THE CAPE CONSORT RETURNS TO THE FUGARD THEATRE

The Cape Consort  is returning to the Fugard Theatre, continuing its Monteverdi Project that was launched in February this year. Part II of this project is titled Heart / Attack and will once again be presented on 3 consecutive Sunday evenings, 18 and 25 November, as well as 2 December at 18h00 in the exquisite Sigrid Rausing Studio at the Fugard Theatre.

Conceived as a sequel to the successful Matrix of the Madrigal series presented at the Fugard Studio Theatre earlier this year, Heart / Attack once again features Madrigals by Monteverdi but extends its exploration of dramatic, early Italian repertoire to include works by some of Monteverdi’s contemporaries, such as Barbara Strozzi, Sigismondo d’India and Giovanni Sances. The theme of the new program is the ubiquitous metaphor of love as a kind of warfare (‘All lovers are warriors’) – as well as the depiction of some actual battle scenes with inevitable fatalities and ensuing lamentations. Closely following the beautiful imagery of Renaissance poetry, the vivid musical portrayals of rivalry and allegiance, aggression and agony, as well as tenderness and loss, will once again to be supported by synchronized and animated projections.

This sequel of concerts is also the occasion for the launch of the Cape Consort’s first CD: Matrix of the Madrigal, which documents the group’s first program at the Fugard. Patrons are invited to meet the musicians on the theatre’s roof-top deck after the show, where, weather dependent,  drinks will be on sale.

The Cape Consort – a group of singers and period instrumentalist, performing in varying formations – may be seen as spearheading a local Early Music revival, which (with considerable delay compared to other centres) is finally amassing some momentum in South Africa. Presenting historically informed renditions of early and unusual repertoire and exclusively using period instruments, the group has performed to wide acclaim since its formation, spoiling audiences in the Western Cape and further abroad with an unprecedented exposure to composers like Monteverdi, Strozzi, Caresana, Schütz, Biber, Purcell and many other even less familiar names. In line with current trends in the HIPP scene the objective is to translate and re-contextualize ancient musical expressions into vibrant and credibly contemporary emanations. Collaborating with the Early Music Forum Africa (EMFA) and the South African Early Music Trust (SAEMT), the group provides a platform for a variety of HIPP collaborations. In this capacity it has a long-standing relationship with the Dutch Baroque violinist Antoinette Lohmann.  The Cape Consort has appeared at the Klein Karoo Klassique in Oudtshoorn, the Odeion Musik Fest in Bloemfontein, Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch and Cultivaria in Paarl. Its performance at the Stellenbosch Woordfees earlier this year was awarded with the Woordtrofee for ‘best classical music production’. Performances at the Grahamstown Festival and the Endler Concert Series in Stellenbosch are scheduled for 2013.

Tickets cost R90 to R130 through Computicket.com, 0861 915 8000 or via the Fugard Theatre’s box office on 021 461 4554. Friends of the Fugard receive generous discounts when booking through the theatre’s box office.  Secure parking is available across the road in the Harrington Square parking lot and the Fugard bar will be open before and after each performance.

The Fugard Theatre (280 seats), and the Fugard Sigrid Rausing Studio (135 seats), are located within the historic Sacks Futeran building in Cape Town’s District 6. The Fugard was the brainchild of its founding producer Eric Abraham, who underwrote its construction and underwrites its overhead, and is named in honour of Athol Fugard; South Africa’s greatest playwright. On the 12th June 2011 Athol Fugard received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award for his contribution and services to the Industry.  Both venues house state-of-the-art digital Bioscopes (cinemas). The Fugard Theatre Complex boasts some of the finest rental venues the City Bowl has to offer.