» Rosebank Accommodation

A contemporary take on Coriolanus – also showing at Cinema Nouveau, Rosebank

liz — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:33:24 +0000

With 3 or 4 screenings a day there is still time to see Coriolanus before it goes of circuit. Ralph Fiennes contemporary production has been called ‘the thinking person’s action movie’. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian writes: ’Ralph Fiennes’s intelligent take on an unloved Shakespeare links it not only to the 1990s Balkans, [much of it was filmed in the Belgrade] but [also to] the present-day Arab spring.’ Using Shakespeare’s original text (with some cuts here and there) the setting is contemporary, drawing on modern genres like war reporting and TV news. Ralph Fiennes is Coriolanus, Vannessa Regdrave is Volumnia, his equally powerful mother and our very own John Kani plays General Cominius. For the remaining performance times for this week see http://www.moviesite.co.za/where/Cinema_Nouveau_Rosebank.htm (Next week’s schedule is still not available so not clear if it will finish on Thursday.

The Met HD Opera Series: La Traviata, showing at Cinema Nouveau

liz — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:43:20 +0000

La Traviata (part of the latest season’s opera at the NY Met, filmed in HD and and showing at Cinema Nouvea), only has 4 more showings: tonight at 19.30; Wednesday at 11 and Thursday at 2 and at 19.30. Natalie Dessay plays Violetta (her voice was suffering after a cold on the night of the filmed performance) and Matthew Polenzani plays Alfredo.

Phantom is a tour de force – on until 3rd June

liz — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:53:16 +0000

Courtesy of the Phantom of the Opera Programme 2012 (Pieter Toerien Monte Casino)

A few weeks ago a guest staying at Liz at Lancaster & who is a musical-aholic, told me he had seen ‘Phantom of the Opera’ SEVENTEEN times – in NY, London and now the night before at Monte Casino, his 2nd time in SA. And he thought it was the best performance he had ever seen. I had never seen Phantom so on his recommendation and with high expectations, I went with a friend (also a Phantom novice). We were completely bowled over. Apart from that wonderful music, the stage sets and costumes were just amazing, but most gut wrenching of all was Johnathan Roxmouth’s rendition of the Phantom. Just an extraordinary performance. Really don’t miss it if you can help it. It’s been extended until 3rd June.

March update on the Joburg art scene

liz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:06:03 +0000

Joel Mpha Dooh's 'Untitled "I'm not drunk, I'm just happy" ' Photograph Courtesy of Gallery Momo's invitation

What’s new in the art scene in March?

Along with Gerard Batha’s Paintings from the Karoo, Hermann Niebuhr’s exhibition City Chromatic, Views of Johannesburg opened at Everard Read on 8th March. For a review see http://todoinjoburg.co.za/2012/03/hermann-niebuhrs-city-chromatic-views-of-johannesburg-opens-at-everard-read/.
RosenClaire’s Immaterial Matters is on at the Goodman and runs till 24th March. This is the first exhibition in South Africa by the duo of Claire Gavronsky and Rose Shakinovsky since they left the country for Italy in 1985. Part of Rosenclaire’s aim is to examine the discourse of art history through their art making . This does perhaps present interesting contradictions in that artists as creative beings tend to look forward and construct visual texts, as opposed to historians who attempt to look at existing production and frame, comment on, and contextualize this creative work. Have just come across a wonderful quote which encapsulates those who are cynical of art history: ‘Writing about art is like dancing about architecture.’ ! So Rosenclaire’s starting point might turn the relationship between art historical production and contemproary art making on its head … but for sure contradictions still abound. James Delaney’s Exhibition Creation: the Discovery of the Ancient shows at In Toto in Birdhaven until 10th April. Opening at Gallery Momo on 15th March (until 16th April) is Joël Mpah Dooh Let’s take a walk!

Further afield in Joburg central : On Friday 16th March at 19.00 Trinity Session and Hobbs/Neustatter celebrate a decade of Collaboration with the opening of their exhibition 10 years on Air at the Maboneng precinct. Showing his amazing jewellry at Unity Gallery until 1st April is Mthakathi Prince of Newtown – what a great poster. See http://www.jhblive.com/events/art/mthakathi_prince_of_newtown/98363 and http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/art/prince_of_newtown_%27s_studio/97865 Candice Breitz, who has just joined Goodman’s stable continues to show at the Standard Bank Gallery until 5th April. On 22nd March the Regional Finalists (Johannesburg) of Absa L’Atelier 2012 will be announced.

