SA Soprane: Heldinne

Amanda Osorio

Janel Speelman

Op 5 Oktober het die Musiekvereniging hulle Galakonsert aangebied "S A Soprane: Heldinne",  met Jolene McCleland, Lauren Dasappa, Janel Speelman, Clara Hugo en Amanda Osorio en begeleier Elna van der Merwe. Die program het bestaan uit opera en operette musiek en die aanbieding is gekoreografeer en saamgestel deur Neil Rademan. Neil sê hy het liedere gekies wat vroue se emosies soos liefde, passie, wraak, venyn en jaloesie uitbeeld.

Die musiek is van oa. Offenbach, Puccini, Bizet, Mozart, Delibes, Gerswin en Bernstein.

Jolene McCleland

The first half of the program consisted of operatic arias and the second half of operettas and songs from the musicals. "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffmann, "Habanera" from Carmen, the "Flower duet" from Lahkme, and "The Song of the Moon" from Rusalka were firm favourites. The evergreen "O mio bambino caro" from Gianni Schicci and Lehar's "Meine Lippen sie kussen so heiss" - the last sung with great aplomb, by Jolene - were loudly applauded.

Lauren Dasappa

In die tweede helfte is die entoesiastiese gehoor weereens bederf deur bekende liedere hoofsaaklik uit die musiekblyspele, o.a. uit My Fair Lady: "I could have danced all night", uit West Side Story "I feel Pretty" en uit Les Miserables die pragtige lied "I dreamed a dream".
Dit was deurgaans duidelik dat hierdie soprane dit intens geniet het om voor die gehoor op te tree en dit was werklik n voorreg om na hulle te luister.

Janel Speelman is a serene, soft spoken intellectual with a lyrical soprano voice. She did her Masters in singing at Michigan in the USA. Amanda Osorio is a bubbly, enthusiastic soprano with a beautiful fuller voice. She is originally from the USA and now studies at UCT. She sang Mimi at the last Suidoosterfees, 2 years ago and has an intense passion for music.  Jolene McCleland is an eccentric, sharp, feisty mezzo who has travelled the world. She has superstar quality and has appeared in numerous operas, here and in Europe. Lauren Dasappa was born in Durban. She is a dynamic and sincere musician whose expressive singing profoundly moves audiences. The petite Clara Hugo is a dramatic soprano who studied at the Sorbonne in Paris. She has a passion for Golden Age Opera and Bel Canto singing technique.

Between the five of them they have performed for Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II, King Gustav of Sweden and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. This was our chance to hear them sing!'

Clara Hugo

Elna van der Merwe is n ou bekende by ons! Sy is lankal een van ons land se heel beste

Elna van der Merwe

klavierbegeleiers. Sy het haar opleiding ontvang aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch waar sy later ook lektrise was, maar is nou 'n gesogte ad hoc pianis vir plaaslike en internasionale kunstenaars. Sy is n wêreldklas pianis met die vernuf om gemaklik te wissel tussen klassieke en die ligter genres.

Wat 'n vreugdevolle en sielsverrykende ervaring was dit om 'n aand met hierdie begaafde kunstenaars te kon deel. 'n GALA-aand voorwaar!