Wednesday, November 5, 2008

ArtZone.co.za: 'The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates 25 years of music excellence'


[Ushaka KaSenzangakhona: An epic in music and poetry on Shaka, son of Senzangakhona;
National Symphony Orchestra of SABC; Robert Maxym, Conductor; Mzilikazi Khumalo, Choral Director; Sony CDCSL 8047 (1997)]

ArtZone.co.za:
The expansive music epic cantata, uShaka KaSenzangakhona, which is based on the dramatic story of the Zulu King uShaka KaSenzangakhona has been chosen as the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s World Symphony Spring Season finale to take place with a host of soloists and choirs, in the Durban City Hall at 7:30pm on Thursday 13 November 2008.”

Composed by respected South African composer, arranger and choral director Professor Emeritus of African Languages, Prof J. S. Mzilikazi Khumalo, the concert is conducted by US born and SA-based conductor, Robert Maxym, who did the orchestration of this majestic piece. The narrator is Prof. Themba Msimang, a Professor of African Languages at the University of South Africa. Fellow academics, Msimang and Khumalo, found they shared an interest in the history of King Shaka, founder of the Zulu Empire. Their separate research into the life and times of King Shaka resulted in an unlikely product - a musical collaboration between the two. Ultimately librettist Themba Msimang wrote an epic narrative on King Shaka from the Zulu perspective, which composer Mzilikazi Khumalo set to music.” [J. S. Mzilikazi Khumalo (b. 1932), South African Composer, Arranger & Choral Director is profiled at AfriClassical.com]







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