The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
An orchestra for all seasons

Biography

“The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra is arguably the most versatile and active orchestra on the continent of Africa and contributes handsomely in making Cape Town part of a global culture.”

The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, South Africa’s “orchestra for all seasons”, is a financially and culturally sustainable, multi-functional orchestra delivering a world-class musical experience to all communities of the Western Cape.  The CPO is one of only three full-time professional symphony orchestras in South Africa and continues a long and proud history of symphonic music since Cape Town’s first symphony orchestra was formed in 1914.

Apart from traditional symphony concerts presented in the historic City Hall with its excellent acoustics for orchestral music, the CPO also performs at the Artscape Theatre Centre with Cape Town Opera and Cape Town City Ballet for their opera and ballet seasons.  Further engagements include performing with prestigious visiting ballet companies such as the St Petersburg Ballet, charity galas, lighter “symphonic pops” music for special occasions and collaboration with community musicians and choirs.  These performances all add up to a staggering 160 performances a year.  Some performances are given at other venues in Cape Town and the Western Cape such as the Endler Hall in Stellenbosch, the Baxter Theatre and the Bellville Velodrome.  Other venues include popular tourist destinations such as the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Vergelegen wine estate and leading hotels.  However, the orchestra does not only play in the Cape’s premier venues, but also visit smaller venues in previously disadvantaged communities. 

PART OF A GLOBAL CULTURE
The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra is arguably the most versatile and active orchestra on the continent of Africa and contributes handsomely in making Cape Town part of a global culture.  In this spirit the CPO presented the first Cape Town International Music Festival in November and December 2006.  This festival has become an annual event, attracting first rate musicians from all over the world as well as providing opportunities to South Africa’s foremost artists. With Cape Town being the prime tourist destination in South Africa, this also means that the orchestra makes an important contribution to the cultural component of the tourism product that the city offers to local and international visitors.

EDUCATION THROUGH A YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The CPO embraces education through its training orchestras, the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (CPYO), the Cape Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble (CPYWE), a cadet programme for aspiring professional musicians and various far-reaching educational and development programmes. The CPYO and CPYWE were launched in 2004 and consist mostly of young musicians from the townships and previously disadvantaged communities. Music is a powerful tool in closing the gap between our disparate cultures, which is why the CPO is a tireless promoter of cultural accessibility and interactivity.

Martin Panteleev

Considered one of the most exciting rising stars of a new generation of European conductors, Martin Panteleev was born in 1976 into a family of musicians. He began his violin studies at age four and soon entered the Bulgarian State Academy of Music. At age eighteen, he was awarded top prizes in the Brahms Chamber Music Competition and was awarded the Bela Bartok Prize in Sofia.

In 1997 and 1998 he graduated following master classes in violin with Prof. Zakhar Bron in Hamburg and in conducting with Prof. Vassil Kazantjiev in Sofia. In 1999 Panteleev became Associate Conductor of the Philharmonia of the Nations, leading them in concerts in Germany, China and Russia. An accomplished composer as well, the world premiere of his First Symphony was performed by the Philharmonia of the Nations under Justus Frantz, with further performances in Frankfurt, Berlin and at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival. For this work Mr. Panteleev received a nomination for the Davidoff Prize. Mr. Panteleev's Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra received its first performance in 2001 in China with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra and soloist Li Biao. In 2003, Mr. Panteleev recorded his First and Third Symphonies with the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra and was named a member of the Bulgarian Union of Composers.

In 2005 Martin Panteleev was given a special award by the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture for his musical activities, and was named Chief Conductor of the renowned Sofia Festival Orchestra which was founded by the legendary Emil Tchakarov. Mr. Panteleev is a regular guest of the Sofia Philharmonic, Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra, Philharmonia of the Nations, St. Petersburg Russian Philharmonic, and other leading European orchestras.

This past season, Maestro Panteleev has led the Sofia Festival Orchestra on a highly acclaimed tour of the Netherlands, conducted Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with the Schleswig-Holstein Symphony Orchestra, substituted for Rudolf Barshai with one day notice with Mahler Symphony No. 10 with the Netherlands Symphony, and was named Permanent Guest Conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic.

Next season, Maestro Panteleev will make his debut at the Berlin Philarmonie with the Berlin Symphony and will lead them on a 12 concert tour of Holland with three concerts in the famed Concertgebouw. He will also conduct Mahler Symphony No. 4 with the Netherlands Symphony. In January 2008, Martin Panteleev will lead the Sofia Festival Orchestra on a 11 city tour of the United States, marking his American debut.

  Cape Town Philharmonic
  gratefully acknowledges and
  thanks Würth Group of North
  America, the assembly
  professional, for its generous
  sponsorship toward the partial
  funding of its inaugural United
  States tour.

  Cape Town Philharmonic
  gratefully acknowledges and
  thanks MPDV Mikrolab GmbH
  for its generous sponsorship
  toward the partial funding of its
  inaugural United States tour.