Here Comes Treble: End Of An Era
...Leon and I have attended a marvellous array of performances by solo instrumentalists of all types, mixed chamber music groups, fabulous choirs and, occasionally, cross-over classical-jazz. Our Monday evenings have been filled with music of the highest standard...
Columnist and musician Isabel Bradley pays tribute to Rita van den Heever who arranged concerts for 14 years for music lovers in Johannesburg.
For the last fourteen and a half years, Rita van den Heever has ensured that classical music lovers in Johannesburg could enjoy a marvellous chamber music concert each Monday evening. It has been an hour when the rush-hour traffic can be escaped, when one could sit comfortably in the University of Johannesburg’s Art Centre Auditorium and bathe one’s soul in tranquillity, a time to gird the loins and gather strength for whatever the remainder of the week brought. The weekly Sundowner Concerts, given free of charge to the audience at the University of Johannesburg, became an essential part of life in our vibrant and hectically busy city.
Rita van den Heever, former television presenter, journalist and town councillor, was Senior Manager of the Arts and Culture Department of the University of Johannesburg, and it was in this capacity that she arranged the weekly concerts. She generously gave opportunity to the best of South Africa’s talented musicians and international artists, to perform for a discerning audience.
As members of the audience, Leon and I have attended a marvellous array of performances by solo instrumentalists of all types, mixed chamber music groups, fabulous choirs and, occasionally, cross-over classical-jazz. Our Monday evenings have been filled with music of the highest standard.
Last Monday was the last of the Sundowner Concerts. Rita has retired from the University, which generously sponsored these occasions in spite of not running their own music department. Cara Kleynhans gave a superb piano recital, including Beethoven’s ‘Appasionata’ Sonata, opus 57 in F minor, and works by Debussy and Liszt. Cara is a highly-qualified doctorate student in piano performance at the University of Pretoria.
Before the concert Rita appeared on-stage, as she has done for the last 14 ˝ years, to introduce the evening’s performance and advertise other presentations at the Arts Centre. Two gentlemen from the audience promptly flanked her, each with a beautiful presentation of flowers and with cards signed by many of the regular audience-members. For a moment, she seemed overwhelmed but was soon in control again. As she gave her farewell speech, many members of the audience fought back tears. She spoke of no tears and no regrets – just gratitude for the fact that the concerts continued for as long as they did, and for the privilege of working with the musicians.
Rita is now running a company called Flying Solo Communications, which I’m certain will ‘take off’ and bring her great success. The company deals with journalism, public speaking, lifestyle guidance linked to healthy living demonstrations, and events management.
Rita will be much missed in the musical circles of Johannesburg.
The University will continue to present various forms of entertainment, moving the concerts to once-monthly Sunday afternoons. Hopefully, Johannesburg’s musicians will still be considered for the proposed programmes. Time alone will tell.
Thank you to Rita, for a marvelous 14 ˝ years of music, for her support and appreciation.
Until next time… ‘here comes Treble!’
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By Isabel Bradley
