FynArts comes early to Hermanus

Book now for a special concert in support of the FynArts Development Fund. On Sunday, 17 April Songs from the Parisian Belle Époque will introduce the French theme that runs through this year’s Hermanus FynArts programme.
For this world-class performance Hermanus is privileged to welcome back South African pianist Ammiel Bushakevitz, who is a recipient of the prestigious European Commission Award. Last year he delighted 2015 FynArts audiences as the soloist in the opening concert. This year he will be joined, on her very first visit to our country, by the French-born lyric soprano Laetitia Grimaldi Spitzer. She is a Julliard graduate who began her vocal studies with Spanish mezzo-soprano star Teresa Berganza, a singer whom Ammiel has also accompanied.

The Belle Époque period has retrospectively also been known as a Golden Age, in contrast to the horrors of the First World War, which it preceded. The glamorous young duo will present their recital in a semi-informal way, involving the audience, reciting English translations of the French poetry and giving background between items on the composers, compositions and this whole period during which culture flourished more than ever in Paris.
Audience members are invited to dress à la Belle Époque. Ladies, hats and parasols will be de rigueur.

The proceeds of this special concert will boost the FynArts Development Fund, established to broaden the reach of the festival to include the whole community. Tickets have always been made available at heavily subsidized prices for people who, for socio-economic reasons, cannot participate in a wide range of workshops, demonstrations, talks and concerts.
Businesses are encouraged to sponsor employees to attend FynArts concerts like the Youth Day Concert starring Katlego Maboe as narrator of the popular Peter and the Wolf; Louis Armstrong and Friends; and UCT opera students performing arias form Carmen and other loved operas.

Proceeds of the FynArts gala dinner, A Taste of France, to be held in the Benguela Cove Manor House on 13 June, will also be in aid of the Development Fund. Tickets available at Hermanus Tourism (028 312 2629).

Tickets for Songs from the Parisian Belle Époque will be available on Webtickets and at Hermanus Tourism.

For condensed CV’s on Ammiel click here and for Laetitia, click here.