On Saturday 28 September 2024, the internationally acclaimed Cape Town Opera Chorus presents Horizons at the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch as part of Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees. The distinctly South African programme with musical direction by José Dias, will feature works by fourteen composers including Michael Moerane, Péter Louis van Dijk, Mzilikazi Khumalo, Clare Loveday, Mpumelelo Manyathi and Pieter Bezuidenhout.
The performance spans over 70 years of musical history and encompasses seven of South Africa’s official languages. The programme also includes arrangements of indigenous songs, offering a compelling showcase of the nation’s rich musical heritage. Says composer Pieter Bezuidenhout, “This music is a roadmap of South Africa’s collective journey, charting the milestones of its shared identity. In every note, one can hear the echoes of history, the pulse of contemporary life, and the whispers of what is yet to come.”
He adds: “Choral music here is not merely an art form; it is the heartbeat of a people, a living testament to the intricate tapestry of social, cultural, and political threads that weave through the nation’s soul. It is a powerful medium of expression that carries past stories, speaks to the present, and beckons us toward the future.”
Collaboration and cultural interpretation
From the same generation as Peter Klatzow comes the work of composer Peter Louis van Dijk, Horizons, from which this programme takes its name. Horizons is one of the best-known South African compositions internationally, having been originally commissioned for the King Singers’ 1995 South African tour; it has come to be known as one of the best examples of Van Dijk’s choral works. This piece encapsulates a part of the historical narrative of South Africa; the arrival of the colonists and the interaction with the native Khoi-San.
South Africa’s choral music tradition is deeply rooted in collaboration and cultural interpretation, as exemplified throughout the Horizons programme. Composers engage with the diversity of the vernacular by arranging and interpreting music that reflects the nation’s heritage. The repertoire includes traditional isiZulu and isiXhosa songs spanning over a century, such as Ukuthula, Senzeni Na, and Bawo Thixo Somandla – powerful pieces that have resonated in churches, concert halls, and during protests.
With Horizons, Cape Town Opera extends an invitation to embark on a journey of celebration. It is a homage to the choral traditions and composers who have helped to shape the nation’s identity.
What: Horizons
Where and when: Endler Hall, 45 Victoria St, Stellenbosch on Saturday 28 September 2024 at 5pm
Tickets: Quicket
WS
