ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - This year's Klein Karoo Klassique marks Women's Month with a carefully curated programme celebrating the extraordinary contribution of women to classical music.
Taking place over the Women's Day long weekend, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August in Oudtshoorn, the festival will present performances that honour the voices, stories and legacies of remarkable women – from South African musical icons to pioneering international composers whose works have remained unheard for decades.
A moving tribute to Mimi Coertse
One of the festival's highlights is Heimwee (Saturday, 8 August at 19:00), a heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy of the late Mimi Coertse, one of South Africa's most celebrated sopranos.
The production features Cape Town Opera's Brittany Smith (soprano), Sisikelelwe Mngenela (soprano) and Thandolwethu Longo (tenor), accompanied by José Dias on piano. The programme has been curated by Charl du Plessis, who also serves as presenter.
Heimwee brings together a carefully selected collection of songs and arias that defined Coertse's distinguished career and remain closely associated with her acclaimed performances and recordings.
Coertse enjoyed an exceptional international career, most notably through her long association with the Vienna State Opera, where she became one of the company's leading artists and was awarded the prestigious title of Kammersängerin. Renowned for her lyrical voice and refined artistry, she played a pivotal role in introducing South African opera to international audiences.
Beyond the stage, she mentored generations of young singers and served as a patron of Klein Karoo Klassique, further cementing her lasting influence on South Africa's classical music landscape. Coertse passed away on 27 April this year.
Klassique 2026 Brittany Smith in Heimwee, a tribute to Mimi Coertse.
Unheard voices finally take centre stage
Another programme highlight is Unheard (of) (Sunday, 9 August at 10:00), in which cellist Mietze Dill and pianist Mareli Stolp shine a spotlight on women composers whose work was overlooked or excluded from the traditional classical canon for generations.
The concert is both a celebration and a fascinating musical rediscovery, centred on British composer and suffragette Dame Ethel Smyth's powerful Cello Sonata in A minor, Op. 5 – a remarkable work of depth, emotion and technical brilliance that deserves far greater recognition.
The programme also includes Pieces for Cello and Piano by American composer Amy Beach, Impetuoso from the sonata by Rebecca Clarke, the evocative Solitude (Rêverie) by French composer Rita Strohl, and the elegant Sérénade, Op. 46 No. 1 by fellow French composer Mélanie Bonis.
Together, these composers tell a parallel history of classical music – one that is finally receiving the recognition it deserves.
Following the performance, audiences are invited to attend a complimentary post-concert discussion, led by Charl du Plessis, offering additional insight into the music and its historical significance.
Women's Month takes centre stage at Klein Karoo Klassique with Unheard (of).
Four exceptional musicians celebrate friendship and chamber music
The acclaimed Take Four Piano Quartet performs on Saturday, 8 August at 14:00, bringing together four of South Africa's finest musicians: Zanta Hofmeyr (violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola), Susan Mouton (cello) and Elna van der Merwe (piano).
Long-time friends as well as accomplished performers, the quartet presents a programme featuring two masterpieces of the chamber music repertoire.
Audiences can look forward to Brahms' Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26, celebrated for its sweeping lyricism and vitality, alongside Schumann's Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47, admired for its poetic beauty and rich musical dialogue.
The performance celebrates artistry, friendship and the enduring appeal of chamber music, and is followed by a free discussion with the artists, moderated by Charl du Plessis.
A weekend of exceptional classical music in the Klein Karoo
In addition to these featured performances, Klein Karoo Klassique presents five more classical music concerts, two late-night concerts and two breakfast concerts across the festival weekend.
Tickets are available online at klassique.co.za, from the KKNK office or at the venue before performances, subject to availability.
Klein Karoo Klassique is presented by the KKNK and made possible through the support of the Rupert Music Foundation and the ATKV, with additional support from Le Lude, RSG, Oudtshoorn Courant and the Oudtshoorn Municipality.
Accommodation partners for this year's winter festival include Argyll B&B, Beit Shalom, Cul de Sac, De Zeekoe, El Dorado Hotel & Self Catering, Kleinplaas Holiday Resort, Miles B&B Guesthouse, Oudtshoorn Inn, Pictures Boutique Hotel, Protea Hotel Riempie Estate, Queen's Hotel, Ravenscliff Manor, Rosenhof Country House and Thylitshia Villa.
For the full festival programme, tickets and more information, visit klassique.co.za, email [email protected], telephone 044 203 8600, or send a WhatsApp message to 065 285 2337.
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