Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra Early Spring Symphony Season 2024

Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra returns with the Early Spring Symphony Season for 2024. This time both local and international talent will deliver a fresh repertoire of the most enchanting classical music compositions every week at Linder Auditorium from 8 to 29 August 2024.

In celebration of Women’s Month, the programme features conductors Ewa Strusinska and Kalena Bovell, and soloists Emily Sun on violin and Pallavi Mahidhara on piano.

We break down all the upcoming concerts you cannot afford to miss over the next few weeks:

Week 1

The Early Spring Symphony Season programme opens on a lively and boisterous note with conductor and frequent JPO collaborator, Daniel Boico, leading the orchestra into a majestic soundscape of West Side Story Overture by Bernstein. The performance is amplified by Jonathan Radford, guest concerto soloist for the evening.

Jonathan showcases the saxophone’s versatility with the elegantly romantic Glazunov Concerto for Alto Saxophone, Op. 109 and Kapustin’s Concerto for Saxophone, Op. 50 which lends a mellow cinematic swing charm to the evening. The orchestra closes out the concert is Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, Op. 64 with an ebb and flow of emotion and power.

The young saxophonist is regarded as one of the leading classical talents of his generation billed as ‘One to Watch’ in Gramophone Magazine and as a ‘Rising Star’ in BBC Music Magazine. The soloist is passionate about showcasing the saxophone’s musical importance across both classical and newly developed works. Jonathan delights his audiences with his characteristically energetic and expressive performances.

Cost: From R170pp to R400pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 8 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Week 2

British-Polish conductor Ewa Strusińska is known for bringing new standards and fresh ideas with her very first season of concert programs that took place in the European corner of Germany during 2018/2019. She currently holds the position of General Music Director of the Gerhart Hauptmann Theater Görlitz-Zittau and Principal Conductor of the Neue Lausitzer Philharmonie.

Ewa will join the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra for a special performance spotlighting violinist, Emily Sun. On the programme is Schumann Carnaval, Op. 9 which delivers peak refinement and sensitivity. Samuel Barber’s epic Concerto for Violin, Op. 14 puts both Emily’s and the orchestra’s skills to the test with a sweeping musical arrangement and evolved intensity, specifically in the 3rd movement.

The evening ends with Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 7, Op. 92, a majestic score one would imagine radio stations will play when the world ends.

Originally from Australia, Emily Sun is now largely based in London and performed at significant concert houses such as the Sydney Opera House, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, Tchaikovsky Great Hall Moscow, Auditorium du Louvre Paris, and Flagey Brussels. Emily also recorded a solo album, Nocturnes, and perform with a 1760 Nicolo Gagliano violin.

Cost: From R170pp to R400pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 15 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Week 3

Channel 3 News in Connecticut referred to Kalena Bovell as “one of the brightest stars in classical music.” The Panaman-American conductor’s recent achievements include receiving the prestigious 2024 Sphinx Medal of Excellence—the highest honour bestowed by the Sphinx Organization—and being named a 2022-2024 Awardee of the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship.

In a groundbreaking moment, Kalena etched her name in history in 2023 as the first Black woman to conduct an opera in Canada, conducting a world premiere reimagination of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha.

Kalena headlines the third concert of JPO’s Early Spring Symphony Season with an opening of Holst St. Paul’s Suite, No. 2, Op. 29, a quintessentially beautiful work with an adventurous spirit. Joining the show is pianist Pallavi Mahidhara who made her orchestral debut at the age of 10. Pallavi performs Saint-Saëns poetic and fantastical Concerto for Piano No. 2, Op. 22. Brush up on your classical music knowledge with Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5, Op. 107, regarded as one of the composer’s finest works.

The Indian-American pianist is praised for her unique artistry and charismatic stage presence and raked in a number of top prizes. Pallavi is the executive producer, writer, and host of “The Conscious Artist”, a podcast series designed to promote Mental Health Awareness for musicians, artists, and all human beings.

Cost: From R170pp to R400pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 22 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Week 4

Daniel Boico’s innate musical sensitivity paired with a keen ear and deep musicianship have produced exciting performances with orchestras in the U.S., Europe, Central and South America, Asia and the symphony seasons for Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The conductor is in top form for the final Early Spring Symphony Season concert.

The evening starts with Daniel leading the orchestra for an interpretation of Rossini L’Italiana in Algeri Overture. Ravel’s whimsical Ma Mère l’Oye (Mother Goose) composition also forms part of the programme.

Antonio Chen Guang started studying the piano at a very young age with his father. He has studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, with further stints at top institutions in the United States, Italy and Austria. An album by Steinway & Sons in 2020 soon followed, dedicated to Bach, Brahms and Berg, receiving worldwide praise.

Antonio will delight guests with a performance of Beethoven’s timeless Concerto for Piano No. 5, Op. 73 that flickers between moments of lightness and dark moods.

Cost: From R170pp to R400pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 29 August at 7:30pm. Pre-concert talks start at 6:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Get there early for the informative Pre-Concert Talks

Plan your evening carefully and be sure to join the Pre-Concert Talks that run before each concert at 6:30pm. Deano Maduramuthu, previously from the Morning Drive on Classic 1027 hosts an informative and engaging way to learn about the music before your concert.

The talks touch on music theory, guided listening and the program’s historical and cultural context. Entrance to the talks is free and all patrons are welcome.

27 Degrees restaurant right next to Linder Auditorium serves dinner from 5pm and secure and convenient parking is available.

More about Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra

The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) is a not-for-profit company that is invested in identifying and nurturing local talent and skills in the city’s creative community. Their seasonal concerts and regular collaborations are prime markers of using classical music to bring people together.

When: From 8 to 29 August 2024, every Thursday from 7:30pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, 27 St Andrews Road, Parktown, Johannesburg

Website: jpo.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 011 484 0446
Facebook: @JohannesburgPhilharmonicOrchestra
Instagram: @johannesburgphilharmonic