Presented by Classical Movements, the leading concert tour company to South Africa
Classical Movements Presents...
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA in DURBAN!
"The Minnesota Orchestra’s tour to South Africa was one of the most important musical and emotional experiences of my life. I am incredibly grateful to Classical Movements for such a huge job to make this tour happen." —Osmo Vänskä | Music Director, Minnesota Orchestra
SAT, AUG. 11:
Mango No. 352 and All That East Coast Jazz
5:10 PM: After a long, enriching day of community engagement and educational outreach activities in Cape Town, Mango Flight 352 takes off for KwaZulu-Natal with 140 Minnesota Orchestra musicians and staff aboard, who all get both a captain's cockpit welcome and yet another glowing in-flight magazine feature.
7:45 PM: As a preview to the following morning, Classical Movements books eight excited students from Russell Scott's KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Band Jazz Ensemble to play for all four 52-seat buses arriving to check-in at the Durban Hilton from King Shaka International.
SUN, AUG. 12:
Durban Music School, Principal Masterclasses, Clermont Choir Opening, Debut at Durban City Hall, SABC Laurels
10:30 AM: After playing the "Jupiter" movement from Holst's The Planets for Osmo Vänskä, himself, at the Durban Music School, Classical Movements arranges for the KwaZulu-Natal Youth Wind Bandmusicians—many ofwhom travel long distances across the province every Saturday morning—to receive top-level instruction from several of the Minnesota Orchestra's generous principal players.
11:45 AM: Manny Laureano talks tempo and timbre with the three trumpets.
5 PM:
With smiling orchestra members standing in the 108-year-old wings of a very crowded Durban City Hall, the Brian Msizi Mnyandu-ledClermont Choir opens the afternoon concert with a sumptuous set of both classical and indigenous African songs.
5:20 PM: The mighty musicians from Minneapolis make their debut in Durban with Vänskä leading the U.S. and South Africa national anthems, Sibelius, Bernstein, Beethoven, as well as a brand-new work commissioned by Classical Movements' own Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program: Dr. Bongani Ndodana-Breen's tribute to Mandela, Harmonia Ubuntu, starring South African soprano Goitsemang Lehobye. At our suggestion (just as they had done Friday night at the sold-out Cape Town City Hall) the orchestra plays, and sings, "Shosholoza" during a much deserved standing ovation.
8 AM: Minnesota musicians and staff certainly earned and clearly enjoyed their free day on Monday. So, while some went on safari to Pilanesberg Game Reserve with Classical Movements' resident wildlife spotter, Senior Vice President Johan van Zyl, several others stayed behind to soak up the Durban sun, wading into the warm winter waters of the Indian Ocean.
