Easter weekend in Durban: fun-filled family events await
Handel's choral masterpiece, "Messiah" will be staged on Easter Sunday. The production will be accompanied by KZN Philharmonic, conducted by Jeremy Silver and directed by Ralph Lawson.
Where: Playhouse Opera Theatre.
When: Sunday, April 20.
Durban Festival of Chariots
Durbanites can witness a cultural extravaganza at the annual Festival of Chariots.
Included in the line-up are performers such as Anasia Govender aka Annalakshmi, Umita Kalyan & the Drisha Music Academy, Keeran Eshwarlall & Troupe and the Shri Chidambaram Nadarajan Alayum, among others.
The festivities will kick off with the enthusiastic Sunshine Chariot Parade on Friday, April 18 and culminate with the Sunset Chariot Parade on Monday, April 21.
An electrifying aerial fireworks display is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 9pm.
Where: Bay of Plenty, North Beach, Durban.
When: April 18 - 21, daily from 11am to 9.30pm.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
"Shrek the Musical"
"Shrek the Musical" will be staged by the Young Performers Project as their annual production.
Lyle Buxton, who played Shrek a decade ago, will reprise his role. Other cast members include James Armstrong as Donkey, Chloe Marot as the adult Fiona and Damien Butt as Lord Farquaad. The production team comprises Lisa Bobbert, Evashnee Pillay and Des Govender, among other talents.
Where: Milkwood Theatreat Danville School.
When: April 25 to May 4.
"Music in the Mountains"
The Drakensberg Boys Choir will perform live at the Mountains Festival.
Between performances, visitors can explore hiking trails, enjoy local cuisine and soak in the awe-inspiring mountain scenery for a memorable weekend filled with music and relaxation.
Where: Drakensberg Boys Choir campus.
When: April 25 to 28.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
Upcoming events in Ballito to look out for
Upcoming events in Ballito to look out for 26 July – Ashton Arts Festival at Ashton Ballito Campus from 10am-3pm. Food and craft stalls, music, drama, KZN Philharmonic orchestra, bake off and so much more. Free entrance. – Market Day at Odyssey Shopping Mall from 9am-2pm. Enjoy delicious food, stalls and music. – Ballito's Talent – Final showcase at the Lyric Lounge Theatre from 6-10pm. Tickets R250pp. – Join the crochet and knitting social community group at Burnedale farm from 9am-12pm. Bring your own knitting or crocheting project or work on some squares for supplied donation blankets. 27 July– Beach clean up at Zimbali long beach from 8-10am. Starting point at Foch le Roux parking area. Bring your own gloves and a water. 30 July – Quiz night at the La Montagne Pool deck from 6pm. Booking is essential. 9 August – Beacon of Care High Tea fundraiser 'Celebrate the Superpower of Women to Care' at All Souls Umhlali at 1pm. Tickets are R200. Contact 081 393 2495. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below.
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Joy, hope and life lessons at Mandela Day camp at The Mercury Children's Holiday Home
Independent Newspapers CSI manager Sameera Kareem, centre, Nishi Naidoo, manager of The Mercury Hibberdene Children's Holiday Home celebrate Mandela Day with some of the children who attended a two-day camp. Picture: Doctor Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers Image: Doctor Ngcobo Independent Newspapers CHILDREN from a church group were given a life-changing experience when they spent two nights at The Mercury Hibberdene Children's Holiday Home as part of this year's Mandela Day celebrations. Sherlock Sithole, who facilitates life skills at the home, said the initiative was more than just a holiday camp. 'I plan programmes for visiting children's schools, churches or orphanages. We provide activities and recreational programmes that will help them deal with challenges, but also to be entertained and sensitised, given the fact that all children have different challenges, but each one of them is able in a different way,' he said. Sithole said the holiday home hosts three free camps a year during the Easter, winter and December holidays. 'Today we were hosting a group from Mthwalume and Pietermaritzburg. It was a wonderful experience just to give these children a pleasant holiday experience and also to speak to them about the significance of Mandela Day,' he said. Sameera Kareem, Independent Media's CSI manager, said: 'What an unforgettable time we had at The Mercury Hibberdene Children's Holiday Home! We were thrilled to sponsor and host the incredible youth group from I Am Church for a two-night stay packed with fun, laughter and heartfelt moments. As part of our Mandela Day celebrations, we rolled out a jam-packed day of activities. 'We also took time to reflect on the true spirit of Mandela Day, engaging in meaningful conversations with the kids about kindness, giving back and the legacy of Madiba himself. 'A huge shoutout goes to our fantastic donors and sponsors; your generosity made this all possible. Special thanks to Polar Ice Cream for the cool treats that lit up everyone's faces and to Baking Pan for the scrumptious cake that was the cherry on top of an amazing day.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Children from a church group were given a life-changing experience when they spent two nights at The Mercury Hibberdene Children's Holiday Home as part of this year's Mandela Day celebrations. Image: Doctor Ngcobo Independent Newspapers Kevin Chetty, a pastor from the International Association of Missions, which brought the group of children from Pietermaritzburg, said working with young people had always been at the centre of their ministry. Chetty said the opportunity to partner with the holiday home was 'about changing destinies'. 