic Committee and will be conducting this year’s Gala Concert (5 July, 3pm, Guy Butler Theatre) with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra under his baton.

The Gala Concert provides the Standard Bank Young Artist for Music the opportunity o be featured as a soloist and Musa Ngqungwana, in honour of the occasion, has chosen ‘I am an African’ by Peter Klatzow, who turns 70 this year.

In Conduct Unbecoming III (7 July at 12 noon, Victoria Theatre), his third presentation in his series about conductors and the world of conductors, Cock will share anecdotes about cranky conductors, as well as the difficulties and unintended hilarities of his own name.

The KZN Orchestra will join Cock for Heroes and Villians – A Children’s Concert, a free concert (6 July at 5pm, Mountain Fountain Foyer). The interactive and educational concert, which will feature music and themes from TV and the silver screen, is aimed at introducing young people to the orchestra.

He will direct The (He)art of the Matter With the Best of Friends (6 July at 2pm and 7.30pm, Guy Butler Theatre), featuring Magdalene Minnaar (soprano), Timothy Moloi (tenor) and Nicholas Nicolaidis (tenor), with a programme that includes George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Lloyd Webber.

In War and Peace (11 July at 7pm, Rhodes Chapel), the Chanticleer Singers will explore ‘war’ and ‘peace’ in a programme of music, poetry and personal recollections of the First World War. Formed in 1980 by Cock, the Chanticleer Singers are regarded as one of South Africa’s leading chamber choirs.

They choir will join Cock when they remember Peter Klatzow for a 70th birthday tribute concert (12 July at 3pm, Rhodes Chapel). Klatzow is one of South Africa’s more important contemporary composers.

While the Chanticleer Singers have performed most of Klatzow’s choral music, this tribute will include the first South African performance of ‘The Beatitudes’. They will be joined by Magda de Vries and Carel Henn – both of whom have performed several works of Klatzow’s in the past.

  • Click on the names of the concerts to book.
  • Read more about Richard Cock on his website: www.richardcock.co.za

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