Classical component of festival excellent

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The classical component of the Dias & Port Festival wrapped up last night, Saturday 3 February, with the second performance of the Odeion String Quartet, accompanied by Mossel Bay pianist Olive Sandilands.

The audience was blown away by these accomplished musicians.

Attendees queued for about one and a half hours outside the Maritime Museum (the Dias caravel section) in Mossel Bay to ensure they had good seats.

Booking was essential, but seating was not reserved.

There were two rousing standing ovations at this performance. The seating was packed and you could hear a pin drop, so rapped was the audience’s attention.

The quartet, based at the University of the Free State, is the only resident string quartet at a South African university. It consists of Samson Diamond (first violin), Sharon de Kock (second violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola) and Anmari van der Westhuizen (cello).

Included in the repertoire were Dvorak, Haydn and Shostakovich pieces. Serious pieces and more lighthearted folk-type works were intertwined to create a varied, energetic show.

Music aficionados, laymen and ignoramuses could all enjoy the show. There was even a captivating rendition of Danny Boy (the pipes are calling). People were thrilled to see the string musicians’ total mastery of their instruments and music and Sandilands’ impressive prowess at the piano, plus her warmth and charisma, were a joy to behold.