Full Circle Digital Magazine August 2013 | Page 52

MUSIC • THE STELLENBOSCH INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Stellenbosch International
Photo: Irene Kim

Standing Ovation for Desmond Tutu at Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival
An elated Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu received a rousing standing ovation on Saturday, 13th July, when he made a rare public appearance in a symphony concert at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival (SICMF). The audience in the packed Endler Hall of Stellenbosch University’s Konservatorium jumped to their feet after the esteemed Nobel Peace Prize winner performed as narrator in the South African composer Péter Louis van Dijk’s, “The Selfish Giant.” Tutu has retired from public appearances but made an exception for the SICMF because the festival celebrated its 10th year. Saturday was the festival’s concert highlight when Tutu performed in “The Selfish Giant,” a symphonic work with the popular Tygerberg Children’s Choir (trained by Hennie Loock), two solo singers; soprano, Juan Visser, and baritone Patrick Tikolo, under the baton of Russian conductor, Daniel Raiskin. Tutu narrated the story, based on an Oscar Wilde short story, of a selfish giant who forbade children to play in his beautiful garden, but who soon had a change of heart. The audience reacted with a long standing ovation for Tutu and the other musicians. After the performance, Tutu spent some time in the Endler foyer posing for photographs and chatting to some of the musicians. During a rehearsal earlier on Saturday, Tutu praised the Tygerberg Children’s Choir, saying: “You sing really beautifully; you sing like angels.”

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FULL CIRCLE DIGITAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2013