Last night’s episode of Varsity Sing yielded the best performance of the competition to date.
If you were not moved by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and their rendition of Johnny Clegg’s Asimbonanga, then you must be emotionless and cold: it was okay to tear up during this stirring performance paying homage to their namesake.
As we draw nearer to the conclusion of the first season of Varsity Sing, South Africa’s new university choir competition, four choirs competed in the coastal semi-final at Hugo Lamprecht Auditorium in Parow, Cape Town: NMMU, the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Stellenbosch University (SU) and Rhodes.
The guest judge for this round is popular rocker and Toe Vind Ek Jou hit-maker Francois van Coke, who admitted that he was forced to sing in his sister’s choir as a child.
Under the skilful baton of Junita Lamprecht-van Dijk, NMMU ease the audience into the evening with a celestial performance titled Alleluia. One of the reasons for this choir’s success must be her; she is an active conductor who ensured the group sang in time and flawlessly in their colourful African outfits. She is not afraid to expose their voices, which displayed much shade.
Van Coke commented that he liked the dynamics of the performance… the contrasting loudness and softness. Then the earth, or at least the auditorium, stood still for Asimbonanga.
Here they again displayed their dynamics and the diversity of their talent: contrasting strong warrior crying to a soothing lullaby melody. You will cry during the soliloquy, when a vocalist recites one of Nelson Mandela’s speeches ending with “it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”.
Straight –talking judge Marvin Kernelle said, “This is why I love my country”. RnB singer and judge Loyiso Bala said it was the best thing he saw on stage. “The picture was so real, more real than the material. I forgot I was watching a choir,” said Bala.
As they filed off stage, a much more rehearsed UWC filed on for their performance, led by their conductor Sibusiso Njeza. They opened with the British composition The Beauty of the Earth by John Rutter.
They have improved very much on their diction and annotation, and have much less unnecessary vibrato than before. It’s a pity that their men wore vests, it was a little too informal for a competition. Kernelle commented that they are sounding better while judge Christo Burger said it’s not perfect, but that it doesn’t have to be.
They rounded off their turn with their own creative arrangement of the RnB classic Stand By Me.The bass line was a bit off key, but you can appreciate their scatting: it was an expression of creativity localisation of a well-known piece.
Van Coke called it his favourite performance of the night and Burger said it was cleverly done, but that the soloist needed to be clearly heard.
Competition favourites Maties were next, led by conductor André van der Merwe. In line with their style of big sounds, they opted for the spiritual Didn’t my Lord Deliver Daniel. The choir members performed with a menacing stance, not unlike an All Blacks haka position. They are still tough competition but NMMU definitely outshone everyone tonight.
Last up was Rhodes, led by composer Dr Andrew-John Bethke. They haven’t had the easiest ride in the competition, being a smaller chamber choir up against mass choirs from other universities. Bethke said in his link that it is difficult to know what judges are looking for in competitions.
They serenaded the audience a dynamic performance of a piece titled Lux Aurumque. They did amazing things with their voices. For a small choir, they filled a big room with their side, while maintaining shade and poise. They appeared invested and interested, opposed to serious this time, they showed signs of a rehearsed group.
“That shows what 27 people can do, you were completely exposed… that was amazing,” said Kernelle.
Tune in to kykNET channel 144 on Thursday at 8.30pm to see who is eliminated and who are the finalists in Varsity Sing.
By Wendyl Martin, Weekend Argus
