FSSO’s 5th Symphony Concert: International female guest conductor and two of South Africa’s most prominent pianists!

Conductor: Carla Delfrate
Soloists: Albie van Schalkwyk (piano) and
Charl du Plessis (piano)
Date: Saturday, 13 October 2018
Time: 19:30
Venue: Odeion School of Music OSM, UFS

On Saturday 13 October 2018, the Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO) offers a stellar line-up with visiting Italian female conductor, Carla Delfrate, as well as two of South Africa’s most acclaimed pianists, Albie van Schalkwyk and Charl du Plessis.
The programme for the evening will include two of Mozart’s notable compositions - Overture to the opera Le Nozze di Figaro (Marriage of Figaro) and the Concerto in Eflat major for two pianos, K365 – as well as Beethoven’s light-hearted and cheerful Symphony No. 8 in F major.
It will be the first time that a symphony concert performed by the FSSO is conducted by a female conductor. Carla Delfrate is regarded as one of the finest female conductors in the world. Born in Parma, Italy, she graduated in oboe and conducting from the A. Boito Conservatoire in her hometown, with the guidance of mentors Piero Guarino and Daniele Gatti. She was Artistic Secretary of the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa and of the Teatro delle Muse in Ancona. From 2005 she undertook the same role within the Fondazione Orchestra Giovanile “Luigi Cherubini”, led by Riccardo Muti. She is now a professor of the Orchestra Exercises course of the Conservatoire of Mantua, after her teaching experiences in the Conservatoires in Adria, Cagliari, Milan, Bologna, Parma, and Frosinone..
Charl du Plessis was born in Bloemfontein, studied with master piano teacher Joseph Stanford at the University of Pretoria, and was the first student ever to complete a doctoral performance degree specialising simultaneously in classical and jazz piano. Charl’s specialisation in the arrangement and refined treatment of crossover music sets him apart from other pianists, and has enabled him to build a new audience where classic music connoisseurs and jazz enthusiasts meet. In 2017 Charl du Plessis became the first pianist ever to perform on top of Cape Town’s Table Mountain and was invited to perform at the opening of Steinway Hall in Beijing. He has since establish his own jazz trio that has educated audiences about the complexities and capabilities of combining jazz and classic music.
Albie van Schalkwyk has established himself as performer in a number of fields over the past 30 years, being one of the leading chamber musicians and vocal accompanists in South Africa. He has also performed as soloist with South African orchestras, performed solo recitals, given master classes for singers and
accompanists, worked as a music producer for the SABC, and arranged music for various combinations, including Broadway musicals and operas for twho pianos and orchestral pieces for three to eight pianos.
The FSSO concert takes place on Saturday 13 October 2018 from 7:30pm at the Odeion.

This event is made possible through funding by the National Lotteries Commission..

Admission: Ticket prices are as follows: Adults - R150; Pensioners and block bookings of 10 and more - R100; Children 3 to 18 years - R50.

Tickets are available at any Computicket outlet or online atwww.online.computicket.com.
For enquiries, contact Ella Kotze at the FSSO on 051 401 2342