The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and their lockdown performances [videos]

After The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra had to cancel their Autumn and June sessions due to the world’s latest pandemic, the orchestra had to resort to other creative ways in order to share in the musical experience. With the many challenges of the lockdown and concert halls being closed down, the orchestra decided to make music via digital streams.

Online activities and going viral

The orchestra has been going viral with their ‘home sessions’ since SA’s national lockdown was put in place. Guest conductor Bernhard Gueller introduced the series of concerts that will be performed under lockdown, with musicians playing from home earlier in March 2020.

It didn’t take long for the orchestra’s take on Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika to go viral while their Meditation recorded with violinist Alexander Gilman in London got the attention of many.

The orchestra also created a video of Cape Town seen from a drone while they play the Intermezzo from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana.

The benefits of music in social cohesion

Gueller said in a newsletter that music can be a medium which articulates emotions you aren’t able to express with words. Right now, the CPO Music Academy, the wind bands, Masidlale and CPO musicians, are losing out from not rehearsing and performing.

Moreover, the young musicians are losing out on the tuition that they receive at the hands of Brandon Phillips and Faan Malan and a number of specialised teachers. 

“We hope that they, along with you, can benefit from the value of knowing and understanding classical music. We applaud the many people who have donated their tickets, several of whom have increased the amount, and the Richard Wagner Society which donated R50 000, aware that the young musicians they support need an orchestra for their future.”

He says that in this country we can see the benefits of music in social cohesion.

“We see that young people from the townships and other disadvantaged areas are given the chance to learn to play an instrument, to perform in public and in so doing are offered something positive for their after-school hours and they can and do bask in a sense of achievement and self-worth that spreads to their families and into their communities.”

That’s why he noted that their music education cannot suffer.

“To so many of them, music offers a feeling of self-worth, brings confidence and brings a sense of community.”

That’s why the orchestra also went on to establish a campaign on GivenGain so that the youth orchestra and wind ensembles keep on practicing via digital platforms.