The audience was able to leave their reality at the auditorium doors and allow their emotions to be guided by the notes of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto during the recent performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto at the 2023 Toyota SU Woordfees.
Beethoven’s Triple Concerto was performed on 8 October in the Endler Hall on the Stellenbosch University campus at this year’s Woordfees that runs from 7 to 15 October.
Appreciation for Carl Reinecke’s arrangement of this concerto was on the audience’s lips long after the final notes had rung out and the auditorium had gone dark.
An enraptured audience
As the hall filled up, the audience was brimming with anticipation for the rendition of the classical piece. However, a hush fell over the audience as soon as the opening notes to Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet rang through the auditorium.
The performance was led by David Cyster on the clarinet and he was joined by Chris Njapha on the cello, Remi Ludik on the viola, and Nicholas Bruiners and Pieter Joubert on the violins.
The audience could not stop themselves from clapping between each movement, despite this not being the etiquette. After the movements were completed, the audience rose in appreciation for the talent that had just been displayed before them.
The performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet was led by David Cyster (pictured above) on the clarinet and he was joined by Chris Njapha on the cello, Remi Ludik on the viola, and Nicholas Bruiners and Pieter Joubert on the violins on 8 October during the 2023 Toyota SU Woordfees. PHOTO: Supplied/Rikus Terblanche.
Standing ovation
After a 15-minute intermission and a reminder not to clap until the very end, the cellist and violinist (Pieter Joubert) were back on stage with Christoff Joubert (piano) as the trio soloists, as well as Mikhaela Porter joining as the accompanying pianist.
My emotions were commanded and controlled for the entire 80-minutes and were not released from the hold the notes had over me until the pianists raised their hands from the keys for the last time. Despite having limited interaction with the art of classical music, appreciation for the talent that was displayed and the passion these musicians had for their craft was not lost on me.
Until that moment, no one could help but be stunned into silence at the way these four individuals worked in tandem to create a melodious and hypnotic performance. It ultimately left the audience so in awe, there was a delay before the auditorium erupted in applause and almost everyone in attendance was pushed to their feet.