UJ Arts & Culture hosts A Classical Music Weekend, featuring Some Enchanted Evening and SA’s premiere of Oratorio for Human Rights.

Some Enchanted Night: A Night of Operatic Passion and song

This March, UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) invites audiences to a weekend of world-class classical music at the UJ Arts Centre. Some Enchanted Evening will kick off on March 20 and will be followed by the South African premiere of the internationally acclaimed Oratorio for Human Rights on March 22. On a weekend where South Africans are called to reflect, both performances hold the promise of inspiration, introspection and connection.

Anchored in UJ’s commitment to artistic excellence, social engagement, and student-centred cultural experiences, these concerts bring globally celebrated works and performers to Johannesburg for unforgettable musical experiences.

Some Enchanted Evening invites audiences to take an elegant and emotionally rich musical journey through opera, operetta, and musical theatre with soprano Yolisa Ngwexana and baritone Federico Freschi, joined by Steinway Artist and programme director Christopher Duigan.

This immersive concert brings together some of the most beloved duets in the classical and theatrical canon, from Mozart’s playful “La ci darem la mano” from Don Giovanni and Lehár’s sparkling “Lippen schweigen” from The Merry Widow, to the enduring romantic anthem “All I Ask of You” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

Oratorio for Human Rights (South African Premiere)

On 22 March, the South African premiere of Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph’s Oratorio for Human Rights unfolds at the Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre, UJ Arts Centre. First performed in Rome in 2018 to mark the 70th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this acclaimed work transforms the ideals of freedom, equality, and dignity into an immersive and moving performance.

“When the call for scores came for an Oratorio for Human Rights, I immediately resonated with the theme as a South African woman,” says Zaidel-Rudolph, whose compositions champion the voices of women and youth.

The South African premiere features the renowned UJ Choir and Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra under celebrated conductor and broadcaster Kutlwano Masote. Pianist Bryan Schimmel – one of South Africa’s most respected music directors will feature in the concert bringing a 35-year career spanning theatre, orchestral, choral, and contemporary genres to the UJ Arts Centre stage.

Soprano Yolisa Ngwexana, a UNISA International Competition semi-finalist, brings her award-winning artistry to the stage alongside the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, Professor Federico Freschi, performing the baritone solo. The programme also includes excerpts from Zaidel-Rudolph’s Youth Oratorio, highlighting the journey from childhood innocence to the challenges of adolescence. Echoing the oratorio’s enduring message: human rights, opportunity, and dignity belong to all.

Anchored UJ’s commitment to artistic excellence, social engagement, and student-centred cultural experiences, this premiere is part of UJ Arts & Culture’s commitment to creating inclusive cultural spaces, where students, staff, and the broader community can engage critically with socially relevant art, experience international-calibre performances, and reflect on the power of creativity to inspire change.

Performances

Date: 20 March 2026 | Time: 19:00

Venue: UJ Arts Centre, Keorapetse William Kgositsile theatre Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, UJ Arts Centre

Tickets: UJ Students: R150 | Pensioners: R150 | UJ Staff: R180 | General: R200

Date: 22 March 2026 | Time: 15:00

Venue: UJ Arts Centre, Keorapetse William Kgositsile theatre Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, UJ Arts Centre

Tickets: UJ Students: R150 | Pensioners: R150 | UJ Staff: R180 | General: R200

Book your tickets here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/360608-classical-music-weekend#/

About UJ Arts and Culture

UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts.

In addition to UJ Arts & Culture, FADA (www.uj.ac.za/fada) offers programmes in eight creative disciplines, in Art, Design and Architecture, as well as playing home to the NRF SARChI Chair in South African Art & Visual Culture, and the Visual Identities in Art & Design Research Centre. The Faculty has a strong focus on sustainability and relevance, and engages actively with the dynamism, creativity and diversity of Johannesburg in imagining new approaches to art and design education.

Featured Artists

Federico Freschi (Baritone)

Professor Federico Freschi is a distinguished baritone, academic and arts leader, currently serving as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg. Alongside his academic leadership, Freschi maintains an active performance career, celebrated for his commanding interpretations and musical intelligence. His ability to bridge scholarship, performance and cultural leadership reflects UJ’s commitment to excellence across disciplines, making his presence on stage both artistically and institutionally significant.

Christopher Duigan (Piano)

Christopher Duigan is a Steinway Artist, acclaimed concert pianist, composer and programme curator, widely recognised for his role in making classical music accessible to diverse audiences. As programme director for Some Enchanted Evening, Duigan brings his signature curatorial vision to a repertoire that spans classical masterworks, romantic favourites and contemporary piano music. He regularly performs on the UJ Steinway Concert Grand Piano and is known for performances that balance technical mastery with warmth, narrative and immediacy.

Yolisa Ngwexana (Soprano)

Yolisa Ngwexana is a rising star in South African classical music. She advanced to the semifinals of the UNISA International Competition, performing at a level that drew international recognition, and brings her award-winning artistry to Some Enchanted Evening and Oratorio for Human Rights. Her performances are celebrated for their technical brilliance, emotional resonance, and compelling stage presence.

Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph (Composer)

Professor Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph is a trailblazing South African composer and pianist, renowned for her innovative contributions to classical and choral music. She was the first woman in South Africa to earn a Doctorate in Music Composition and has composed over 80 works spanning orchestral, choral, and solo repertoire. Her Oratorio for Human Rights, winner of the 2018 Global Women in Music competition, was first performed at Rome’s Teatro Argentina and has since gained international acclaim. A passionate advocate for women’s rights and youth development, Zaidel-Rudolph’s music combines accessibility, emotional depth, and social consciousness.

Kutlwano Masote (Conductor)

Celebrated conductor and broadcaster Kutlwano Masote leads the UJ Choir and Chamber Orchestra at the Oratorio for Human Rights with distinction. Renowned for his versatility and passion for South African choral and orchestral music, Masote’s direction ensures that the Oratorio’s profound message is brought to life with clarity, energy, and emotional depth.

Bryan Schimmel (Pianist)

With a career spanning over 35 years, Bryan Schimmel is one of South Africa’s leading music directors, arrangers and orchestrators, with experience across theatre, television, recording and live performance. His work bridges genres from orchestral and choral music to contemporary popular forms. A former lecturer at the Wits School of Arts, Schimmel holds a master’s degree in music cum laude, completed under the mentorship of Jeanne Zaidel-Rudolph. His musical direction plays a vital role in shaping the Oratorio’s South African premiere.

UJ Choir

The University of Johannesburg Choir stands as a beacon of musical excellence. It consists of eighty students from the university that study a range of qualifications, excluding music. Excelling in both Western and African choral repertoire, the choir prides itself in artistic innovation and musical integrity. UJ Choir has won numerous awards and continues to fly the University of Johannesburg flag with pride.

Surprise Nkomo
surprisen@uj.ac.za
011 559 3058
https://arts.uj.ac.za/whats-on/uj-arts-culture-invites-you-to-a-classical-music-weekend-at-uj/