The ancient Egyptians sought solace and guidance from the stars. Their mantra: ‘As above so below.’ The stars favor us at the beginning of this New Year. It is a good omen.
Part of The Liz McGrath Collection, and proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the 5-star Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa is situated in what is known as “Cape Town’s Vineyard” – the historical and leafy Constantia Valley, a short 15-minute drive from Cape Town’s city center and V&A Waterfront.
We have a cornucopia of open-air concerts, symphonies, and theatre from which to choose this month. Maynardville’s Shakespearean productions re-emerge with A Midsummer Nights’ Dream presented and performed by the prestigious award-winning VR Theatrical entertainment company. The play runs from the 2nd to the 23rd of February.
For those who have been to Maynardville’s open-air theatre, no words need to be written. For those who have not yet, no words exist. The performances are magical. The simplicity of the stage setting is profoundly sympathetic to these plays making each performance a truly transformative experience. The modern interpretations and brilliance of the actors make Shakespeare accessible because his plays are adaptable due to his timeless understanding of human nature.
But this year’s play performed under the celestial ceiling is the denouement of the festival. From the 19th till the 21st of January, the Cape Town Philharmonic orchestra presents A Midsummer Nights’ Dream as the orchestral music programme by Felix Mendelssohn. From the 26th through the 29th of January, the Cape Town Opera treats us to choral music as well as soloists singing ‘Songs of Shakespeare’ as a supreme tribute to this amazing dramatist.
Photo Credit: Unknown Source
The music flows from here to Kirstenbosch Gardens which has its own spectacular series of concerts. This is always a special afternoon. And here the magic of the gardens is mesmerizing. But aside from Kirstenbosch Gardens listed as one of the seven most magnificent in the world, their summer concert series has a 30-year history of its own. This year the line-up is exceptional. On January 21st we are honored with ‘An Intimate Evening with Gregory Porter. A two-time Grammy award winning artist whose voice will leave you breathless.
Photo Credit: Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts.
Pre-book a scrumptious picnic basket from The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa, at R395 per person, and spend the day in this ‘midsummer garden’, a serendipitous setting subtly in sync this year with Maynardville!
However, we cannot leave you lingering in one place too long. Artscape Opera House is right up there in our constellation of classics. This year for the first time, Pratibha Singh Baghel, one of India’s most popular singers and actresses, is making her debut appearance in South Africa with an evening called ‘Symphony of Love’ on Friday 27th of January. What an amazing opportunity to expand your interest and extend your experiences into the beauty and richness of traditional Indian music infused with some classical Western flavours.
If you are currently staying with us at The Cellars-Hohenhort Hotel & Spa or are on your way, now is the time to choose from our sensational summer concerts. Cape Town is privileged to host such a unique combination of some of the greatest and most talented artists in the world.
