The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic’s World Symphony Series 2000 winter season continues with concerts held every Thursday evening at 19h30 in the City Hall.

Long-standing KZNPO guest conductor Roberto Benzi returns for the first two concerts in June. The first of these on June 1 is an all-Mozart affair titled Crown Jewels featuring the Overture to Così fan tutte, the ”Coronation” Piano Concerto No 26 performed by visiting German pianist Florian Uhlig and the ”Jupiter” Symphony No 41.

On June 8, Maestro Benzi will be joined by French cellist Jèrôme Pernoo in Elgar's Cello Concerto. This programme, titled Fantastique, also includes the ever-popular Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz.

The gifted young Netherlands conductor Arjan Tien re-establishes local ties, conducting the season's final three concerts. On June 15, the programme titled Winter Dreams features Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture, the Concerto for English Horn by Yvon, with the American soloist Miriam Hannecart-Jakes, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 1 “Winter Dreams:.

In Song, the season's penultimate concert on June 22 is especially notable for the world premiere of the newly-discovered Deux Entreactes Tragiques by Wagner. Following this opening item, Hannelie Rupert sings Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder and Mendelssohn's Symphony No 4 “Italian” closes the programme.

Unusual programming features in Thula! Thula! the closing concert of the season, with a performance of Malan's Thula! Thula! for Piano and Orchestra, with Durban-born Surendran Reddy at the keyboard. Bruckner's Symphony No 4 “Romantic” complements this programme.

More details and booking information from the KZNPO Winter Season banner advert appearing on this site