Mario Nell (organ) & Lauren Dasappa (soprano)

Organist, Mario Nell and soprano, Lauren Dasappa present a versatile concert programme including works by Bach, Mozart and South African composer, Surendran Reddy, performed on the magnificent Marcussen Organ in the Endler Hall.

Mario Nell opens the concert with Bach’s three-part Prelude in E flat Major, BWV 552 which follows the triple symbolism of the Holy Trinity, with the Father as a dotted rhythm; Son as a lighter, simpler idea; and Holy Ghost as the all-encompassing 16th-note melody. The five-voice triple Fugue is popularly referred to as “St. Anne,” because its subject sounds similar to an English hymn tune with that name.

Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate, K 165 is a favourite of female sopranos the world over, especially its final-movement Alleluia in which Mozart sets to music just that one word. The work is recognised by many as the sound of a genius at the peak of his powers, harnessing some of the finest slices of his imagination with aplomb and wisdom.

Also on the programme is a jazzy virtuoso organ work by South African composer Surendran Reddy. Reddy invented his own new musical style called “clazz” in which he fuses classical, jazz, South African mbaqanga and other world music elements. Reddy’s Toccata for Madiba, a work dedicated to the late Nelson Mandela, features various African music genres such as marabi, kwela, mbaqanga and township jazz and was commissioned in 1997 as a prescribed South African piece for the 1st International Organ Competition in South Africa in 1998.

Acknowledged as one of South Africa’s leading musicians and teachers, Dr Mario Nell currently holds the position of Chair of the Music Department of the Stellenbosch University. His performing career has taken him all over Europe as well as Hong Kong and South Korea. Dasappa performs operatic roles in addition to many oratorio and Baroque works and maintains an extensive concert repertoire in addition to being currently engaged in creating an awareness of African classical music both nationally and internationally.

The concert will be broadcast on Sunday 29 November at 4pm and will be available online until Sunday 6 December.

Programme:

J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)

Prelude in E flat Major, BWV 552

W. A. Mozart (1756 – 1791)

Exsultate, jubilate, K 165

Surendran Reddy (1962 – 2010) *SA

Toccata for Madiba

Artist biographies:

Acknowledged as one of South Africa’s leading musicians and teachers, Mario Nell is a senior lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch and is currently holds the position of Chair of the Music Department. He studied at the Universities of Port Elizabeth and Stellenbosch before he completed his Master’s degree in performance at the University of Cape Town and a PhD at the University of Stellenbosch. Also holding a UPLM from Unisa, he was the winner of the Unisa Overseas Music Bursary Competition. From 1999-2001 he furthered his studies at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. From 2006-2007 he also studied for his Nachdiplom at the Zurich University of the Arts in Switzerland where his main focus was on historical performance practice. He won first prizes in all the major music competitions in South Africa. This includes the National Youth Music-, ATKV Prelude and Forte-, Mabel Quick-, Oude Meester- and Unisa Overseas Music Competitions. During his periods of study abroad he also distinguished himself in several important international competitions including a top prize at the Calgary International Competition with performances in Germany and Hong Kong. Since he made his debut with the SABC Orchestra in 1993, he has appeared as soloist with all the major orchestras in South Africa. Since 1999 he gave recitals in Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, England and South Korea. Besides a busy performance schedule as soloist, accompanist and chamber music musician, he is an active teacher and his students has been the overall winners of all the major music competitions in South Africa. From 2010-2014 he received the University of Stellenbosch Rector’s prize for excellence as teacher. He is often invited to give masterclasses and as juror for music competitions and serves as examiner for Unisa music examinations.

Durban-born soprano, Lauren Dasappa is a dynamic and committed musical artist who exhibits expressive music-making that deeply touches the emotions of audiences and connects with people from all walks of life. Dasappa has performed numerous operatic roles including acclaimed performances in Mozart operas including, Papagena (Die Zauberflöte), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Despina (Cosi fan tutte) and Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) and Gretel in Humperdick’s Hansel and Gretel. She has performed several oratorio and Baroque works which have allowed her to tour with Baroque orchestra, Baroque 2000. Dasappa maintains an extensive concert repertoire of standard and modern works and is highly supportive of the revival of the art song recital. Lauren appears frequently with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed at major international and national events. Dasappa’s voice, although classically trained, is not limited to classical music. She has extended her range to include lighter works and has won a Theatre award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the Fairy Godmother in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. She has similarly excelled at popular music and was awarded an international recording contract with Universal Studios as an undergraduate student. Dasappa conducts vocal workshops and coaches vocal ensembles and soloists for major productions. Her deep dedication to her musical career, both on stage and to her students, is reflected and reciprocally amplified by her performances and the excellent results achieved by her students. She is currently a lecturer in Vocal Studies at Stellenbosch University Music Department