A MUSICAL evening of romance is on offer at The Catalina Theatre this Valentine’s weekend with Songs of Love featuring popular entertainers Sandy Bigara and Haylea Hounsom. The show sees live piano and guitar blended with “soaring vocals”.
Tonight caught up with Bigara who explained how the hook-up came about.
“Haylea is one of the most flawless vocalists I have worked with, pure style and a lovely sweet stage personality.
“We performed as Doris Day last year and had an absolute ball together; that experience cemented our combined harmonic style and we’ve managed to carry that ornamental harmonic through to the Valentine’s show. Goosebumps during rehearsals is an understatement! I’m so happy to be singing with Haylea.”
Bigara is set to sing and play the piano (grand piano via electronic keyboard) and Hounsom will also sing and perform some songs on guitar.
“All live, no backing tracks. Simple and pleasurable listening,” explained Bigara.
The show has an interval, and on Thursday Johannes Wessels of Glenview Guest House, and Karen Coyne of Vrede & Lust, will present wines appropriate for Valentine’s Day – the awardwinning Jess, the Red Lady Malbec and the Mochalate will be available for tasting, together with the popular Sarah.
The wine tasting is on the house, compliments of Vrede & Lust and the Glenview-Durban North Fever Wine Club.
Bigara elaborated further on the show: “The music for the evening covers a variety of styles and all are performed artistically, with beautiful harmonies.
“I have a 20-plus year performance record including tours across Europe as assistant conductor of the KZN Youth Choir and Haylea studied a BA in Music and Drama Performance, graduating cum laude.
“I like to chat with my audience in between numbers, keeping them giggling and telling funny stories about life and love.
“Haylea is a darling on stage and never misses a beat. We have secured some lovely prizes as well, which we will give away ‘Oprah Winfrey’ style throughout the evening. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to realise my life-long dream of yelling: ‘You’re all getting cars!’, but I’m sure the prizes we do have will delight their winners,” she joked.
The audience can expect to hear favourites such as Something Stupid, Kiss me, Arms of the Angel, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Can’t Make You Love Me, Against All Odds, A Thousand Years (Twilight), The Rose, I’ve Had the Time of My Life, My Endless Love, Someone Like You and more.
• Songs of Love stages at The Catalina Theatre from Thursday to Sunday, 7 nightly, with a Sunday matinee at 2pm. R75, call 031 305 6889 or 031 827 8991, or see www.strictlytickets.com