Emergence

EMERGENCE: From Shadow to Triumph Every great journey begins in darkness. EMERGENCE follows a path from solitude to victory, tracing the struggle and light that shape the human spirit. Under the baton of Schalk van der Merwe, the Pretoria Symphony Orchestra opens with Joseph Haydn’s Overture to L’isola disabitata, a tale of castaways on a lonely island, with the hope of rescue woven into its elegant musical lines.

Robert Volkmann’s Symphony No. 1 in D minor follows, a rarely heard Romantic work of brooding intensity. Its stormy themes wrestle with doubt and longing before breaking into moments of hard-won resolve. After the interval, Megan-Geoffrey Prins joins the orchestra for Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, one of the most heroic works in the repertoire.

Its grand opening, lyrical slow movement and exhilarating finale bring the journey from shadow to triumph to life. Join us for an afternoon of drama, depth and triumphant sound. Date: Sunday, 15 November 2026Time: 15:00Venue: ZK Matthews Hall, UNISA Programme Joseph HaydnOverture to L’isola disabitata in G minor, Hob.

Ia:13 Robert VolkmannSymphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 44 Ludwig van BeethovenPiano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op