'A young boy told me yesterday, I was talking to him while he was in the pool and he said it was the first time he had jumped into a swimming pool. He's six years old. That just blessed my heart,' he said. 'We're changing destinies, adding atmosphere, experiences and dreams. Later on, they must not look at someone else and think, 'I don't deserve that.' They must feel they do.' Chetty said initiatives like these must continue beyond Mandela Day. 'We have too many people complaining. It doesn't take anything to take one step forward. A house is built one brick at a time. If we can change one child's destiny at a time, we don't know... that one child could be the next rocket scientist.' Pastor Judith Chetty said she was moved to see children being treated with such care and dignity by The Mercury Hibberdene Children's Holiday Home staff. 'It is everything they could ever dream of and we're not doing it, we're watching it get done,' she said. 'I lift my hat for the love and dedication they have. Every activity had a life skill, how to believe in themselves (and) how to stand up for themselves. Everything here has been like that.' THE MERCURY
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- The Citizen
Linda van Coppenhagen said classical music's power is real
'This kind of singing is my rebellion against artificial intelligence,' she said. Real music and vocals do not need autotune or a million processors to make them sound palatable. It is dynamite from the gut, and there is only one place where you really get that kind of effect. Classical music. Operatic arias. Singers who belt it all out with nothing between them and the audience but air and instinct. That is music in its natural state. The way Bach, Handel, Mozart and Beethoven meant it. When the voice was not decoration but an instrument. Soprano Linda van Coppenhagen has been an instrument of song in Europe for over a decade. There's no tech and gadgetry or engineered smoke and mirrors. Just powerful lungs, absolute control, physical endurance and emotion. She returned home in July for two shows in Joburg, including a Theatre on the Square appearance on Friday, 25 July. Her new album is titled Heimwee, which means 'homesickness' The album was recorded over several years and saw its genesis during lockdown in Germany, during the time of the pandemic. 'We were stuck inside. The world was strange. All I wanted was light, warmth, and something that reminded me of home,' Van Coppenhagen said. 'That is what this music became.' The album features both German and Afrikaans classical art songs. All performed and produced without technical wizardry. Real music. 'This kind of singing is my rebellion against artificial intelligence,' she said. 'There is no autotune. No hiding. If my voice glitches, it stays. If I miss a note, it stays. It is all part of the truth.' Classic music rules, ok? Van Coppenhagen grew up in Johannesburg, studied in Pretoria and Cape Town, and left to pursue her stage dreams in 2010 after winning the Musiqanto Classical Singing Competition. Since then, she has built a highly successful career in Germany, where opera is part of daily life. She couldn't pursue her career at home because the market and concomitant opportunities do not make for a sustainable career. This, despite her absolute love for her country of birth, which will always be home to her. Also Read: 'Roger Waters: The Wall' is an epic watch of powerful music It is the feeling of the music that keeps inspiring her. It's the storytelling, the universal themes still relevant after centuries, and the power of the sound. She shared how music was different hundreds of years ago, and even the pitch was somewhat different to what we know today. Baroque composers like Handel and Bach wrote their music to be performed at a lower pitch. What we now consider normal tuning is set at 443 hertz. But in their day, it was closer to 415 hertz. The difference may seem small, but she says it changes everything. 'It is warmer. Softer. When I sing Handel at 443, it feels rushed and unsettled. At 415, it settles in the body differently. The brain responds. The music feels like it belongs.' She compared it to playing Tetris. 'When the tuning is right, it all locks into place. The music becomes something real and whole. Something your body recognises.' No mics needed And it's all done without a PA system, a front-of-house desk and engineers. Instead, your whole body becomes an instrument, and the ability to project vocals into every corner of a theatre or arena is the challenge. It takes power, a lot of training and manual precision, she said. But also, vulnerability. 'You are naked up there. There is no reverb to carry you. You must carry yourself,' she said. 'But when the audience hears it the way it was meant to be heard, something changes. It becomes a connection, not just a performance.' Soul music still exists It's something that's gotten a bit lost in some modern music, but Van Coppenhagen said that music with soul still exists, across genres. Yet it is becoming harder to find. 'There was a time when pop stars were real musicians. Michael Jackson. Queen. They wrote their own songs. They played their instruments. What you saw on stage was what you heard,' she said. 'Now we are drowning in effects. Everything is polished and packaged, but the emotion is missing.' This is also why she said that perhaps classical music and the power of arias, for example, may make a comeback, especially because of the emotional punch it packs. 'Like books. Like vinyl. Maybe classical music is due for a comeback as people seek out more authenticity,' she said. Tickets for the Joburg shows at Theatre on the Square on 25 July are R100. The show starts at 1pm. Now Read: Coldplay's 'Moon Music': A new vibe, same heartbeat
