I am Spartacus of Africa!

Brooklyn Mack as Amari, a Spartacus in Africa

The advertisement promised "An epic production with 100 dancers including Washington Ballet’s Brooklyn Mack in the role of Spartacus, accompanied by a full symphony orchestra. The famous story of the Roman Empire slave uprising is re-configured into an African setting, complete with incredible costumes and lavish scenery." And it was just that!

Kristin Wilson as Nadira, the favorite of Nagash

A Spartacus of Africa takes the tale of Spartacus, the slave, and sets it firmly in Africa. It is the familiar story of one man`s battle against the indignity and cruelty of slavery and his determination to free himself and his fellow men and women.

A production of the South African National Dance Trust, A Spartacus of Africa was danced by international guest artists as well as a cast of over 100 South African dancers to the music of Aram Khachaturian, accompanied by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. What a difference live music makes!

The cast was excellent! Especially Brooklyn Mack. He was phenomenal. Brooklyn Mack was born in South Carolina. He studied with the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC and the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. A veteran of the Orlando Ballet, he joined the Washington Ballet in 2009 as a principal dancer and in 2012 was recognized as one of Dance Magazine's '25 to Watch.'

Original choreography by Veronica Paeper; Inventive costume design by Dicky Longhurst; Creative set design by KMH Architects; and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra was expertly conducted by Paul Hoskins. It was a great night at the ballet in Johannesburg.

Celebrating Madiba

This week marks one year since freedom fighter, statesman and global inspiration Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela passed away. A number of memorial events are taking place in Johannesburg and Pretoria over the next two weeks in commemoration.

I attended a tribute concert last night in Melrose Arch.


The concert was presented by Classic FM and held in the open plaza at Melrose Arch. Melrose Arch is an upscale shopping precinct / residential space / office space located in northern Johannesburg. It also houses a ton of restaurants. I always forget about Melrose Arch. I went there for lunch with my relocation consultant exactly two years ago when I was apartment hunting and this was the first time I had been back. But it is a great space and I will have to make it a point to frequent it again.

The concert featured the Johannesburg Festival Orhcestra conducted by Richard Cock, the Mzanzi Youth Choir under the direction of Ralf Schmitt and the program featured soloist Lindiwe Bungane.

I wouldn't call the concert program strictly a tribute to Mandela as it was billed. Yes there were South African songs that were easily attributable to Nelson Mandela and the freedom movement. But there were also alot of popular (mostly American) standards and compositions.

The Choir w solist Lindiwe Bungane in red & conductor Richard Cock

There was some attempt to relate some of the songs to Nelson Mandela and South Africa. South Africa is the rainbow nation: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Nelson Mandela loved blues and jazz:  "St. Louis Blues."  Mandela had a special place in his heart for children: "Greatest Love of All."

And no attempt on some other songs. Like "A Whole New World" and the Andrew Lloyd Weber "Concert Celebration" medley. That was okay. The music was great and the orchestra excellent. And finally, there were a fair amount of Christmas songs. I'd describe the program as pretty eclectic actually.

True Colors

The concert was free with a reservation but it was also a benefit for the Hospice Wits program. Representatives were on hand to collect donations and sell battery-operated candles and buttons. The candles came in handy during a rendition of the Phil Collins / Cyndi Lauper ballad "True Colors" when we were encouraged to light and lift them them during the chorus. Pretty. (They also came in handy after the concert when our crew returned home to a Morningside blackened by Eskom load-shedding.)

The Christmas songs though were the best part in my estimation. They all featured either audience participation or an "Africanization" of the lyrics. Many times both. The "12 Days of Christmas" had a lourie in a yellowwood tree instead of a partridge in a pair tree, five nguni cows instead of those gold rings, etc. For the rendition of "Sleigh Ride", the audience clapped the "whip." A one horse open sleigh in "Jingle Bells?" This is Joburg - Oh what fun it is to ride in a taxi in Gauteng!

All in all it was a joyous celebration appropriate for the seasons - both for the holiday and an important remembrance.

The Garden of St Christopher, Take 2

October 11 & 12th is the Garden of St Christopher Open Garden weekend. I went yesterday for their Preview Day which benefited the Johannesburg Child Welfare charity. Today is Family Day.

St Christopher is an expansive beautifully designed private garden in Hyde Park with a combination of both formal and informal garden "rooms." It really should not be missed!

I must remember this tree for a future garden of mine somewhere.

poetry

the luscious camellias

Since this is my second visit to St Christopher, I noticed more of the little things this time.

the papery poppies

the little surprises

bellinis

Unfortunately these are some of the things you will not get today on Family Day ...

a string quartet from the JPO

But don't worry, I saved you a little snippet of the music for you to enjoy. You have to supply your own bellini though ...

JPO

Mozart and Tchaikovsky. 'Nuff said.