The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2007 WSS Summer Season continues in March and features top international and South African artists as well as an eclectic mix of music to suit all tastes. One of the highlights of the season is the closing concert on March 29 - titled Patron's Choice. The KZNPO has joined forces with the Sunday Tribune to give one lucky reader/subscriber the opportunity to put together a programme for the concert.

March 1: High Notes. Winner of the 2006 Vodacom Unisa International Singing Competition (Opera), Korean-born soprano Ji-Hyun Park debuts with the KZNPO in a glittering programme of operatic highlights. Accomplished conductor Naum Rousine leads the concert which includes works by Bellini, Mozart, Delibes, Rossini, Verdi and Donizetti.

March 8: Classical Triumph. Saint-Saëns's Fifth Piano Concerto No. 5 Egyptian, a pictorial of musical impressions from his world travels, marks the return of skilful pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski. Recipient of the 2006 Julliard William Petschek Piano Recital Award, he has been lauded for his "...virtuosity, expressive vibrancy and infectious spirit". The programme, under the baton of Swiss conductor Emmanuel Siffert in his debut performance with the KNZPO, concludes with Franck's inventive Symphony in D minor - an extraordinary work that, despite uncertain beginnings, has become a celebrated inclusion in the symphonic repertoire.

March 15: Melodic Invention. In the KZNPO's National Youth Concerto Festival and the KZN Young Performers Concert, Avigail Bushakovitz showed her remarkable talent as a violinist - receiving high praise for her performances. She is now given a soloist platform on the WSS stage and she will play Saint-Saëns's expressively subtle Third Violin Concerto. In the second half Dvorák shows his lighter, more optimistic side with his festive Eighth Symphony. Strongly influenced by Brahms and Schubert, as evidenced in this symphony, the composer produced a melodic symphony that is clearly a departure from the emotional intensity of its predecessor. The conductor is Emmanuel Siffert.

March 22: Brazilian Genius. The first guitarist to receive the Tagore Gold Medal from the Royal College of Music, James Grace is an experienced performer who has made his mark in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. For his first appearance with the KZNPO, he performs Villa-Lobos's Guitar Concerto. This beautiful and exciting piece, which explores the virtuosity of the guitarist, has grown in popularity in recent years and gained deserved recognition for the masterful work that it is. Led by British conductor Owain Arwel Hughes, associate conductor of London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the programme ends with Sibelius's appealing Second Symphony, which evokes various images of Finnish life and national spirit.

March 29: Patron's Choice conducted by Owain Hughes. The KZNPO is running a competition in conjunction with the Sunday Tribune and the winning patron’s programme will be performed at this concert. The prize will befit the event as the winning patron, along with five friends, will be the guests of honour at the concert.

KZNPO concerts take place in the Durban City Hall at 19h30. Friends of Music conduct pre-concert lectures in the Royal Hotel at 18h00. Booking for both events at Computicket. For more information contact the KZNPO on 031 369 9404 / 369 9477 / 369 9438 during office hours, or email bookings@kznpo.co.za