People of Note

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the editor of TGI Food, the Daily Maverick’s popular food platform TONY JACKMAN. Tony has won a number of awards for his writing and he has also written plays and books and his latest is called Retro Karoo Food. He has been in journalism for some 50 years with food writing his main foucus. People of Note with Tony Jackman. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP and Killer Queen, a LAMTA production is on at Theatre on the Bay.

Recently, you would have heard us talking about a concert in Stellenbosch with the Winelands Philharmonic Orchestra. This exciting, relatively new venture is the brain child of Reghardt Kuhn, who is also the orchestra’s conductor. I spoke to him about the orchestra, its members and its repertoire and the challenges these enthusiastic amateurs of all ages have to face in an orchestra. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at 6pm, brought to you by PTP and then Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" is on at Theatre On The Bay from 30 June to 12 July.

Cape Town City Ballet is presenting "Orpheus in the Underworld", based on Offenbach’s music and choreographed by Veronica Paeper. On People of Note this week, Rodney Trudgeon spoke to Tracy Li, the Artistic Manager at CTCB, about the production and about her career in ballet

An interesting new play has just opened at the Arena Theatre. It was written by Louis Viljoen and is called The Killing of a Union Leader, described as a gripping political thriller, the plays stars, among others, John Maytham, well known as a broadcaster here in Cape Town. Rodney Trudgeon invited John into the People of Note studio to talk about the play. People of Note – Sunday 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP. And the production of Rocky Horror Show is running to packed houses at The Theatre on the Bay.

Artscape is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year and one of the highlights for this celebration is a production of Bizet’s hugely popular Opera CARMEN with a star cast, Cape Town Oper and the Cape Town Philharmonic. The conductor will be the British conductor TIM MURRAY who has a growing reputation as a conductor of opera, ballet and contemporary repertoire. Rodney Trudgeon spoke to him about his career and his approach to Carmen. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP and the Rocky Horror Show continues its packed run at the Theatre on the Bay.

For thirty years ELIZABETH TRIEGAARDT has presented Invitation to the Dance on Fine Music Radio. In celebration of this milestone, Elizabeth is my guest on People of Note this week. On Sunday at 6 pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP On now at Theatre on the Bay: The Rocky Horror Show, until 30 May

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the young Spanish pianist Leo De Maria who was in Cape Town recently to play the Piano Concerto No 1 by Tchaikovsky. Leo won gold at the 2024 Unisa Piano Competition in Pretoria and subsequently made contact with the CPO. Leo comes from a musical family and says that he simply can’t live without music. People of Note Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP. And the Rocky Horror show continues to draw the crowds at Theatre on the Bay.

We’ve had a really distinguished choral conductor in Town with the Cape Town Philharmonic. NICHOLAS CHALMERS is one of the leading conductors in the UK and he conducted two concerts with the CPO, including Mendelssohn’s Lobegesang. Rodney Trudgeon caught up with him for an interview for People of Note. Nicholas Chalmers on People of Note this week. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP and their production of The Rocky Horror Show is pulling in the crowds at the Theatre On The Bay.

Many of the engineers who have come through the doors at Fine Music Radio, were trained at the Cape Audio College. Rodney Trudgeon's guest on People of Note this week is Jonathan Pike, who has worked at the College for over two decades. His deep passion for music has shaped his career.

This Sunday on People of Note, I’m in conversation with award-winning actor Craig Urbani. Craig takes on the role of Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show. Presented by Pieter Toerien and LAMTA, this much-loved rock ’n’ roll musical returns to Theatre on the Bay from the 7th of April to the 31st of May. Join me, Rodney Trudgeon, Sunday at 6pm, with a repeat on Thursday at 12 noon, only on Fine Music Radio.

The Musical Pretty Woman is pulling in the crowds here at Artscape and the show has been brought to South Africa by Showtime Management the company run by Hazel Feldman. Hazel has been responsible for bringing many world famous shows and artists to South Africa over many years and in People of Note this week, Rodney Trudgeon asked Hazel about he phenomenal career. People of Note, Sunday 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP and Jonathan Roxmouth is on stage at the Theatre on the Bay with Key Change.

This week on People of Note, join us for a captivating conversation with Carolynne Waterhouse – acclaimed teacher, and passionate advocate for the arts. Discover her journey through music, her inspirations, and the stories behind her remarkable career. Don’t miss People of Note with Carolynne Waterhouse, Sunday at noon and again on Thursday at midday, only on Fine Music Radio. Brought to you by PTP. And on stage at Theatre on the Bay is Jonathan Roxmouth and Key Change.

