CLASSICAL ICONS - Christopher Duigan
Sunday 22 OCTOBER 2023
Margot Chamberlain Recital Hall, Chamberlain Music Centre, Hilton College
WA Mozart - Piano Sonata in F, K.332
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro assai
Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 "Appassionata"
I. Allegro assai
II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro ma non troppo - Presto
——
Franz Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12
Frédéric Chopin - Barcarolle Op. 60
Frédéric Chopin - Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 ‘Heroic'
Revisit this selection of Mozart and Beethoven on YouTube
CHRISTOPHER DUIGAN has performed extensively with all leading South African orchestras in a repertoire of more than 25 works for solo piano and orchestra. In recital he has developed a popular following through his innovative presentation and programming of a broad and eclectic taste in music. Recent projects include more than 30 performances of all-Chopin programmes following a significant visit to Warsaw, Poland in 2015.
Major performances with orchestra include Rachmaninoff - Concerto No. 2 (Cape Philharmonic Orchestra- Cape Town City Hall), Liszt - Piano Concerto No. 1 (Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Linder Auditorium) and Gershwin - 'Rhapsody in Blue' (KZN Philharmonic Orchestra - Durban City Hall). Recent recital engagements include those at the Atterbury in Pretoria, Baxter Theatre (for the Cape Town Concert Series - 2021), the Latimer Festival (UK), Steinway Hall and St James, Piccadilly in London, the Archbishop’s Palace for the South African Embassy in Mexico City, as well as the National Arts Festival (Grahamstown), Friends of Music - Durban and Hilton Arts Festival. Christopher Duigan has developed a large following in South Africa through the broadcast of his 15 album recordings (available on Apple Music and Spotify) which are frequently aired on ClassicFM (Johannesburg) and Fine Music Radio (Cape Town).
In recent years he has established a highly successful and productive collaboration with Spanish virtuoso saxophonist David Salleras that inspired two albums of his own original music; INDIGO (2015) and MIDNIGHT BLUE (2016). Numerous tours of South Africa were followed by a series of six concerts with the GIO Orchestra in Spain, in April 2016 and again March 2017. These featured Duigan's own music from the albums conceived for solo saxophone and piano with the orchestra. In December 2018 Salleras and Duigan were soloists with the Orquestra des Valles at one of the world’s most prestigious concert venues, the Palau de la Musica, Barcelona.
In 2010 he became one of only six pianists in South African history to be invited to be a 'Steinway Artist', joining an exclusive company of renowned international musicians.
Christopher Duigan began piano studies with Anette Kerkovius in Pietermaritzburg at the age of seven. He continued his studies at the University of Natal with Italian concert pianist Isabella Stengel from age 14, graduating with a B.Mus (cum laude). He furthered his studies at the University of Cape Town with Lamar Crowson and Albie van Schalkwyk, graduating with an M Mus (Performance) in 1994, and later at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester with Brazilian virtuoso Arnaldo Cohen. At the RNCM he was awarded the Professional Performer's Diploma (PPRNCM) and won first prize in the prestigious RNCM Recital Prize for Pianists. In addition he received the UNISA Overseas Scholarship Competition (1994), Crossly/Kramer Scholarships for International Study from UCT, 1st prize and Gold Medal in the Adolph Hallis Piano Competition (1996), awards for the best South African pianist in the UNISA International Piano Competition (1996), Gold Medal in the Pan-African Concours de Musique, and the Cape Town Symphony's prestigious Joseph Lan Award for his performance of the Bartok Piano Concerto No 3 (1994). He has participated in master classes at Dartington Summer School with Stephen Kovacevich and at the Mozarteum, Salzburg.
Based in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands he is committed to creating new audiences, sharing his enthusiasm for live classical music and promoting performances, both of his own and those of others, locally and further afield. As producer and impresario he operates under the banner MUSIC REVIVAL which he established in 1997. These performances total more than 100 concerts annually. Major projects include a monthly series of events across KZN, a series of performances by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in the KZN-Midlands, the Spring and Autumn Classic Music Festivals in Franschhoek and additional concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg. His work as an independent classical entrepreneur has drawn the attention of a number of commentators internationally including Julliard-based journalist Greg Sandow.
During the COVID-19 lockdown Christopher continued his groundbreaking work, redefining the role of a independent classical entrepreneur and pianist, by producing and presenting 230 live-streams (September 2022). These have been staged twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturdays evenings, without fail, offering support and up-liftment to many. They are viewable, free of charge, though voluntary contributions are requested. His YouTube channel has now logged up over 78 000 views and 27 000 viewing hours since 28 March 2020. These are also available to view at Facebook, and his website www.musicrevival.co.za.
Christopher Duigan is a Steinway Artist.