THE PANDEMIC THAT ALMOST SILENCED US...

March 2020 brought the world to a standstill, but not the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Working from home initially, the orchestra and the youth orchestras soon reinvented themselves, and the CPO established itself as a pioneer in all things digital. First came videos, made on cell phones at home and edited to make a seamless whole … From Nkosi Sikelel ‘iAfrika to Lockdown Waltz with Cape Town City Ballet dancers on rooftops, to a CNN documentary about our young Masidlale and other learners having online lessons at home to chamber music concerts, appearances in the virtual National Arts Festival and to one of the most streamed orchestras in the world.

CPO ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A PIONEER IN ALL THINGS DIGITAL

More than 20 concerts were produced; videographed in front of no audience but the video crew, stage crew and a couple of members of the management team, a small audience as restrictions changed and back to no audience and then streamed on the Quicket platform, attracting thousands of viewers (and huge compliments) from across the world. Two variety galas were also produced, in which scores of young performers from all walks of life performed with a symphony orchestra for the first time.

Jordan Brooks returned to perform the Korngold Violin Concerto under the direction of Jeremy Silver

It was a time for our own musicians to shine — soloists included principals Gabriele von Dürckheim (Nielsen Flute Concerto and Grové Concertino for Viola and Flute),Shannon Thebus (Strauss Horn Concerto), David Thompson (Haydn Trumpet Concerto), Petrus Coetzee (Grové and Mozart Sinfonia Concertante with guest concertmaster Suzanne Martens), Lisa White (Mozart Oboe Concerto), Roxane Steffen (Stephenson Burlesque for Double Bass), Peter Martens (Elgar Cello Concerto),Brandon Phillips (Mozart Bassoon Concerto), with principal guest conductor Bernhard Gueller doing the lion’s share, supported by Jeremy Silver and Arjan Tien. One of the highlights in the period was recording The Uncertain Four Seasons (the Vivaldi masterpiece reimagined)which, with a message from Tasneem Essop, the executive director of Climate Action Network International, and soloists Farida Bacharova, Suzanne Martens, Philip Martens and Samantha Durrant, reinforced the hazards of climate change and was viewed internationally during COP26 in Glasgow. To replace schools’ concerts, we made a video, The Instruments of the Orchestra.

Principal flute Gabriele von Dürckheim was a soloist in a time that allowed the CPO to present more of its own outstanding musicians

Maria du Toit was one of the very few international artists who were able to travel in times when restrictions were lifted

From wearing masks to building protective Perspex cabinets and social distancing, Covid requirements made working conditions hazardous and the CPO was the first arts organisation to mandate vaccinations for its musicians and, as concerts opened up, so did its audiences. Illness took its toll on musicians and audiences alike, and we sadly lost a number of concertgoers, and performed Nimrod for those who have left us.

The CPO continued to present community galas, either filmed and streamed or filmed in front of a small audience and then streamed

The CPO remains grateful to its subscribers who donated their subscriptions from the first cancelled season, and to all those who supported the CPO during these difficult times.

Magda de Vries is South Africa’s foremost marimba player