Cape Town Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is an orchestra
based in Cape Town
, Western Cape
.
In 1987, an exchange program was established between the Orchestra and the Taipei Arts Festival as part of South Africa's relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
.
In 1994, many feared that the CPO and other Eurocentric cultural institutions would diminish or fail in the non-racial democracy begun with the 1994 elections
. This fear was not realized as the orchestra grew in the post-1994 era. It began including courses in local townships
which were created for non-white South Africans during the apartheid era.
In 2011, the group became the first African orchestra to tour the United States
. As of that year, it performed 160 concerts at home a year and received 80% of its US$2.7 million budget from the South African government.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
based in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, Western Cape
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
.
History
The CPO is part of a history of symphonies based in Cape Town which began in 1914.In 1987, an exchange program was established between the Orchestra and the Taipei Arts Festival as part of South Africa's relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Republic of China – South Africa relations
Republic of China – South Africa relations refers to the current and historical relationship between the Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa. The Republic of China and South Africa established diplomatic ties in 1949...
.
In 1994, many feared that the CPO and other Eurocentric cultural institutions would diminish or fail in the non-racial democracy begun with the 1994 elections
South African general election, 1994
The South African general election of 1994 was an election held in South Africa to mark the end of apartheid, therefore also the first held with universal adult suffrage. The election was conducted under the direction of the Independent Electoral Commission .Millions queued in lines over a three...
. This fear was not realized as the orchestra grew in the post-1994 era. It began including courses in local townships
Township (South Africa)
In South Africa, the term township and location usually refers to the urban living areas that, from the late 19th century until the end of Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites . Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities...
which were created for non-white South Africans during the apartheid era.
In 2011, the group became the first African orchestra to tour the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of that year, it performed 160 concerts at home a year and received 80% of its US$2.7 million budget from the South African government.