Klein Karoo Klassique celebrates Women’s Month this year with a music programme that pays tribute to the contributions of various women to classical music.
Music enthusiasts will be treated over the Women’s Day long weekend from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August, 2026, to music celebrating the voices, stories and legacies of exceptional women – from iconic local artists to groundbreaking composers whose music was not heard for decades.
One of the highlights of Klein Karoo Klassique is Heimwee (Saturday 8 August 19:00), a heartfelt tribute to the extraordinary legacy of Mimi Coertse, celebrating the voice, artistry, and cultural impact of one of South Africa’s most beloved sopranos. On stage are Cape Town Opera’s Brittany Smith (soprano), Sisikelelwe Mngenela (soprano) and Thandolwethu Longo (tenor), accompanied by José Dias on piano. The programme is compiled by Charl du Plessis, who is also the host of the evening. Heimwee brings together a carefully curated selection of iconic works from Coertse’s repertoire – cherished songs and arias audiences most closely associate with her illustrious career, as reflected in her recordings and enduring public memory.
Coertse is a celebrated South African soprano whose distinguished international career was marked by her long association with the Vienna State Opera, where she developed into one of the company’s leading artists and was awarded the prestigious title of Kammersängerin. Known for her lyrical voice and refined artistic mastery, she made a significant contribution to bringing South African opera to international recognition. She acted as mentor to new generations of singers and was a patron of Klein Karoo Klassique, further confirming her lasting influence on the South African music life. Coertse passed away on 27 April this year.
Another exceptional recital is Unheard (of) (Sunday 9 August 10:00), where cellist Mietze Dill and pianist Mareli Stolp shine the spotlight on works by female composers who were marginalised and deemed unworthy of the canon for decades. The recital is both a celebration and a glorious journey of discovery of music, with the sublime Cello Sonata in A Minor, Op. 5 by British composer and suffragette Dame Ethel Smyth at the heart of the programme. It is a work of astonishing power and depth that deserves to be far better known.
Pieces for Cello and Piano by American composer Amy Beach, Impetuoso from the Sonata by Rebecca Clarke, the breathtakingly beautiful Solitude (Rêverie) by French composer Rita Strohl, and the elegant Sérénade, Op. 46, No. 1 by her compatriot Mélanie Bonis are also included. Together, these composers chart a parallel history of classical music — one that is finally, and justly, being heard. The recital is followed by a free music discussion with the artists, facilitated by Du Plessis, providing further insight into the music for the audience.
Zanta Hofmeyr (violin), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (viola), Susan Mouton (cello) and Elna van der Merwe (piano), known as Take Four Piano Quartet (Saturday 8 August 14:00), come together in August to celebrate Women’s Month. They are long-time friends and virtuoso performers and take the audience on a sublime journey through some of the most beloved works in the chamber music repertoire.
Their programme features Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26, a work of sweeping lyricism, warmth and vitality, alongside Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47, celebrated for its poetic beauty and rich interplay between instruments. This moving recital is a celebration of artistry, friendship, connection and the enduring power of chamber music. The recital is also followed by a free music discussion with the artists, facilitated by Du Plessis.
Five other classical music recitals, two late-night concerts and two breakfast concerts are also presented as part of the Klein Karoo Klassique music programme. Tickets are available at klassique.co.za, from the KKNK office, or at the door before performances, depending on availability.
Visit klassique.co.za or contact the office of the KKNK via email at , phone 044 203 8600 or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.
Photos: Klein Karoo Klassique features Heimwee, a tribute to Mimi Coertse, Unheard (of) and the Take Four Piano Quartet.