Now this is a win: a cheese ‘factory’ in the same street as Liz at Lancaster

liz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:37:55 +0000

A cheese maker on Liz at Lancaster’s doorstep … literally in the same street , one block away, and I never knew about it. Am off there this week. And seems he supplies no lesser luminary retailers than Thrupps, Organic Village Market in Bryanston, Nieghbourhoods in Braamfontien, and our great neighbourhood restaurant Cnr Cafe http://www.jhblive.com/reviews/shops/damn_fine_cheese_in_jozi!/99781

Tourism figures and predictions for the industry in SA: differing views

liz — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:18:52 +0000

Tourism figures – two very different reports. Figures for business tourism good http://www.whalecottage.com/blog/cape-town/sa-business-tourism-is-booming/ but those for leisure tourism gloomy. http://www.fm.co.za/Article.aspx?id=166928

Another new institution opens a branch in Rosebank: SA College of Applied Psychology

liz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:39:37 +0000

After 14 years of success in Cape Town, The South African College of Applied Psychology’ (SACAP) has expanded to accommodate Gauteng students. Located in Lower Rosebank a mere 2 km from Liz at Lancaster Guesthouse, the College is located at 160 Jan Smuts Ave on the corner of Tyrhwitt Ave. See http://www.rosebank.co.za/view/index/psychology_college_opens/62/1/139

Richard Penn’s exhibition opens this Saturday at AOP

liz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:11:38 +0000

Emergent (detail) 2012 Pen & ink 567X516mm ; Taken from AOP's exhibition invitation

Richard Penn’s new solo exhibition Horizon opens at AOP 44 Stanley Ave this Saturday. Penn’s painstakingly detailed work is always a treat. The obsessively meticulous pen and ink marks are awe-inspiring in their technical skill and meditative in their repetitive patterned fields.
Opening is on Saturday 25 February at 14:00; Exhibition runs until 17th March and Richard Penn will do a walkabout on Saturday 3 March at 11:00.

American Anthems – The Spectacular Rock Musical

liz — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:14:38 +0000

Produced in association with Harley-Davidson UK, and for the first time in South Africa, AMERICAN ANTHEMS is the Spectacular Rock Musical based around the search for a legendary rock star that disappeared in the early 90’s at the height of his fame. The show encapsulates the most iconic American music featuring artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Eagles, Elvis, Bryan Adams, Michael Bolton, featuring such songs as Walking in Memphis, We Built This City, Bat out of Hell, Born to Run, America, St Elmo’s Fire, Sweet Child of Mine, Proud Mary, and many more. The Mandela, February 21^st – March 11^th 2012

Tickets R120, R150, R180, R230

Concert on the Deck at Gingko 25th Feb

liz — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:12:24 +0000

Concert on the Deck – Love, Life & Opera– Sat 25th February 2012 15h00 – 17h30

From Gingko’s newsletter:

With February being the month of love, we thought we’d put together a programme that would celebrate some of the world’s greatest love songs. Michèle Corbin (soprano) and Donato Somma (tenor) will perform a wonderful selection of operatic, traditional Napolitan and more contemporary works to the accompaniment of pianist Susan Harrop-Allin.

Works include (among others) the beautiful Libiamo from Verdi’s La Traviata, Morrcone’s Nella Fantasiamade famous by Sarah Brightmanand more recently by Il Divo, the fabulous-for-singing-in-the-shower-on-your-own O Sole Mio,

We’ll be serving a special array of typical Italian street food, including antipasto platters, bagnacauda with grissini & raw veg for dipping, loads of different but equally delicious bruschetta, polenta fritta croccante otherwise know as polenta chips with muffaletta to dunk them in, popcorn w garlic & parmigiano and then luscious strawberries with balsamic glaze and tiramisu for dessert!

The concert is R100.00 per person. Book your table soonest as seats are limited as you know! Email Catherine@gingko.co.za. You’re welcome to come earlier for lunch and simply stay on, or plan on a late lunch accompanied by some of the world’s most delightful music.