Beethoven's 5th at the Linder

The education campus of Wits University occupies a space right on the Parktown ridge, right on the edge of the world where old Johannesburg stopped and Sir Herbert Baker dotted the ridge with the Randlords’ mansions. To my husband, this is also "old" Johannesburg since going to the Linder Auditorium is a trip down memory lane - he used to spend his childhood afternoons here in, amongst other things, choir practice.

Our trip, however, was not in search of old Johannesburg architecture or memories, but in search of old music. Specifically this evening, the third week of the Johannesburg Philharmonic’s first season for 2012. On the menu: Barber’s Adagio for strings and Beethoven’s 5th.

The JPO is unique amongst orchestras in that it belongs to its members, and was formed in 2000 after the demise of the National Symphony Orchestra.

Complete info on them is on their website: http://www.jpo.co.za

You might think it’s not the hippest thing to do on a Thursday evening, but it turns out to be a great evening. Live music to bring both the evening and the city alive. It’s to be recommended.

Image credits: All photography by me