The World Tour for Unity is presented by The Ichikowitz Family Foundation and the Alma Nostra Foundation in Paris, and will include a series of concerts featuring the acclaimed 58 member Alma Chamber Orchestra. Led by concertmaster and artistic director, Anne Gravoin, with the famous Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire, under the direction of Lionel Bringuier, the programme will include works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Wael Binali.
Ivor Ichikowitz, founder of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation and sponsor of the South African tour, said: " We all strive for a more peaceful, tolerant and prosperous world, and through the medium of world-class music, our respective Foundations are bringing this message to South Africa on the eve of the twenty-first anniversary of our country's peaceful democratic transition. We are greatly privileged to share with South Africans the chance to listen to such an accomplished orchestra."
The Alma Chamber Orchestra’s tour to South Africa, in the spirit of unity, will also launch the European Union’s Europefest 2015 programme. All the European Embassies have gathered their cultural events together during the month of May under one umbrella to form the EuropeFest 2015. Their vision is to celebrate cultural diversity.
South African audiences can look forward to three performances in Johannesburg, Durban and Soweto from Wednesday, 22 to Saturday, 25 April.
The World Tour for Unity will commence in Johannesburg with the opening concert at the Linder Auditorium on Wednesday, 22 April at 19:30. The ever-popular Egmont Overture and Piano Concerto No 4 by Beethoven, and Felix Mendelssohn’s colourful Symphony No 4 will make up the programme.
Audiences in Durban can look forward to collaboration with South Africa’s leading orchestra, the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Alma Chamber Orchestra for an unprecedented experience. The concert will take place on Thursday, 23 April at 19:30 at the home of the KZNPO, Durban’s City Hall and will include the following works: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Concerto No 4, Symphony No 4 by Mendelssohn and Earth by Wael Binali.
Members of The Alma Chamber Orchestra will host master classes in Durban and Umlazi on Friday, 24 April to facilitate collaborative education, signifying unity through music.
"I am delighted that The Alma Chamber Orchestra will be collaborating with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra on a rare and exceptional tour. I am particularly pleased that The Alma Chamber Orchestra will, in addition to presenting symphony concerts in Johannesburg and Durban, undertake music development initiatives in Umlazi Township and Soweto," said Bongani Tembe, artistic airector of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and commissioner-general of the France-South Africa Seasons 2012 and 2013.
For the final concert of the World Tour for Unity, The Alma Chamber Orchestra will share the stage with the internationally-renowned, Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto on Saturday, 25 April at 15:00. Audiences will be treated to a gratis concert.
Zouhir Boudemagh, the president of the Alma Nostra Foundation notes, "We are delighted to be in South Africa to join in the celebrations of 21 years of Democracy. We’ve just returned from touring North Africa (Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco) and this will be a glorious celebration of cultural unity and affirmation of universal humanitarian values."
All tickets, except for the concert at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto (which is free) will be available from Computicket from Monday, 30 March.
For more information, visit www.ichikowitzfoundation.com.