The Baxter Theatre Centre at the University of Cape Town provides an excellent forum for the area’s performing arts. Performances at The Baxter reflect the cultures of all the people of South Africa as well as international masterpieces. I’ve enjoyed several performances at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre but The Baxter Theatre is new to me.
The Baxter Theatre opened in August 1977 as the result of a “bequest from the late Dr. W. Duncan Baxter”. He bequeathed an “amount of money to the University of Cape Town for the purpose of establishing a theatre which would, in the words of Dr. Baxter, develop and cultivate the arts in Cape Town and the adjacent districts”.
The Baxter Theatre Centre consists of:
• Theatre with 666 seats
• Concert Hall with 638 seats
• Golden Arrow Studio Theatre with 172 seats
These are some of the performances scheduled in the next few months. Hope I can attend at least a few of them.
August 16th
A competition for solo classical pianists. The competition is open to all piano performance students at the South African College of Music (SACM).
August 20th
Stellenbosch-born flautist Dawid Venter has a multifaceted career as a soloist and chamber musician. Venter performed in France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom with his duo partner pianist Ben Schoeman.
September 17
South African-born tenor Colin Lee one of Britain’s leading tenors in the bel canto repertoire. Pianist Albie van Schalkwyk accompanies Lee in a programme that includes songs by Stradella, Liszt, Respighi, Tosti, and Hahn.
October 1
Dimitris Giannakis, born in Cape Town, is a classical and Spanish classical guitarist. Dimitris composes and performs his own music. He recently released a new CD entitled And Music Breathes.
