The recipients of the 2023 Polar Music Prize have been announced, seeing five-time Grammy Award-winner Angélique Kidjo joining Island Records founder Chris Blackwell and the world’s most performed living composer Arvo Pärt as this year’s recipients. Kidjo, a Benin-born artist and songwriter, is world-renowned for
This May, Cape Town Opera (CTO) will present George Bizet’s masterful French opera The Pearl Fishers at Artscape, with an all-star cast led by Bel canto tenor Levy Sekgapane in his debut as Nadir. Sekgapane is one of South African opera’s great success stories. Together with Pretty Yende,
It’s been announced that South African opera star Pretty Yende will sing at King Charles III’s coronation on 6 May in Westminster Abbey, London. The 37-year-old soprano was elated. The invitation is reminiscent of when Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales were married in 1981. For this occasion, the New
Welcome returns and exciting debuts characterise the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra‘s Summer Symphony Season. From 23 February to 16 March, the JPO will host four separate concerts, one of which will see the young soloist Shannon Thebus on French horn, under the baton of Bernhard Gueller.
It was in Manila, The Philippines, in October 2022, that the newest iteration of We Will Rock You began. The brand-new production and major world tour of Queen and Ben Elton’s multi-award-winning rock musical features an all-South African cast, crew and band. After touring Asia, this hit
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) started their 2023 performance programme on a high note with a sold-out Valentine’s Gala concert (and a brief surprise appearance from flautist Wouter Kellerman, who recently won his second Grammy award). Next on the line-up, and continuing with the tradition
The Johannesburg-based choir launch their debut album following their victory at the World Choral Cup. The award-winning South African choir Quava Vocal Group have released their debut album In Your Light, following their successful tour to Italy and Spain in October 2022. The Johannesburg-based choir
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) launches its 2023 performance programme with the annual Valentine’s Gala Concert at Johannesburg’s Linder Auditorium this 11 February at 19:30. The Valentine’s Gala Concert has, over the years, become a highlight on the Johannesburg classical music calendar. This year, the
On her return to Pretoria, South African-born international mezzo-soprano, Megan Kahts, will be teaming up with renowned pianist Daniel Heide for an intimate evening of classical art songs of love and longing. The artistic duo will give a one-night-only performance at the Musaion Theatre of
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off 2023 with a Valentine’s Gala Concert at Johannesburg’s Linder Auditorium this 11 February at 19:30. The concert includes renowned South African violinist Zanta Hofmeyr and SAMA nominated singer Timothy Moloi, performing under the baton of conductor Daniel Boico. The
It may not feel like it yet, but the end of 2022 is upon us, bringing with it some extraordinary live performances, film screenings, exhibitions, and more. We’ve put together a wide range of events taking place over December and January, from Cape Town and
The annual closing in December is a time of reflection for us at Creative Feel – what did we like, what did our readers like, and did we keep our editorial promises? It’s also a time to ask where we are going. How can we
2022 was a busy year for the Creative Feel team. In addition to undertaking new editorial projects, we also formed new partnerships, continued longstanding relationships with institutions, organisations and independent art spaces, and maintained our coverage of local and global music, performance, visual art and
The power of ‘being within’ – heard and seen, making a positive contribution to the creative economy and their communities; these are the rewards and responsibilities of the graduates of the three-year BASA Debut Programme. The 24 graduates were recently celebrated in a ceremony they
This holiday season, internationally renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli has teamed up with his 25-year-old son Matteo Bocelli and his 10-year-old daughter Virginia Bocelli for their first ever album together, A Family Christmas. The recording showcases their multi-generational musical talent in a range of festive favourites.
The world’s oldest record label, Deutsche Grammophon – a division of Universal Music Group, the world leader in music-based entertainment – has announced the launch of STAGE+, a ground-breaking classical music subscription service, offering livestreams, a huge video archive and new audio releases – all
The Standard Bank Young Artist Awards (SBYAA) are back. The winners of the 2022 SBYAAs were announced on the evening of 29 November 2022 at a ceremony in Johannesburg, emceed by 2020 SBYAA winner, Jefferson ‘J.Bobs’ Tshabalala. Receiving a Standard Bank Young Artist Award is
This December sees composer and performer Ed Sarath, a 60-piece orchestra, an 80-piece choir, and a 40-piece Marimba Band from Education Africa’s very own Marimba Hubs programme taking to stages across the country as part of The South Africa/America Music Exchange festival (SAME). The two
Cape Town Opera presents One in Three from 25 November to 11 December 2022, a compilation of powerful opera and play extracts aiming to raise awareness of gender-based violence. One in Three, which takes its name from the proportion of women and girls who experience abuse in
In less than a month, 190 musicians will converge on a single stage, treating global music lovers to a musical extravaganza. The South Africa/America Music Exchange festival (SAME) initiative seeks to amplify the spirit of unity and collaboration, through music. Live concerts, an international symposium,
After Cape Town Opera’s recent sold-out season of L’elisir d’amore, the company’s next highly anticipated production will be George Frideric Handel’s Alcina, taking place at the Artscape Theatre this November. A collaboration between Cape Town Opera and the UCT Opera School, the sublime, fantastical opera is guest-directed by one
The Board of the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra (Mzansi NPO) has recently appointed an Artistic Planning Committee, formed with the purpose of engaging with and advising the Orchestra on a number of matters. According to a press release sent to media by Mzansi NPO, these
Spring has arrived in Johannesburg and as the days become warmer and the city grows greener, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) prepares for its upcoming Spring Symphony Season, with a full programme featuring internationally acclaimed soloists. Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn and more characterise the programmes
In celebration of 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, globally acclaimed piano virtuoso Lang Lang releases his latest album, The Disney Book, inviting fans of all ages to enjoy classical music through his unique interpretations. Following five consecutive weeks at the top of Luminate’s
The annual Plett ARTS Festival kicks off this 30 September, running until 9 October in the resort town of Plettenberg Bay. With a programme full of exhibitions, film screenings, live performances, public art and more, Creative Feel’s editor, David Mann, has selected five aspects from
Following the successful fresh-air focused 2021 Plett ARTS Festival, outdoor spaces, nature and nature-inspired art will once again take centre stage at the ninth annual Plett ARTS Festival, taking place from 30 September to 9 October 2022. The theme of this year’s festival is Connect.