A recent visitor to Cape Town was one of the founders of the hugely popular acapella ensemble THE REAL GROUP. Anders Edenroth wanted to create a group of singers with an emphasis on jazz, pop and folk music with a distinctive unaccompanied sound. The group has enjoyed international fame but now Anders is involved mostly in composing, arranging and coaching choral ensembles. In fact while he was in Cape Town he had a rewarding session with Vox. Anders is Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week. Sunday at 6m and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP. And at Theatre on the bay this week, there’s Key Change with Jonathan Roxmouth.

Jonathan Roxmouth's vast career has many highlights, but perhaps nothing can quite beat his titular role as Phantom of the Opera, a role he performed locally and abroad. He is our guest on People of Note this week, where he talks about his show at Theatre of the Bay, Key Change – My Favourite Pianists, running from 4 to 28 March 2026. To find out about the man behind the phantom’s mask, listen to People of Note on Sunday at 6, with a repeat on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP.

Maynardvilles's open air theatre is one of South Africa's most enduring cultural institutions, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Jaco van Rensburg, Executive Director of the festival, is my guest on People of Note this week Sunday and again on Thursday at midday brought to you by PTP

An exciting new ballet with a somewhat unlikely subject has just opened here at Artscape. Dracula has been choreographed by David Nixon a while ago and, over the years it has become one of his most celebrated ballets. Cape Town City Ballet are presenting this work and one of the lead dancers playing Dracula is JEROME BARNES who trained at the Royal Ballet School and has danced principal roles with comnies around the world, including Cape Town. I invited him into the People of Note studio this week. People of Note Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP. And on stage this week at Theatre on the Bay, Rocco and Coenie De Villiers in 88.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the much respected and admired jazz pianist Ramon Alexander. Ramon works extensively in recording studios, CD production, composition and session work and he has performed and recorded with a host of artists both locally and internationally in a variety of genres. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. People of Note is brought to you by Pieter Torien Productions – Conrad Koch and Chester Missings Puppet Power is on stage at the Theatre on the Bay from 10 to 14 February.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is Kathleen Tagg, a South African pianist, composer and producer who has been based in New York since 2001. Kathleen has toured extensively on the international circuit and has performed at some of the world’s most famous and iconic concert halls. Her work includes inter-disciplinary programmes using loops, samples and visual mediums. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the newly appointed CEO and Artistic Director of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, Adriaan Fuchs. Adriaan comes to the post with a wealth of experience in music, fund raising, music administration and artist liason. He has worked not only here at Cape Town Opera, but at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and Carnegie Hall. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the cellist, conductor and broadcaster Kutlwano Masote.  Although he was trained as a classical musician, he has conducted concerts across the genres of operas, symphonic operas and jazz.  Kutlwano has just had his book published called The Imperfect Harmony – a sort of autobiography and I chatted to him about the book and his exciting life.

The UCT Summer School is well underway with its vast array of subjects including some very interesting musical lectures. One of these is a series of three lectures under the heading Music and the Sensuality of Harmony. These will be presented by the composer Grant McLachlan on the 19th, 20th and 21st of January. I invited Grant into the People of Note studio to talk about this most fascinating serues.

Pieter Toerien’s production of CATS is about to end it’s phenomenal run to packed houses in Cape Town and it moves to Montecasino in Johannesburg before embarking on an international tour. One of the people I spoke to who was deeply involved in the success of the musical was Gareth Hewitt Williams, who lives in London now but who came out to South Africa as one of the producers of Cats. Gareth is a producer with the company GWB which co-produced Cats and he shared some inside material with me on People of Note.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is Marthinus van Bart who has just published a fascinating book called Wolraad Woltemade 250 Gedenkboek all about this most fascinating character and his heroic horse who rode into rough seas to save people from a ship wreck in Table Bay. Marthinus is a retired journalist who has put together a most beautiful and well researched bookwith amazing photographs. People of Note. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP

Rodney Trudgeon's guest on People of Note this week, is one of South Africa’s most distinguished ballet dancers who is now retired after an illustrious career as principal dancer with CAPAB having joined them in 1966. His name is Eduard Greyling, who also travelled extensively in Europe and especially in The Netherlands and in Cape Town where he became famous partnering with Phyllis Spira. People of Note, Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursfay at midday, brought to you by PTP and don’t forget that CATS is wowing audiences hgere at Artscape

In People of Note this week, we continue our coverage of the musical CATS for Pieter Toerien who sponsors this programme each week and whose production of this amazing musical is absolutely spectacular. This week I’ll be talking to MATT KRZAN who is the Assistant Director of Choreography and who has worked on many musicals both on the West End and Internationally.

