SA: Kabza De Small to play Joburg concert with orchestra

The event, dubbed Red Bull Symphonic, will bring together two musical worlds, with Kabza De Small expected to perform his iconic repertoire with a 33-piece full-scale symphonic orchestra led by Ofentse Pitse, who is the first black South African female conductor.

According to organisers, Red Bull Symphonic is based on the collaboration between a modern-style artist and a classical music director together with a full-scale symphonic orchestra, adding that it is more than just a performance, but an African story which is rooted in culture and heritage.

“The repertoire from the modern-style artist gets a symphonic rearrangement and the collaboration comes to life in a one-night-only, spectacular performance at a unique and prestigious venue,” the organisers said.

“Immerse yourself in the majestic interpretations of songs like ‘Khusela’ and ‘Imithandazo’, among others. “This is going to be an incredible night, as amapiano’s addictive rhythms and iconic log drum melodies are masterfully arranged and played by a 33-piece orchestra and an eight-piece choir, resulting in a symphonic fusion.”

Commenting on having an orchestra interpret his songs Kabza de Small said: “It’s really crazy, the thought of it all. But many of my songs focus on vocals, and a lot of amapiano is very instrumental so I think people will be familiar with it. Amapiano is taking over the world, and through collaborations like this, who knows how much further we can push the genre?”

Ofentse Pitse expressed her delight about Red Bull Symphonic’s unique nature: “The clash of two worlds between amapiano and classical music will create an electrifying atmosphere in which anything is possible. It’s about breaking away from conventional limits and enabling the music to grow into something genuinely exceptional.”

Tickets to the Red Bull Symphonic gig are available here.