Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra Crisis Averted Due to Stellenbosch University Orchestra's Help

Two concerts by legendary international violinist and now conductor, Pinchas Zukerman, and his wife, the pre-eminent South African born Canadian cellist Amanda Forsyth accompanied by the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (JPO), scheduled for the Linder Auditorium later this month were placed in jeopardy as funds allocated to the JPO were not forthcoming. Members of the University of Stellenbosch Symphony Orchestra (USSO) rallied around the JPO to the save the Linder concert dates by lending their kindness and support by playing in collaboration with twenty-two members of the JPO. The remarkable camaraderie and empathy shown by the USSO means that the concerts will go ahead as planned, with all proceeds of the two concerts will go to the JPO as a gesture of support for the orchestra and its members.

Born in Tel Aviv in 1948, Zukerman settled in America in 1962 where he studied at The Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian. He has been awarded the Medal of Arts, the Isaac Stern Award for Artistic Excellence and was appointed as the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative's first instrumentalist mentor in the music discipline. Zukerman's extensive discography contains over 100 titles, and has earned him 21 GRAMMY Award nominations and two awards. Zukerman's international acclaim of several decades also extends to the conductor's podium. Playing an instrument or conducting, critics and music-lovers the world over rave at the musical prowess of this humble artist.

Zukerman and Forsyth begin their South African concert tour in the Cape, where they will perform three concerts commencing on 19 August at Stellenbosch University's Endler Hall at 8pm. Then on 22 and 23 August at 8pm, the duo will perform, along with the USSO, in the Cape Town City Hall and the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch respectively. The concerts at the Linder Auditorium will follow on the 27th August and 28th August, with both performances starting at 8pm. The duo will perform Beethoven's "Overture to Egmont Opus 84", followed by Malcolm Forsyth's "Electra Rising" for cello and orchestra. Whilst Mr Zukerman will conduct "Electra Rising" and the "Beethoven Overture", he will also appear as soloist in the Bruch violin concerto under the baton of USSO resident music director, Corvin Matei.After the Linder concerts, the husband and wife duo, joined by pianist Angela Cheng will be in recital at the ZK Matthews Great Hall, Unisa, Pretoria for one concert only on Sunday, 31 August at 4pm.

Cape Town based promoter, Charl van Heyningen of Charl van Heyningen Enterprises says he is humbled by the classical music fraternity who unselfishly came together not only to save the two concerts but to show their unwavering support of the JPO. Thanks to the efforts of the USSO and friends of the JPO, Johannesburg audiences will have the opportunity to experience the musical genius of Zukerman and Forsyth.

To avoid disappointment, book now at Computicket. Ticket prices range from tickets range from R500 to R750. Tickets are available at R350 for pensioners and students.

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