The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) have released a video in collaboration with the City Ballet, in which they perform the “Lockdown Waltz”.
Over the past month, the CPO have released a few videos, titling them “COVID-19 videos”. The collaboration with the City Ballet is the 5th video of the series.
In the very first video they explain: “The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra supports public health measures against the spread of COVID-19. Concert halls are closed, but we will bring music to you through out our internet streams. Stay safe at home and watch this space.”
Bernhard Gueller, principal guest conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, explained in the first video that culture and music are important for people. “If you live under difficult circumstances, culture has a much bigger meaning than in a world where you have everything and it’s more a superficial consuming culture,” he said.
He adds that, in times of difficulty, one begins to realise that symphonies are more than entertainment. Rather, “they express that there is something bigger than our life.”
The second video showed musicians playing the South African national anthem in baroque style. The third began with a salute to frontline workers and was captioned “P. Mascagni Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana”, and the fourth showed musicians playing Meditation from the opera Thaïs by French composer Jules Massenet.
Watch the Lockdown Waltz here:
Picture: Screenshot from video
