The day when loadshedding was defeated by beautiful classical music in the Chris Seabrooke Music Hall at Wits

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

When I got the invite, I right away knew that I wanted to be there. Besides classical music tends to calm one’s nerves, making you relax and even send you into an enthralling mood if it is that good. After all we all need this kind of soothing music, especially living and working in a city that is fast paced, hectic, but sometimes challenging this concrete jungle called Johannesburg.

This time, this occasion particularly appealed to me because I simply love the piano, and I always tell those who care to ask why I seem to gravitate in a particular way to the sound produced by the piano, and that is that I have always fancied playing the piano. In fact, if fate did not drive me into creating stories through words and instead, I had become a musician, I suspect that the piano could have been the instrument of my choice.

But here I was at the state of the class Christopher Seabroke Music Hall at Wits University on Saturday evening to a by-invitation only event. The launch of a new piano festival, a collaboration between Wits’ Department of music under leadership the highly respected musician and educator Carlo Momberli.

 I found myself with fellow travelers who love classical music in general and the sound produced by the piano in particular in a classical music genre. At the event there was a smattering of Italian as well as a lot of English spoken just before and immediately after the performance as the guests most of who donned in suits as they had before and after show drinks and food in the foyer.

This was not a random mix of audience on a Johannesburg evening.

This was because the musicians who performed at the launch as a duo are Italian. And boy did they perform and produce the kind of music that made one feel that love is a beauty full thing indeed, even though it comes with its own challenges.

How The Spina & Benignetti, for the slightly more than one hour that we remained seated, like zombies, except of course when we intermittently clapped in appreciation after every song constantly kept one reminded of the fact that indeed February is a lovers’ month. And because I was strategically seated at a corner that gave me a full view of the pianists’ dancing fingers, I was able to catch the whole finger choreography by the two highly talented pianists. If I told you right now that the two were so combatable, so in harmony and so together that they even finished each other’s notes on the piano, creating a chemistry that can only happen when two hugely talented artists are on the piano.

I was so absorbed by the charming sound of the piano, the beautiful artistry displayed by the two and the harmony they displayed during the performance to the extent that when the light s went off a song away from the last tune, they continued to perform seemingly oblivious, undisturbed by the darkness that enveloped the hall. I can tell you there was no discordant glitch in their performance, and I for one event thought that the lights going off was part of the performance.

This performance actually reminded me of how in a touching scene of Jojo Moyes’s latest book, We All Live Here, where love struck Bill and piano teacher suit of his Penelope play together in such harmony that the jealous sort of out of work but not down and out Old Pal Gene gets so jealous that he keeps on making unsavoury comments about the two from the next room. Jealous will make you nasty indeed.

This part of the evening was so special and so touching but was slightly spoilt for me when the musicians confessed that it was not easy performing the piano in darkness. This is because for me I hard long forgotten that we still have the haunting prospect of Load shedding with us, and therefore in my mind, the darkness that descended was part of the performance to emphasize the romantic character of the sound produced by the two. I felt foolish actually when the truth behind the darkness was revealed.However this performance by the duo, in a way was setting the tone for what is in store for fine music lovers during the run of this festival, and this time it will be our own musicians, previous winners of the Standard bank Young Artists award.

The organisers are understandably thrilled about how music lovers are receiving this latest edition to Gauteng’s entertainment callender.

The main festival programme kicks off on 7 March

“The Wits Music Department is thrilled to announce the inaugural WITS STANDARD BANK PIANO FESTIVAL, set to take place from 7 – 8 March in the beautiful Chris Seabrooke Music Hall at Wits University, Johannesburg. This intimate 180-seater venue, specifically designed for acoustic chamber music, boasts a world-class Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano, renowned for its exquisite tone.

South Africa has a rich jazz piano tradition, shaped by a distinctive musical heritage. It is only fitting to celebrate this art form with a dedicated festival. Additionally, given that the piano was invented in Italy around 1700, the showcase includes a classical programme to honour the instrument’s European roots.

The main festival programme kicks off on 7 March, showcasing two exceptional South African pianists, Kyle Shepherd and Afrika Mkhize, each performing a set that highlights their unique styles. On 8 March, audiences will be treated to an unforgettable performance by celebrated pianist Nduduzo Makhathini,” the organisers state in media release.

Therefore, if you know what is good for you, rather good music, this is not a festival to miss unnecessarily.