Music 

Words: Trudy Lynn 
Image: Lauge Sorensen

5 Stars 

The audience are all delighted to be here. The choir has us clapping, whooping, dancing in our seats. The smiles of the performers are infectious and their vibrant  energy is hopeful. They perform their own South African-inspired arrangements of various classics from Toto to Disney to Puccini with such talent and such vigour.

The Ndlovu Youth Choir come from one village in South Africa where it started in 2009 as an afterschool group, we are told in one of the interludes. None of them have any training when they join. It’s hard to believe this when listening to them. The arrangements are beautiful. The dancing is so individual yet cohesive; that they didn’t try to be identical was particularly refreshing. They are singers, dancers, joy-makers. I can’t overemphasise their joy in performing but that shouldn’t detract from their musicality or professionalism. Each member has such a voice, such rhythm, clear training. The full audience gave a standing ovation after Puccini’s Nessun Dorma (which moved me to tears) and another when they finished. 

Each of the short speeches are engaging and humorous and there is always something to watch. I worried the projection might be distracting but it is used to great effect throughout. 

If you are mired in Fringe stress and mid-festival exhaustion, this is an excellent pick me-up and energy booster. It felt healing. And, as the audience member next to me said, ‘it’s medication for depression’. I’m going to listen on repeat now and dance my revitalised way through the next two weeks. I recommend you do the same. 

Ndlovu Youth Choir
Main Hall at Assembly Hall 
12:10 
6- 30 August