The ARCO Project

The ARCO Project presents “Beethoven was one Sixteenth Black” (Nadine Gordimer) at the 2019 Voorkamerfest

This title is taken from a short story by the extraordinary South African writer Nadine Gordimer and holds considerable significance to the collaborative cross-continental-cultural ARCO string teaching project between the Morris Isaacson Centre for Music, Soweto and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK. Not only was Ludwig van Beethoven one of the greatest classical music composers of all time, but, he was born on “16^th” December 1770! In 2020 the world will be celebrating 250 years since his birth and the music of Beethoven will be heard ringing across the globe in hundreds of festivals honouring his genius.

A group of multi-talented young violinists, violists, cellists and double bassists from the ARCO Project will present a narrated “16” part musical kaleidoscope including works by the great composer.  The audience will be transported on a journey through the young string players personal experience of the world of music, and in particular Beethoven, his greatest influences and how he is relevant in South Africa today (includes music by Beethoven, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Brahms, Dvorak, Shostakovich, Mozart, Joplin, Gershwin, Kwela). The production will be narrated by the ARCO students.

Directed by Louise Lansdown, Alistair Rutherford, Lucy Nolan, Peggy Nolan and Anthony Alcock