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Award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Helena Hettema is in cabaret with other musicians and also to showcase extracts from her emerging coffee table anthology, Journeyman on 25 August 2024 at the AtterburyTheatre, Lynnwood Bridge, Pretoria.Helena has received critical acclaim throughout her 30 years in the music industry for her powerful and soulful renditions of the music of Piaf known as the “Little Sparrow” and French legends like the French/Flemish singer/songwriter Jacques Brel, Mireille Matthieu and CharlesAznavour .
Highlights of this musical journey include performing on two occasions in “Symphonic Pops” with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra (CTSO) under the batons of renowned conductors Alan Stephenson and Gerhard Korsten and more recently on the MSC ship Musica recreating the culture and enchantment of Paris.
Helena will also perform some of her own compositions, such as the popular “Sonkring”, “Divided Heart” written in London and “Die trein het jou kom haal” , an excerpt from her own life and in which she accompanies herself on piano.
Poems from her emerging coffee table book, “Journeyman – a poet revealed” with poems written since the age of 17 to the present day, with themes such as early days, outsiders, love, death (in English and Afrikaans) ” are featured in the performance.
Elsa Strating, Helena’s accomplished pianist was responsible for the arrangements of “ La Mamma” , Charles Aznavour’s composition about the farewell to a dying gypsey queen made famous by acclaimed Dutch singer Corry Brokken as well as the nostalgic ‘Gabriella’s Song”, which features in the movie “As it is in heaven” and has been thrilling recent audiences.
Great diva, Shirley Bassey will also be featured with the powerful “Never, Never” as well as continental great Neil Diamond’s “September Morn”.
The award winning , up- and- coming violinist Reuben van Nieuwenhuizen, brings romance and excitement to the stage with “Cinema Paradiso” and Bocelli’s “Besame” arranged and accompanied by Elsa van Strating.
Music producer, multi-skilled musician Richard Jones brings depth and reinvents Hettema originals such as the tragic tale of the witch of the Hex River with “Hex’s Witch River Lament with evocative vocals, guitar and harmonica accompaniment.
PRESS C OMMENT
“… and boy can she sing … Hettema has a voice that ranges from crushed silk to wet gravel and she uses it with sensitivity and skill … great opportunity to see one of South Africa’s finest performers in action.” Pta News
‘Sy sny dieper as die vel …” – Martjie Roos – Beeld
“Helena Hettema is one of SA’s most accomplished cabaret artists … album (Spirit of Piaf and other great French legends) can be commended for its superb quality of fine musicianship. Her Piaf playfully included a SA feel as the Soweto String Quartet adds a Kwela twist.” – Classic Feel – (Classic FM mouthpiece)
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Cnr Of Lynnwood Rd And Daventry St, 0081 Lynnwood, South Africa, 426 Lynnwood Rd, Lynnwood, 0081, South Africa,Pretoria, South Africa
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