Choirs join forces

The tone was set high and sweet melodies were heard during the Men at Work concert, held at the Northfield Methodist Church, on September 16.

September 21, 2016

Matshepo Maseko 1 minute read

The Cenestra Male Choir set off the night with their renditions of songs from different genres to keep the auditorium enchanted.

The occasion was graced by the Cenestra Male Choir and the Cape Town Male Voice Choir, who performed various compositions that brought many to an emotional state.

With the two-session programme well underway, the Cenestra Male Choir took to the stage first, singing songs such as “Bless This House”, “Jubilate”, “When Hands Meet”, and a Xhosa traditional piece, “Angqiyaz’ amagwala” with choir conductor Themba Madlopha relating a few emotional stories about their history and experiences, between some of the songs the choir sang.

The Cape Town Male Voice Choir then took to the stage and also performed many songs that tugged at the hearts of the audience.

They sang songs such “Ukuthula”, “St Francis’s Prayer”, and “Hallelujah”, a composition by Leonard Cohen.

In July, 2012, both choirs took part in the Wales Choir of the World Choral Festival, held in London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Here the Cenestra Male Choir and the Cape Town Male Voice Choir together formed the African continent representation amid about 800 male voices drawn from five Olympic member continents.

The choirs collaborated and performed the songs, “Woza Ngikutshel' Indaba”, “Morte Christe” and “Mangwane Trilogy”. — The choirs collaborated and performed the songs, “Woza Ngikutshel’ Indaba”, “Morte Christe” and “Mangwane Trilogy”.

For both choirs it was a pivotal moment when they joined forces to represent Africa and when they came together for the concert, to remember the moments shared.

Madlopha enlightened the crowd about the time both choirs stood together in Wales, and Lewis Rabkins, of the Cape Town Male Choir spoke of the background of their partnership, saying that, in a fractured world the only way they knew to remedy it was by singing together.

The anticipation was evident when their collaboration came at the end of the concert’s first session, as an atmosphere of jubilation continued in the auditorium.

The choirs collaborated and performed the songs, “Woza Ngikutshel’ Indaba”, “Morte Christe”, and “Mangwane Trilogy” to bring the audience to their feet.