Mzansi National Philharmonic OrchestraMzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra
Nicole Haynes
Nicole Haynes writes about the Mzansi Philharmonic’s first national tour in December 2022, performing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Marin Alsop.
We visited Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, partnering with local choirs and spreading joy wherever we went.
To fully articulate the experience of this tour seems almost impossible. From the outset, the positivity, energy, passion, anticipation and commitment from each of our stakeholders were palpable and coursed through our team with unprecedented drive. Something about this endeavour was different from anything any of us had undertaken before. The pledge to see it come to fruition led to the kind of work that leaves one completely empty, and yet completely full.
>Making a tour like this come about, on this scale, and with this kind of impact, takes a certain energy and sacrifice — the willingness to bring our full artistic selves into the arena with others, to have our ideas used and shared or denied and abandoned, all without selfishness or pride, and living out our learning what true humility means, sometimes with tears and other times with gladness. Is this not what modern society needs more of?
The story of the Mzansi philharmonic is richly layered with individual, meaningful accounts of people being changed and impacted by the transformative power of the arts, and of music in particular. This transformative power has ceased to be an ideal, having moved into actuality, taking up a distinct space amongst us.
An overwhelming sense of hope was tangible as audiences flocked to sold-out venues throughout the country. Here, in our beautiful South Africa — a space richly woven with heartache, pain, loss, joy and triumph – we saw people of every age, race, gender, and socio- economic standing marvel, many of them overwhelmed to the point of tears, at the experience of beauty and artistic excellence. This experience both reached them where they were at, as well as surpassed their expectations of what is possible. And all this at a time when many of them needed it most.
The tour saw the cream of South African musicians in a homecoming tour, bringing together individuals from around the country and abroad, under the baton of Marin Alsop, in an adapted performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. In keeping with the Orchestra’s goal to achieve resonance with wider audiences, the Mzansi Philharmonic joined Maestro Alsop’s ‘Global Ode to Joy’ project, reimagining Beethoven’s 9th Symphony for the 21st century. Standing with Beethoven in his representation of the universality of humankind, the South African version saw the weaving in of Zulu text through portions of the work. In addition, Grammy award-winning artist Wouter Kellerman worked closely with Marin Alsop to create a single movement work which featured a prelude and movement interludes performed on flute, with an indigenous instrument ensemble. Added to this were the voices of local choirs, resident in each city. The result was a rendition of this symphony as has never been heard before, and the artistic excellence with which it was undertaken left a lasting impression on audiences.
In an attempt to capture the full extent of the tour’s impact, we created avenues for additional artistic expression. Firstly, we contracted Emmy award-winning filmmaker Francois Verster to create both a concert film and behind-the- scenes documentary of the tour. These will be released later in 2023. There are current negotiations to broadcast these films on national, and possibly international television. (As an aside, an American film producer also joined the tour to research the possibility of further projects that tell the Mzansi Philharmonic’s story, specifically as it relates to Marin Alsop).
In addition, the Orchestra hired graphic artist Duncan Stewart who travelled with the Mzansi Philharmonic, creating artworks along the way. Some of these works have been gifted to stakeholders, while others represent the story of the tour and will be assembled into an appropriate exhibition format.
Herein lies the magic of it all: our inaugural national tour was the realisation of artistic ideals that, for many, until now, had been held in concept only.
Our national tours are a highlight on the South African orchestra calendar.
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At this moment in time I am keen that my voice is heard, my deep and unswerving love for my country noted and with it my wish for all of our artistic and musical communities to finally work together for the greater good and future of the arts and music. South Africa should be shouting to the heavens and beyond about its musicians, with some of our greatest talents taking the world by storm, Most recently Abel Selaocoe (cellist, composer and singer) and Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (soprano)……the list goes on.
Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra currently has eight cadets enrolled in the National Cadetship Programme, which has been implemented in recognition of the limited representation of black musicians and increasing demand for South African musicians in the pool of present and future professional musicians in South African orchestras.
The Orchestra currently has three fellows who are music students at international schools, receiving financial and artistic support from the Mzansi Philharmonic. When not abroad, these individuals also perform as members of the Orchestra from time to time. They are all artists who have shown distinction in their field, great promise as professional musicians, and are all an important part of South Africa’s future.