Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra announces its most extensive national tour yet, bringing top rated global classical music figures

Internationally acclaimed conductor Marin Alsop will join forces with South African cello sensation Abel Selaocoe and master percussionist Bernhard Schimpelsberger, creating a performance that bridges continents while remaining deeply connected to South African heritage.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

The Mzansi National philharmonic orchestra the country’s super orchestra an outfit at forefront of making classical music inclusive throughout the country, is more than just an orchestra, but an instrument ton drive transformation within the mostly elitist music genre into an instrument of transformation, nation building and healing.

Journalists who gathered at the Nelson Mandela sanctuary Hotel in Houghton, on Thursday, September 18, ere told by the Orchestra’s Chief Executive officer and Artists Director Bongani Tembe that orchestra for the past three years that it has been embarking on a national tour, has transformed lives beyond the confines of music.

Tembe and assisted by Nicole Haynes explained to the media that the way the outfit was conceptualised through a government process led by the Department of Sport, arts and Culture is to be the engine for societal transformation, using the instrument of music.

“We manage to achieve this through partnerships with other collaborators, such as orchestras based in the provinces and other role players. The orchestra has also assisted in establishing other orchestras that were never there before, such as the Mpumalanga Chamber Orchestra and another orchestra in the northern Cape. In the past three years we have distributed R70 million to orchestras. We also reach out to marginalized areas and work with especially people that have been on the margins before,” Tembe said.

Haynes said that the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra has core ethos, at the centre of which is to be accessible to ordinary people including the youth as it is to Chief Executive Officers.

”What is good about this orchestra is the fact that it is real, is transformative and changes people’s lives,” Haynes said.

Tembe then went on to unveil this year’s national tour details that will start in Johannesburg, traveling to Durban and winding up in Cape Town. “I would advise that people must buy tickets immediately as just like before the shows will soon be sold out,” Tembe emphasized.

This year the tour has attracted top rated international talent in the classical music genre, and therefore promises to be a thrilling experience for those who will be able to attend the shows in the three cities.

Dubbed Voices of Home – a celebration of South Africa’s heritage and world-class musical artistry, the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting its most expansive national tour yet, celebrating South African artistry alongside global repertoire.

This December, audiences in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town will witness a powerful meeting of musical legends. Internationally acclaimed conductor Marin Alsop will join forces with South African cello sensation Abel Selaocoe and master percussionist Bernhard Schimpelsberger, creating a performance that bridges continents while remaining deeply connected to South African heritage.

 At the heart of the programme is the South African tour debut of Selaocoe’s Four Spirits Cello Concerto, paired with Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 2, a romantic masterpiece renowned for its sweeping melodies. The evening promises a journey that resonates with both pride and passion.

 A Celebration of South Africa’s Rising Voice

“Voices of Home is not another concert tour. It is a national celebration to bring South Africans together. From historic echoes to contemporary creation, the tour is a tribute to the excellence of music, heritage, and the dynamic cultural momentum of South Africa”. said Bongani Tembe, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Mzansi Philharmonic.

 Alsop, one of the most celebrated conductors of her generation, added: “I’m incredibly excited to join Mzansi Philharmonic for this meaningful and dynamic tour. Abel Selaocoe is one of the most original voices in classical music today. He is passionate, fearless, and deeply connected to home. This tour celebrates what is possible when tradition meets innovation.”

 Reflecting on Four Spirits, and his debut with Mzansi Philharmonic, composer and soloist Selaocoe shared: “Four Spirits was born from the stories and sounds that shaped me; memory, joy, rhythm, resistance, and celebration. To bring this work to audiences across South Africa with the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra is a deep honour. It feels like bringing the music home.” His compositions are deeply rooted in his South African heritage, making him central to the Voices of Home narrative.

 Redefining the Boundaries of Classical Music

The Voices of Home tour reflects the Mzansi Philharmonic’s vital mandate: to broaden access to orchestral music across South Africa, while presenting flagship events that showcase the finest South African musical talent.

 With each performance, Mzansi Philharmonic strengthens its role as a proudly South African orchestra that balances global standards with a deep commitment to heritage and community impact.

 Beyond the stage, the ‘Voices of Home’ tour will also feature special community upliftment activities, including intimate performances at hospitals in each city. These form part of Mzansi Philharmonic’s ongoing pledge to broaden access to orchestral music and share the healing power of music with diverse audiences.

 Tour Dates and Venues:

•              Johannesburg – Linder Auditorium | 19:30 | 10 & 11 December

•             Durban – Playhouse Opera Theatre | 15:00 | 13 December

•             Cape Town – Cape Town City Hall | 18:00 | 16 December

About Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra:

The Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra is South Africa’s first national orchestra in the democratic era which was established in 2019 as part of implementing South Africa’s revised white paper on Arts and Culture. Mzansi Philharmonic is committed to artistic excellence, inclusion and nation-building through music.

Mzansi Philharmonic’s vital mandate includes broadening access to orchestral music across South Africa, while presenting flagship events that showcase the cream of South African classical musical talent.  The Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra (MNPO) is governed by a board chaired by Justice Leona Theron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and is composed of respected business and community leaders. The Orchestra’s management is led by Bongani Tembe, an eminent arts leader and musician who studied at the Juilliard School in New York.

Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra operates as a non-profit entity and is financed through a public-private partnership, which includes an annual grant from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). The Department’s mandate is to create an enabling environment for the sport, arts, and culture sector, fostering an active, creative, winning, and socially cohesive nation.

 Tickets are available now via Quicket.