Joy Sparg (soprano), Alene Holder (mezzo soprano), Elna van der Merwe (piano)

LIVE LUNCH HOUR CONCERT
Entrance is FREE!
Masks must be worn at all times.
Entrance via Neethling Street to go through Covid-19 safety measures.

Programme:

Aure, deh, per pietà – G.F. Handel (1685-1759)

Il fervido desiderio – V. Bellini (1801-1835)

Auch kleine Dinge – H. Wolf (1860-1903)
Du denkst mit einem Fädchen
Die Spröde

L’absence
Lamento

En mer – P. Viardot (1821-1910)

Au bord de l’eau – G. Fauré (1845-1924)

Notre Amour

The Glamorous Life  – S. Sondheim (b. 1930)

Dream Valley Quilter – R. Quilter (1877-1953)
Take, O take those lips away
To Daisies
Love’s Philosophy

Joy Sparg is a South African mezzo soprano and singing teacher. She entered Stellenbosch University in 2017 and studied singing under the tutelage of Jolene Auret Kappis and later Janel Speelman. During her undergraduate studies, she has won several bursaries in recognition of her academic achievement, including the Molteno Prize and the Johnman Prize. She has also been involved in several productions as part of Woordfees, Suidoosterfees, and the Endler Concert Series, including The Fairy Queen, Die Fledermaus, The Merry Widow, and Beethoven’s 9^th. She intends to further her studies in 2021 by pursuing an Honours in vocal performance.

Alene Holder  graduated from Stellenbosch University’s Music Department in 2019, where she received vocal training from Jolene Auret Kappis and Johannes van Staden-Slabbert. She is currently completing her Honours degree in solo vocal performance and is studying under Minette du Toit-Pearce. Her performance and academic interests include the Afrikaans art song as well as operatic trouser role repertoire. In 2019 she presented a lecture recital titled En Travesti, which explored the trouser role’s potential for challenging traditional gender binaries. She has participated as a chorus member in Cape Town Opera’s production of The Fairy Queen and ASL Opera’s Die Fledermaus. She currently preparing the role of Orfeo for a 2021 production of Orfeo ed Euridice.

Elna van der Merwe was voltydse begeleier en deeltydse klavierdosent aan die Konservatorium van die Universiteit Stellenbosch tot 2001. Sedertdien is sy ad hoc-pianis en gesogte gesamentlike kunstenaar vir sowel plaaslike as internasionale kunstenaars soos Michelle Breedt (mezzo-sopraan), Douglas Masek (saksofoon), Maria Kliegel (tjello) en Susan Milan (fluit). Elna studeer klavier en orrel aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch en wen verskeie toekennings, stipendia en kompetisies. Sy tree as solis saam met verskeie nasionale orkeste op. Plaaslike instrumentaliste en sangers saam met wie sy gereeld optree is Zanta Hofmeyr, Zanne Stapelberg, die Suid-Afrikaanse Soprane, Niël Rademan, Maria du Toit, Liesl Stolz, Peter Martens en Suzanne Martens. In Mei 2011 tree sy as pianis saam met Zanta Hofmeyr in Malta op. Sy begelei ook die Libertaskoor tydens hul toere na België en die VSA. Sy is bekroon deur SAMRO uit dankbaarheid en in erkenning vir haar voortreflike diens as begeleier by die Oorsese Beurskompetisies. Sedert 1990 het sy in al die Unisa Internasionale Kompetisies vir sang, strykers en, meer onlangs, ook vir fluit en klarinet, as begeleier opgetree. As veelsydige pianis het sy saam met Zorada Temmingh as deel van The Blondes- klavierduet in twee klavierverwerkings opgetree by al die groot kunstefeeste in Suid-Afrika. In 2011 het The Blondes optredes in Israel en Londen gehad. Sy het baie CD’s en DVD’s saam met verskillende kunstenaars opgeneem en het op die beoordelaarspaneel van verskeie musiekkompetisies gedien.