CELLIST Berthine van Schoor and pianist Annalien Ball are both household names in South African music circles and will be treating Ndlambe music lovers to a programme that includes a fun South African-flavoured “Carnival of the Animals” at Richmond House on May 28.
Van Schoor is well known for her warm, burnished sound and versatility. An extensive overseas performance career has seen her reside in Austria (Salzburg) and Germany for over a decade and join, among others, the Mozarteum Orchestra as well as beome principal cellist of the Bad Reichenhall Philharmonic.
Back in South Africa Van Schoor formed Trio Gloriosa and her own cello academy and last year she performed Dvorak’s great Cello Concerto in Pretoria. She also has ties to local Indian music (East Meets West) and has toured nine Indian cities with pianist Albie Van Schalkwyk. Cultural links being important to Berthine, she organises and plays in concerts for various embassies both here and overseas.
Ball and Van Schoor share a marvellous musical synergy. They both hail from Pretoria, started music studies very young and both hold Masters of Music degrees. Their careers began as soloists, but Ball switched to chamber music and accompaniment and she’s now associated with numerous trios; she is also accompanist for Unisa competitions and the acclaimed French violinist Phillipe Graffin.
Both musicians are still based in Pretoria and therefore perfect partners on their current South African tour, with Port Alfred also on their map.
This 38th Classics at the Castle concert promises to be polished and entertaining. It includes some unusual shorter works before the Carnival classic – which host Sue Gordon said “is likely to bring the house down”.
The concert is at 3pm, and if the weather is chilly there will be gluhwein beforehand. Get your R80 tickets first from KNA. Out-of-towners only may reserve tickets by phone, providing they are paid for and collected soon after. KNA (046) 624-2036. All other queries 082-456-7437. See also www.facebook.com/richmondhousemuseummusic
