THE KZN Philharmonic Orchestra is still offering a free bus service that allows audience members who would prefer not to self-drive to the Playhouse to attend the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s concerts to park in the suburbs and hop on a bespoke bus into town. This Thursday is the penultimate concert in the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2024 Summer Symphony Season, taking place in The Playhouse Opera Theatre on March 14, starting at 19:00.

Leon Bosch, South African-born bassist-turned-conductor – one of our country’s most distinguished musical ‘exports’ – takes the podium for the third concert of the season on March 14. He launches his programme with Grieg’s lyrical Holberg Suite Op 40, honouring Dano-Norwegian humanist playwright Ludvig Holberg, more properly known as: From Holberg’s Time, subtitled Suite in olden style. It is a suite of five movements based on eighteenth-century dance forms, written by Edvard Grieg in 1884 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Holberg’s birth.

This will be followed by Frantz Schubert’s Symphony No 5, which is often described as his tribute to Mozart. This comparative rarity is sure to send the audience home in a euphoric mood. Schubert began both a law degree and his Symphony No 5 in the same year. This time, it was the law degree rather than the music that would remain unfinished.

South Korean violinist Hyeyoon Park makes a triumphant return to perform Tchaikovsky’s crowd-pleasing Violin Concerto. Composed in 1878, it is one of the best-known violin concertos. The concerto was composed in Clarens, Switzerland, where Tchaikovsky was recovering from the fallout of his ill-fated marriage.

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For the music lovers who would like to catch a lift to the show, various routes are on offer for this season: for North of Durban residents – from Grace Family Church in Umhlanga, departing at 18:10; for Upper Highway residents – a bus departs from St Agnes Church at 17:45; Westville residents can park at Westville Senior Primary, with a bus departing at 18:00, and a bus stops at the Caister Lodge in Durban’s Berea for Durbanites, departing 18:20. Secure, free parking is available at all departure points. The bus is free, but booking is essential. Bus bookings close on Tuesday at 16:00. Bookings may be made by emailing info@kznphil.org.za or by calling 031 369 9438.

“It is our great pleasure and privilege to welcome back our unique community of music lovers for our Summer Symphony Season of 2024,” says Bongani Tembe, KZN Philharmonic’s chief executive and artistic director. “Now more than ever, we are set to uphold the grand traditions of our long-running World Symphony Series as we bring the music lovers we serve a roster of superbly accomplished guest stars. They will join our dedicated orchestral musicians in creating many hours of musical enchantment. The season dovetails with our continued commitment to community engagement and skills transfer among new-generation artists and learners.”

Single tickets to the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s Symphony Concerts are available at Quicket or through the KZN Philharmonic Office on 031 369 9438 or by emailing info@kznphil.org.za.

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The public is welcome to sit in on the final rehearsal of the Symphony Concert every Thursday morning at 10h00 in the Playhouse Opera Theatre. Tickets are R50 throughout, and seating is unreserved in the downstairs stalls only.

While the Playhouse Coffee Shop is not fully operational at the moment, tea and coffee are available for sale at the Playhouse Coffee Shop, and the Playhouse Bar is once more operational for pre-concert and interval drinks. One can pre-order interval drinks on arrival.

For more information call 031-369 9438, email info@kznphil.org.za or visit www.kznphil.org.za.

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