Music fans were treated to a beautiful melody of classic and contemporary African songs as the sun set on the final night of the 2023 Toyota SU Woordfees on 15 October.
Classical Calabash, which was produced by the Cape Town Music Academy, consisted of performances by 12 musicians who used various instruments, including the marimba, uhadi, djembe, violin, double bass and guitar.
Strong vocals by Vasti Zeeman-Knoesen, Xhanti Nokwali, Daniel Nambassi and Tankiso Mamabalo accompanied the instruments.
‘From sunrise to sunset’
Classical Calabash took the audience on a journey from sunrise to sunset, driven by the pace of the music, the lighting on stage, and a stunning digital backdrop.
Classical Calabash was a once-off musical performance that took place on 15 October at the 2023 Toyota SU Woordfees. Pictured above (from left) are Tankiso Mamabalo, Vasti Zeeman-Knoesen and Xhanti Nokwali. PHOTO: Nicolas Adamy
An animation of a karoo-like farm scene was projected onto the backdrop and changed as the performance went on. This backdrop initially showed scenes bathed in the typical oranges and pinks of sunset before slowly changing to night and then dawn, following the progression of the performance.
Musical melodies
The instruments created a brilliant backing track for the talented vocalists, who alternated between solo and group performances.
These songs were performed in languages including English, isiXhosa and isiZulu. They featured a mix of classic and contemporary African pieces and well-known songs like Johnny Clegg’s The Crossing and Freshly Ground’s Fire is Low.
Fans were treated to a night of African melodies at Classical Calabash, a once-off musical performance on 15 October at the 2023 Toyota SU Woordfees. Pictured above is Sky Dladla, playing the uhadi, a traditional African string instrument. PHOTO: Nicolas Adamy
While remaining true to the inherent nature of the pieces, the performers expertly added their unique melodious touch to the songs. This incorporated the songs into the overall theme of the night, which was characterised by slow-paced pieces that held strong vocal elements.
The audience was enchanted by the performance and they often joined in by clapping along. Classical Calabash proved to be an apt way to round out the 2023 Woordfees
As the night drew to a close, the audience showed their appreciation for the talent on display by giving the performers a standing ovation as they departed the stage.