For decades Pieter Toerien has brought us magnificent theatre! An hour before the opening of “Cats”, at Artscape, Rodney Trudgeon spoke to the legend himself about this extraordinary production.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is WENDY ACKERMAN who, apart from being well known as the Honorary Life President of Pick n Pay, is one of this country’s most dedicated philanthropists whose major sponsorships and support of our orchestra among numerous other artistic companies, as well as her personal work for the underprivileged, has earned her the Mayor’s Medal for Philanthropy. Wendy Ackerman on People of Note this week. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP and the show Cats is drawing the crowds at Artscape.

We in Cape Town are in for a major theatrical treat this festive season when Pieter Toerien presents the smash hit CATS at the Artscape Opera House from 10 December to mid-January. The show with its amazing costumes, music and dance is likely to stun our audiences and Rodney Trudgeon spoke to the Music Director LOUIS ZURNAMER for People of Note this week.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is Kyle Shepherd, a leading South African jazz pianist and film score composer celebrated for his distinctive style. Kyle has travelled extensively internationally playing in major venues such as the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. His notable credits include the popular Netflix series Water and Unseen. Kyle Shepherd on People of Note this week, Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

I wonder if you remember a famous international David and Goliath style court case where a lawyer from South Africa took on the mighty Disney organisation. It was about the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight for which the composer nor his family were never credited nor paid out for the use of the song in The Lion King. The lawyer who spear headed the case was Owen Dean and on People of Note this week, Rodney Trudgeon spoke to about this ground-breaking case. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the celebrated Italian pianist Filippo Gorini. Filippo was in Cape Town recently to play various recitals as part of his project called “Sonata For 7 Cities” which he has performed in Vienna, Hong Kong, Portland , Milan and also Cape Town. Filippo’s musicianship has drawn unanimous acclaim in major musical concert halls in Italy, Berlin, Amsterdam London and Paris to name a few. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

The magical world of recording and recording studios is in the spotlight on People of Note this week when Rodney Trudgeon speaks to Murray Anderson, who founded Milestone Studios some 35 years ago. Over the years Milestone has become a famous studio where many famous artists have recorded award winning albums and where Murray himself has written jingles and scored the music for local and overseas film and TV programmes. People of Note. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP.

For this week’s edition of People of Note, I invited in to the studio Ricardo MacKenzie who is the Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape Government. His political journey began when he was elected to the DA in the Western Cape in 2014 and I asked him about his portfolio and about his views of the arts in the Western Cape. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP

I wonder if you are one of the lucky ones who have seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicoulor Dreamcoat at Theatre on the Bay. It has just returned to Cape Town after a sold out season in Johannesburg and bristles with energy, slickness and fantastic choreography. In the lead role as Joseph is Dylan Janse Van Rensburg who has just graduated from Lamta and Rodney Trudgeon spoke to him about the show. People of Note. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday, brought to you by PTP

David Kramer’s musical Orpheus McAdoo returns to the Artscape Opera House this week after it’s hugely successful run last year in October. With its evocative mix of old spirituals, ragtime, early American folk and South African musical influences celebrate the story of Orpheus McAdoo and his Jubilee Singers. In the role of Orpheus is the distinguished Cape Town Opera soloist, the baritone Conroy Scott and Rodney Trudgeon him to People of Note to talk about his riole. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is the broadcaster, financial journalist and author DAVID WILLIAMS whose latest book is called On The Railway – The Great South African Rail Story. The book is a fascinating, nostalgic and loving look at the golden days of rail travel in South Africa. From the starched linen table cloths in the dining cars, to the goods trains that once served as the economic lifeblood of the country. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

After a decade cloaked in silent and stardust the legendary Royal Countess Zingara is making a triumphant return to Cape Town with a show called La Dolce Royal. Zingara’s was a hugely popular venue and concept in Cape Town and this dazzling new chapter is being brought to life by the acclaimed South African theatre visionary Craig Leo. Rodney Trudgeon spoke to Craig Leo ab0ut the new show and his collaborators. People of Note, Sunday 6pm and again on Thursday at midday.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is a well established and mush respected jazz musician, composer and recording producer ANDREW FORD. Not only has Andrew produced many albums in his studios know as The Nuthouse. But Andrew has also composed and recorded all the jingles for FMR and, more recently, our FMR Overture which opened our Gala Concert in May. Andrew talked about his creative life as a jazz musician. People of Note , Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

