One of the biggest and most spectacular Christmas concerts of the past few years is definitely Lefra Productions’ “Christmas Spectacular”.
The production is set to take place at Carnival City’s Big Top Arena on Saturday, December 14 in what producer Frans Swart has described as “real Boney M Christmas Show style”.
The “Christmas Spectacular 2013” features some of South Africa’s most well-known artists together one stage; Alwyn Oberholster, Arina de Witt, Henrico Coetzer, Heuning, Jannie Moolman, Jay du Plessis, Kobus Muller, Liza Brönner and Rina Hugo.
Jaconell Moutoun is one of the country’s top piano and keyboard players and is a well-known face on television’s Noot vir Noot as part of the “musiekfabriek”.
Moutoun was the musical director of the production in previous years, and was very keen to get involved again this year.
Born in the Cape, she moved to Pretoria to complete her studies, where she is still based as a freelance musician and works with some of the country’s top musicians.
Moutoun is very excited about this project.
“The Christmas Spectacular is the perfect opportunity for families and friends to celebrate the holy season together,” she said.
Alwyn Oberholster has just released his first CD entitled Maak of Breek.
This CD features his own songs and he believes this will be the break he needs to launch his professional career.
He resides in Alberton and is already has a strong following throughout South Africa.
Arina de Witt began singing at the age of five, but actually it was her friend Jan Spies, the celebrated storyteller and founding editor of the Namibian newspaper Die Republikein, who caused her to “wake up” and start a singing career.
De Witt knew Jan Spies from the time they spent working for Die Republikein.
Spies wrote the lyrics for her first big hit, Rietjiesfluit, as well as four of the songs on her first album.
“I am glad that he was able to wake up that side of me,” said de Witt.
Her latest album, Timeless, was released earlier this year.
Henrico Coetzer is a bright new star on the Afrikaans music horizon.
At the age of 16, Coetzer won a competition with one of his own compositions entitled The Calling, which also become the title of his debut CD.
Heuning is the first contemporary Afrikaans country duo in the world.
Made up of Jeanette Rootman and Henk Dercksen who were chosen from an audition group of more than 300 applicants.
Many hours of careful planning and consideration went into the choice of song for the debut CD, and Rootman even took the time translated some of the songs into Afrikaans.
Rootman is no stranger to the music world, having recorded her first song at the age of 12 with Boet Pretorius from Decibel Records.
19-year-old Dercksen just finished school, and recently moved from his home in Naboomspruit to Gauteng so he can devote as much time as possible to the Heuning project.
The duo released their debut CD in 2012.
Jannie Moolman certainly is one of South Africa’s best tenors.
His opera career includes portrayals of Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Miss in G, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Missa Solemnis, Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Messe, Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Messe Solennelle and Verdi’s Requiem.
July 2007 saw the launch of Jannie’s fourth album Ek kom Huistoe.
A remarkable 17 year journey has brought Jay to where he is today.
After 12 phenomenal years were spent as part of the band Eden after which Jay decided to fly solo and also released one of the best duet albums this country has ever seen with Lianie May.
“The success I enjoyed at May’s side with the release of Bonnie and Clyde meant that everything else, including the release of DisHoeOnsRol, had to be put on hold,” he explained.
Since embarking on his solo career in 2010, his record success echo’s in everything he does.
Kobus Muller walked away as the winner of the second season of Patricia Lewis’ Supersterre, where two million viewers voted for him every week for thirteen weeks.
Muller toured with the British group Smokie as their opening performer during their 2008 tour of South Africa and also won an International Eurostar award for his duet.
Earlier this year Muller signed a contract with Toi Records in Germany.
His first international single, Turn up the Radio, was released worldwide on April 14 this year, and topped charts in both Europe and South Africa.
Liza Brönner was recently crowned as South Africa’s new Liefling during a eight week search for the perfect singer to share the stage with South Africa’s Afrikaans pop prince Bobby van Jaarsveld.
“Jy het my Gevind” isn’t just the title of her new album, but means much more to Brönner than that, it’s a new beginning and a new era in her career.
“I can’t believe it, but I am so very grateful!” said Brönner.
Brönner climbed into people’s hearts with every live performance and with her soft, loving and caring personality she proved that no amount of money or fame can take away her passion for music.
Rina Hugo has repeatedly been described as one of the most versatile singers ever.
She excels in just about every genre any soloist could wish to master, including opera, oratoria, lieder, operetta, musicals and light music.
Hugo, a classically trained singer, completed her BMus degree at the then Potchefstroom University (now North West University), followed by a master’s degree in singing from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, USA.
She also taught singing at the Potchefstroom University.
Her successful career included gold and platinum status records and CDs, many high accolades and some significant music awards.
“We started this project in 2006 and it is a highlight in our calendar every year.
“And it was such an enormous success that was sold out weeks in advance.
“This year is definitely going to be bigger and more exciting as we’ve put a very interesting line-up together,” said producer Frans Swart.
