SA pianist to perform new piece by Neo Muyanga in London

Renée Reznek is a South African-born pianist who specialises in recitals of 20th and 21st century music. Her CD Piano Recital with music by Janacek, Debussy, Messiaen, Stravinsky and David Earl was on Fanfare’s front cover in May/June 2013 and earned her many excellent reviews.

On 15 and 22 May at 7.30pm Renée will give the first London performances of two new works written for her by Sadie Harrison and Neo Muyanga.

Sadie Harrison’s Par-feshani-ye ‘Eshq is an exquisite set of miniatures based on translations of an 18th century Persian Sufi poet, Bidel. “This imprisoning world has weight of fetter’s links: But promise also of justice and heavenly hyacinths.”

The theme of earthly suffering, joy and redemption is compatible with the other premiere, that of the South African composer Neo Muyanga’s ‘Hade Tata’ (Sorry Father), a tribute to Nelson Mandela which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first democratic elections in South Africa. Both these pieces will be first performed in Cambridge at Homerton College on the 26th April, the eve of that anniversary.

Neo Muyanga’s piece combines traditional Nguni melodies with the call and response music of the Basotho as well as struggle songs and Cape Malay jazz. It seeks to convey Mandela’s state of mind as he leaves prison to face the expectations of the world. That Muyanga feels we have not met Madiba’s expectations of us infuses the work with sadness as well as celebration and explains the title.

The programme includes the meditative pieces of Graham Lynch from White Book 1, Hendrik Hofmeyr’s Preludio and Umsindo from Partita Africana and works by Satie and Debussy.

Further details including tickets may be obtained from www.1901artsclub.com as well as Renée Reznek’s website www.reneereznek.com

“A fascinating and distinguished recital..an artist of scrupulous sensitivity and intelligence” – (The Daily Telegraph)