Tag Archives: Bronwen Forbay

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 22 May

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Reserve Bank has left the Repo rate unchanged, but has warned that the inflationary pressure from petrol price increases and a weak Rand could influence the rate in future.

*   The City of Cape Town is setting up a company to manage the Cape Town Stadium, an asset which is costing the City and its ratepayers large sums of money due to losses made, at about R36 million a year! The establishment of the company is to be approved at the Mayoral Committee meeting today, which will then create a business hub around Continue reading →

Franschhoek Literary Festival ‘books’ out Franschhoek

The fourth Franschhoek Literary Festival, taking place next weekend, has built up such a loyal following that it has virtually booked out the accommodation and restaurants in Franschhoek, a most welcome boost for the hospitality industry, given the quietest May ever experienced.

Author Christopher Hope is the Festival Director, and initiated the Festival Literary Festival, supported by organisers Jenny Hobbs and Sheenagh Tyler, as a “street party for writers and readers from across the country, and around the world.”   This is his last Festival as Director, Hope has announced.

A part of the proceeds of the Franschhoek Literary Festival goes to the Library Fund, and R 415 000 has been raised to date, allowing the organisers and attendees to achieve the objective of “the people shall read”, by buying books for libraries.

The Festival kicks off with the theme that Franschhoek has become famous for – gourmet food.  Donald Paul will talk to authors of food books Myrna Robbins (“Franschhoek Food”) and Marlene van der Westhuizen (“Sumptuous”), and Mark Dendy-Young, owner of La Petite Ferme, under the heading”The Chefs Who Played with Fire”. 

Other well-known writers who will talk at the Literary Festival are Antje Krog (‘Begging to be Black’), Aher Arap Bol (‘The Lost Boy’), Deon Meyer (‘Thirteen Hours’), John van der Ruit (‘Spud’), Rian Malan (‘Resident Alien’), Pieter Haasbroek (‘Kruispunt’), Damon Galgut (‘In a Strange Room’), Ivan Vladislavic (‘Flashback), Marita van der Vyver (‘Gourmet Rhapsody’), Christopher Hope (‘A Separate Development’),  Jonathan Shapiro (cartoonist Zapiro), and Margie Orford (‘Daddy’s Girl’).  

Alongside the Franschhoek Literary Festival will run the Autumn Music Festival, co-ordinated by talented classical pianist Christopher Duigan.   On Saturday 15 May Duigan plays two performances “celebrating Chopin”, honouring the composer’s 200th birthday anniversary, at 11h00 and at 18h00, both in the NG Church on the main road.  A Gala Opera evening will be hosted at Cafe Bon Bon, and costs R320 for a four-course meal, welcome drink, and music by soprano Bronwen Forbay.   Duigan plays “Music for a Sunday morning” on 16 May at the NG Church at 11h30, while Federico Freschi will sing Autumn Songs that afternoon at 15h30 at Cafe Bon Bon.    

Franschhoek Literary Festival, Franschhoek, 14 – 16 May. Tickets should be booked via www.webtickets.co.za.    Autumn Music Festival, 15 – 16 May – bookings for the Cafe Bon Bon concerts at tel 021 876-3936, tickets at the door (R80) for the NG Church concerts.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Franschhoek goes classical with La Motte

The La Motte Classic Music Festival takes place this coming weekend, and offers locals as well as visitors to Franschhoek a magnificent musical feast all weekend long.

The brainchild of Christopher Duigan, a gifted pianist who lives in Pietermaritzburg and who organises the classical music festivals in Franschhoek twice a year, the sponsorship by La Motte is a first.  

The Music Festival opens on Friday evening 30 October with a choice of concerts, an Evening of Song with Bronwen Forbay singing opera arias and songs in the NG Church at 19h30, or clarinetist Mathew Reid and the Camerata Tinta Barocca performing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto at 19h00.

On Saturday 31 October Jacqueline Wedderburn-Maxwell, talented young teenage violinist, will play sonatas by Beethoven and Cesar Franck, and concert pieces by Sarasate and Paganini in the NG Church at 12h00.  At the same venue a concert showcases “Rising Stars: young artists in concert” at 14h00, followed by a fun explanation session about classic music and its instruments, hosted by Christopher Duigan, at the Dennegeur Hall at 16h00.   At 19h00 on the same day Ben Schoeman, an award-winning young pianist, will play music by Beethoven, Franck and Mendelssohn.   At 19h30 Belle Voci takes over La Brasserie for an evening of operatic delights served with La Motte wines and a three-course meal.

On Sunday 1 November the music day starts at 9h30 with a unique combination of text and music, performed in the NG Church by pianist Anneke Lamont, Flautist Handri Loots and Violinist Elmarie van der Vyver.     The pace hots up at 11h30, when Christopher Duigan plays Haendel, Beethoven, Debussy and Liszt in the NG Church.   An hour later talented piano duo Nina Schumann and Luis Magalhaes perform Rachmaninoff and Arensky.   At 15h30 the Stellenbosch LIbertas Choir will sing in the NG Church, and the programme includes a work called Jericho, as well as music by Haendel, Mendelssohn and Bach.   At 15h30 the Festival comes to an end with performances by many of the Festival musicians at Cafe’ Bon Bon.

Ticket prices range from free to R 80 for the concerts at the NG Church.  The concerts serving food and/or wine cost more.  Details about the Franschhoek La Motte Classic Music Festival can be obtained at www.la-motte.com.  Tickets can be bought at www.webtickets.co.za.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio www.whalecottage.com