The clip opens with the Chief Executive and Artistic Director of both the Joburg and KZN Philharmonic Orchestras, Bongani Tembe, saying that they hope their tribute will bring “comfort and joy to thousands of South Africans who are enduring isolation, economic hardship, and anxiety”.
In his heartfelt introduction, he also says that part of "our responsibility as artists, particularly at a challenging time like this, is to utilise and share our talent to inspire hope and lift spirits in order to encourage people to know that they can face tomorrow.”
For this we thank both him and the individual musicians of the Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestras for their performance of the popular hymn Amazing Grace, from their living rooms - it’s a truly heart-warming rendition.
In a statement released together with the clip, Tembe said, "The release of this orchestral arrangement is in line with the message first expressed by President Ramaphosa who quoted Hugh Masekela’s famous song Thuma Mina as he urged all South Africans to keep faith and stay safe. The JPO and KZN Philharmonic’s outreach gesture is in tandem with other virtual performances of the treasured concert repertoire that have been made, under similar circumstances, by orchestral players from around the world."
And according to their Facebook page, it is not going to be last we see of them during lockdown - take a look at the video here.
The Department of Arts and Culture has set aside R150 million to help the arts sector amid the coronavirus pandemic.