On People of Note this week, Rodney Trudgeon will be talking to the much respected Cape Town born composer, pianist, multi-instrumentalist and raconteur HILTON SCHILDER. Hilton has undoubtedly helped to mould the sound of what has become known as Cape Jazz. He is recognised globally and has featured on numerous albums. People of Note. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

One of South Africa’s most iconic satirists and social activists is undoubtedly PIETER DIRK UYS. Pieter is also known internationally for his fearless satire and for his alter ego Evita Bezuidenhout. Pieter turns 80 this month and there are a number of tributes to him including some of his plays. I couldn’t resist inviting him into the People of Note studio to talk about his extraordinary career. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week is Greg Karvellas who has directed the one man show MOFFIE, a compelling novel by Andre Charl van der Merwe which was made into a film in 2019. The play received a critically acclaimed run in London which left audiences transfixed. The actor at the Baxter production is David Viviers and Greg Karvellas discusses the play on People of Note this week. Sunday 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

One of my favourite comedies for the stage is Noises Off, a hilarious farce by Michael Frayn that takes the audiences behind the scenes of a disastrous theatre production. The play is being presented at the Theatre on the Bay by young actors from LAMTA, directed by Chris Weare. My Guest on People of Note this week is one of the actors, AIDAN SCOTT, who plays the role of the director in the play. People of Note, Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

Rodney Trudgeon’s guest on People of Note this week, is the exciting and award winning young tenor Innocent Masuku. Not only was he a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent, but he is enjoying a hugely successful career with English National Opera. Innocent has just been in Cape Town to sing in Cape Town Opera’s production of the Barber of Seville as Count Almaviva, a role he also sang to great acclaim with English National Opera. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

There is a play running at the Baxter Theatre called FEEDBACK, which is described as an extraordinary murder mystery that, under the unique and unconventional vision of Andrew Buckland who also wrote the play. Andrew is one of South Africa’s most celebrated theatre-makers and actors with a career spanning several decades in stage, film and television and I spoke to him on People of Note about this latest play and about his career. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday.

Cape Town Opera’s sparkling production of Rossini’s hugely popular opera The Barber of Seville is playing to packed houses at the Theatre on the Bay. Playing the leading role of the barber is the baritone William Burger and I spoke to him on People of Note this week about the role which is a tour de force for the baritone. People of Note Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

A new 9 part series is about to be aired on SABC 3 in the channel called True Crime. It’s called Looking Into Darkness and has been directed by the award-winning film and documentary maker Peter Goldsmid and presented by the Forensic Investigator David Klatzow. The series concentrates on femicide featuring dramatic re-enactments , often using Confessions in the story telling. I spoke to Peter on People of Note this week about what seems to have been a traumatic experience putting it all together. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP.

I wonder if you’ve ever heard bells emanating from the City Hall bell tower? And I don’t mean the bell of the clock. There is a fascinating instrument in the bell tower called a Carillon which as an interesting history. It has been re-furbished and completely overhauled by someone who is passionate about such an instrument. His name is Alexios Vicatos and I invited him into the People of Note studio to talk about this instrument an to play some recordings of him on the instrument. People of note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday – brought to you by PTP.

Cape Town City Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet Swan Lake opens at the CTICC this week.  Dancing the role of Odette is the South African ballerina Kirstel Paterson who has enjoyed a hugely successful career and has won numerous prestigious awards.  Rodney trudgeon spoke to Kirstel on People Of Note this week to find out about her career and about the role in Swan Lake.

Cape Town, with all its attractions, doesn’t seem to have that many pantomimes in the true sense of the word. Johannesburg and Durban are famous for their annual pantomimes and now the Durban company Kickstart Theatre Productions have brought their latest pantomime to Cape Town. It’s called Jack and the Beanstalk and Rodney Trudgeon spoke to the founder of Kickstart, Greg King about the production and its appeal to both children and adults and which is running at the Baxter Theatre. People of Note. Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday. Brought to you by PTP

Starting this coming week on July 4th is one of the undoubted highlights of the classical music scene in South Africa. The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival is celebrating it’s 20th year this year with the usual line up of local and international musicians. The scope of the festival is wide with concerts, recitals, masterclasses and interviews. The Artistic Director of the festival is the cellist Peter Martens and Rodney Trudgeon invited him into the People of Note studio to talk about this year’s festival. People of Note – Sunday at 6pm and again on Thursday at midday.