Baroque 2000.

BAROQUE 2000 is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a concert in the Victoria Hall at Maritzburg College at 7.30 pm on Saturday, October 7, writes ESTELLE SINKINS.

The Baroque 2000 in their 20th Year concert is part of a new Spring Festival, hosted by Christopher Duigan’s Music Revival, which runs at different venues in the city from Friday, October 6 to Friday, October 13.

Joining the orchestra for this special occasion will be the Durban Chamber Choir and eight vocalists from the Odeion Consort of the University of the Free State.

Lance Phillip, this ensemble’s musical director, will conduct the programme, which includes the grand TeDeum in D of Marc Antoine Charpentier.

The soloists will be Elsabe Richter and Lente Louw (sopranos), Monika Voysey (alto), Willem Bester (tenor) and Keaton Manwaring (bass).

The musicians will also pay a visit to the Court of Louis XIV at Versailles to hear seven short pieces by Jean Philippe Rameau, composer to the Sun King.

These items include: the wild L’Orage (Storm) from the opera Platée; and the Danse des Sauvages from the opera-ballet Les Indes Galantes.

Says the orchestra’s founder and organiser, Michel Schneuwly: “Baroque 2000 is a small orchestra, based in Durban. Most of our players are members of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Over the years we have performed at the Kulungwana Arts Festival in Maputo, the Harare International Festival of the Arts, the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, and regularly at the Church of the Monastery Mariannhill.

“The Pietermaritzburg concert is one of three which marks 20 years of performance of music of the Baroque period, which lasted from around 1600 to 1750.”

Tickets for Baroque 2000 in their 20th Year are R150 at the door. Alternatively email booking@musicrevival.co.za or send an SMS or WhatsApp to 083 417 4473.

Please include your contact numbers in all email and telephone bookings.

There is secure parking at the venue.

For more information on the festival go to http://www.musicrevival.co.za

• The concert will be repeated at the Church of the Monastery in Mariannhill at 3 pm on on Sunday, October 8. Tickets are R150 at the door and there is ample free and safe parking. Tea and coffee and birthday cake will be served. Inquiries: Michel at 082 303 5241.