- TICKET PRICE: R50.00
- DURATION: 1hr
- AGE RECOMMENDATION: All Ages
- GENRE: Musical Theatre
- LANGUAGE: English and Afrikaans
- Watch Link: National Arts Festival
Helena Hettema’s “Alive” is a 10-year nostalgic celebratory online show of a powerful and diverse performance of one of SA’s top cabaret artists which took place on 10 March 2010 at the popular Centurion Theatre with her brilliant pianist and friend, André Wessels (he passed away in 2015) and master of the double bass, Nippy Cripwell.
Helena takes her audience on a magical journey with a varied repertoire ranging from Piaf and Brel, Gershwin and Cohen to Marianne Faithful, The Beatles and Albinoni to South African favourites of tragic poets Ingrid Jonker’ ‘Toemaar die donker man’ and Koos du Plessis ‘Sprokie vir ‘n stadskind’,
Some of her original music – for example – ‘Divided Heart’, written out of longing for home on Brighton Beach near London, and which is regularly heard on LM radio, is featured as well as her song ‘Tolbos in die wind’ , written for the TV series, ‘Sonkring’ for which she also sang and wrote the lyrics.
In this DVD, for which she was nominated for a SAMA (SA Music Award), she sings in a variety of styles – from jazz and folk rock to French chanson – one of her career highlights being two performances in the symphonic pops series with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra with the music of French legends, Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Concept and Direction: Helena Hettema
Vocals: Helena Hettema
Piano and Keyboard: Andre Wessels
Double Bass: Nippy Cripwell
Film Crew: Sean King Productions and Anton Pretorius
Sound: Cesar De Almeida, Cesar ‘S
Sound Lights and Lighting Design: Debbie Linde, Centurion Theatre Guest
Artist: Jan Hettema
Dvd Design – Media Chef
Source: Website – National Arts Festival