So there they are … our tutti players in our string sections, minding their own business, blending in with their fellow section players and living the life of zero responsibility until … the management of the orchestra announces this new fabulous, great plan: a Chamber Music Festival with ensembles made up of orchestra members! 😃… Continue reading Orchestral Chamber Musicians
Tag: concerts
Happiness on the Lawn
In Cape Town we are very privileged to have the most beautiful botanical garden, situated at the east side of Table Mountain, showing off all the gorgeous ‘Fijnbos’ and other indigenous plants along lustrous lawns were people can enjoy a picnic looking up to the majestic Table Mountain. ‘Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as… Continue reading Happiness on the Lawn
Bollywood Surprises
We, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, have had various collaborations with our colleagues from the East and, I'm speaking frankly here, they were long and quite boringly orchestrated concerts so not very interesting for us. So when the Symphony of Love concert featuring 'the sensational songstress from India, Pratibha Singh Baghel', came up in our… Continue reading Bollywood Surprises
The Cape Doctor
The Cape Doctor, also known as the 'South Easter', has nothing to do with medicine and everything with strong winds howling in Cape Town during the summer months and a pain for any outdoor concert! As I write this in January 2023 Summer is full on going in the Southern parts of the World and… Continue reading The Cape Doctor
The Art of Twirling
Twirling you ask? Wasn't this a blog about music and double bass?? Moe nie worrie nie, I'm not about to start a blog about Majorette Twirling or any other kind of twirling ... I am writing this week about a specific skill in a bass players' life: the Bass Twirl. Not to be underestimated, the… Continue reading The Art of Twirling
Desk partners!
Today I write about the most important people in a (string) player's life...the desk partner! The reason why I write about this this week is that one of my favourite desk partners, of the 40+ years that I've had desk partners, came to visit in Cape Town and conducted the Philharmonic for the last 2… Continue reading Desk partners!
Orchestra Vibes!
It is busy days for the CPO! In between our Summer Symphony Season we are rehearsing for the opera Alcina with the Cape Town Opera and UCT opera school colleagues and just because we weren’t being a diverse orchestra enough yet we played a light program at the Silos at the V&A Waterfront! Yes it’s… Continue reading Orchestra Vibes!
Bass Power!
If I say 'Shosty 5' about every double bass player gets another look in their eyes, their body language changes and it either shows fear .... excitement .... or both! 😉 The 5th Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich was on the program last week together with the Polovtsian Dances by Borodin all conducted by our beloved… Continue reading Bass Power!
Langa’s talents
My last blog ended with praising the youthful talent in Cape Town and last week there was just more of the same! For our last community concert (with CPO) we travelled to Langa, one of the townships along the N2. When going to the poorer areas we are always aware and a bit wary as… Continue reading Langa’s talents
My first Blog!
Finally! I sit down to write my first blogpost... I never saw myself as a writer and I still don't, but riding around on my bikes in Cape Town, being the principal player of the Cape Town Philharmonic orchestra and lecturer at UCT every week is an adventure and there are always interesting moments so… Continue reading My first Blog!
Roxane Steffen 