It was another night of elimination when Varsity Sing sponsored by FNB, said goodbye to the charming University of Limpopo (UL), as the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of Pretoria (Tuks Camerata) both advanced to the semi-finals.
UJ opened the show with a beautiful rendition of A Spotless Rose, composed by the Welsh composer, Herbert Howells. “A spotless performance,” commented Loyiso Bala, while guest judge, Laurika Rauch commended the sopranos on a sterling performance. “I heard purity and felt the texture, and when the sopranos went to fetch their notes, it was like watching the sunrise,” she said.
UJ’s second song, Nongqawuse, had the audience on their feet. A good mixture of choreography and harmonious singing saw their proud conductor, Renette Bower, smiling from ear to ear. “It’s one thing if music makes you dance, but if music makes you dance and touches your soul; now that to me is music,” said a very impressed Bala, while their performance left Marvin Kernelle at a loss for words. Christo Burger boldly predicted that UJ would be one of the choirs in the final.
UL was up next, under the leadership of Dr Thabe Moses Matsebatlela. They opened with an original piece, Moon of the night, but their performance left most of the judges unimpressed. Rauch found their performance “delightful and beautiful”. After some heavy criticism, the UL choir had to pick up the pieces and perform their last song, the ever so fitting How Can I Keep from Singing.
The show ended off with Tuks Camerata, whose choir conductor Michael Barrett compared choral singing to a game of golf – the same discipline, practice and patience is needed to become great. Barrett started singing at the age of eight, and followed in his parents’ footsteps by joining Tuks Camerata – first as a choir member, and now as a conductor.
Tuks Camerata rode the wave after their stellar performance last week, and opened with the energetic Thixo Onothando before closing with their rendition of Lig Op Die Horison. Thixo Onothando was not as powerful as their first performance from last week, with Kernelle saying he wanted a more natural, and less modified performance. However, Tuks Camerata came back with their final song and received a standing ovation from the audience.
Tickets to the live semi-final shows on 6 and 14 September at the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg, and Hugo Lambrecht Music Centre in Cape Town, respectively are now available. Tickets can be purchased through the Varsity Sports app at just R20 per ticket.
Tune into kykNET (DSTV channel 144) at 20h30 every Thursday. You can also follow all the drama and discussion on social media. For the full Varsity Sing schedule, click here: http://www.old.varsitysportssa.com/varsity-sing-schedule/.
