Don’t miss massive musical treat

ORGANISERS of Concerts at Riverbend have lined up something very special for serious South Coast music lovers.

Highly acclaimed international pianists Ashley Fripp and Ben Schoeman will present works by JS Bach, Schumann and Chopin at Riverbend Art and Wine Centre on Friday, October 21 at 6.30pm. This will be proceeded by the traditional free wine-tasting at 5.45pm.

Tickets at R100 will be on sale at Riverbend Shop from Monday, October 3. They are expected to sell very fast and space is limited so book as soon as you can.

The two young pianists are taking a break from their busy international schedules to spend a short time on the South Coast as house guests of close friends in Marina Beach. They have kindly agreed to play for local classic fans while they are here.

Ashley has frequently appeared as solo recitalist, chamber musician and concert soloist in such illustrious venues as the Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Royal Festival, Barbican and Wigmore Halls in London. He has won prizes in many international competitions and has appeared on BBC television and radio, Euroclassical Eurovision TV and national radio stations throughout Europe.

Ben is regarded as one of South Africa’s most renowned pianists. He has won major piano prizes locally, in London and the USA. He has given solo, chamber music and concerto performances throughout Europe, Canada, the USA and South Africa. A graduate of the University of Pretoria as well as music academies and schools in the UK and Italy, his critically acclaimed performances of Liszt’s Piano Concertos 1 and 2 have been broadcast on South African national television on numerous occasions.

He has recently been awarded a D Mus by London University. Ben’s solo album featuring works of Franz Liszt has received excellent reviews in the American Record Review. He is a Steinway Artist.