From Brahms to Blues at Helderberg Village

The Helderberg Village Music Society is holding an afternoon of music, where classical elegance meets soulful blues, on Sunday March 16, at Talani Terrace, at 3.30pm for 4pm.

The Brahms to Blues concert features renowned pianist Tertia Visser Downie and acclaimed violist Petrus Coetzee, with an extraordinary blend of classical masterpieces and contemporary favourites, brought to life by two of South Africa’s most accomplished musicians.

Tertia is a distinguished South African pianist who studied under national and international piano masters John Antoniadis, and London-based Martino Tirimo, after winning the prestigious Mabel Quick Scholarship. She completed her Honours degree in Music at the University of Stellenbosch, as well as the Unisa Performers’ and Teachers’ Licentiates, with distinction in both qualifications.

Performing numerous solo recitals in South Africa and internationally, Tertia has featured with various orchestras and appeared at events such as the Cape Town Pops Series with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, playing Rachmaninoff and Gershwin.

Tertia has recently been on tour with Richard Cock and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, doing Baroque in the Bush in Magoebaskloof, as well as Shengwedzi.

She has been organising the very successful Erin Hall Concert Series in Rondebosch since the beginning of 2014.

After 8 years abroad, Petrus returned to South Africa in 2018 to take up the position of Principal Violist of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO).

Petrus made his debut as a soloist with the CPO in April 2021 during the CPO’s Summer Symphony Series, and again in February 2022CPO’s Summer Symphony Festival. Besides his current employment in the CPO, Petrus lectures viola part-time at both Stellenbosch University Conservatory and the South African College of Music, Cape Town.

He is a member of the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra and performs regularly as soloist and chamber musician in several ensembles at music festivals in South Africa, such as the Woordfees, the Klein Karroo Klassiek, the Genadendal-Greyton Classics for All” and the Franschhoek Chamber Music Festival.

The programme includes:Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) - Sonata for Viola and Piano in F Minor, Op.120, Robert Schumann (1810-1856) - Märchenbilder (Fairytale Pictures) for Viola and Piano,Op.133, Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881) - Capriccio for solo Viola, Op.55, and George Enescu (1881-1955) - Concert Piece for Viola and Piano.

Tickets cost R130, and booking with Quicket is essential for access to Helderberg Village. For more information, call Peter Searle at 082 561 3052 or Laurien Comyn at 082 467 0337.