Dan Moyane, Head of Branding and Communications Momentum, Laurika Rauch, who inspired the music for local drama, ?Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux?, sponsored by Momentum, Mannetjies Roux ? Rugby legend, Kutlwano Masote, conductor of Coming Home, Jazz-Gospel Cantata (also sponsored by Momentum), Danie van den Bergh, CEO Client Management Momentum
Momentum brings the South African stage alive with the announcement of two cultural sponsorships
Momentum, today announced its sponsorship of two uniquely South African cultural events; “Coming Home”, a Jazz-Gospel Cantata composed by Isak Roux and “Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux” a musical drama themed on the timeless classics of Laurika Rauch.
“We are so proud to be able to offer our support in promoting and celebrating the rich talent we have in South Africa. These two productions not only exemplify excellence in execution but also represent a richness of cultural diversity and authentic creativity, from local and global inspiration. As a company that strives to make cultural diversity one of our strengths, we can appreciate how this diversity comes together with such entertaining and vibrant success,” says Dan Moyane, Head of Branding and Communications for Momentum.
Coming Home is a Jazz-Gospel Cantata, first performed in South Africa in 2008 with music by Isak Roux and conducted by Kutlwano Masote.
‘I am pleased to be bringing this production to life again and am grateful to Momentum for the opportunity,’ says Masote.
Asked about the production, Masote says Coming Home is based on old traditional spirituals. As a Cantata suggests, it is more than just a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment. It has a depth that brings together elements of the ‘African-American Spiritual’, which has its roots in Africa, as well as the Zulu choral tradition of Isicathamiya, (exemplified by the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo).
‘These elements of praise singing and music as a vocal expression of social coherence, are all fundamentally African and inspired Isak Roux to compose a work that seeks to bring the Spiritual back to its ancestral home Africa,’ says Masote
Coming Home is narrated by renowned actor Sello Maake Ka-Ncube and features the soprano Sibongile Khumalo accompanied by a choir and orchestra with uniquely African sounds.
Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux is a first-of-its-kind Afrikaans Broadway-style musical created by Chris Torr.
Stuur Groete follows the journey of self discovery of a school girl who goes to visit her aunt and uncle on their Karoo farm. The name of the production is taken from the uncle’s obsession with the legendary Rugby try of Mannetjies Roux in Bloemfontein in 1962.
Producer Johan Badenhorst says the music of Laurika Rauch is renowned in the Afrikaans community and we are proud to partner with Momentum to take her music to an even wider audience. “Like Mama Mia which paved the way by adapting great music to a heart-warming narrative, we think that “Stuur Groete” will resonate equally well with country-wide audiences.”
Coming Home will be performed nationwide from August 2011.
Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux will premiere at the soon to be completed Atterbury theatre in Pretoria on 20 May 2011. After a three week run, the show will then move to Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre (20 - 26 June), then Johannesburg’s Emperor’s Palace (27 June – 10 July) and concludes in Bloemfontein at the Sand Du Plessis Theatre (11 - 27 July).
Tickets to both performances will be available through Computicket.
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