Intimate chamber music, stormy passion

Beethoven Bewitched plunges into the dark, brooding heart of the master composer’s genius, offering a rare chance to experience the raw Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) of his most intense chamber music. Set in the deeply atmospheric surrounds of the Maynardville Open-Air Festival, this performance brings audiences up close to the turbulent emotion and fiery passion of Beethoven’s work.

The evening is helmed by a formidable piano trio featuring celebrated virtuoso and Maynardville crowd-favourite Elna van der Merwe on piano, alongside the acclaimed Peter Martens on cello and Suzanne Martens on violin. The anchor work of the concert is Beethoven’s magnificent Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56. To bring this monumental piece to life, the trio will be joined on stage by a hand-picked 10-piece string ensemble and timpani.

Chamber music has a unique way of drawing listeners into the crossfire of every musical conversation, allowing the visceral connection between the instruments to truly come alive. Set beneath the whispering trees and stars of Maynardville, Beethoven Bewitched promises a deeply moving and powerful evening of live music that will resonate long after the final note fades.

Duration: Approx. 75 minutes

No interval

The Maynardville Open-Air Festival is one of South Africa’s most treasured summer traditions, returning in 2027 with a season of theatre, music, and dance under the open night sky.

Set in the heart of Wynberg in the Southern Suburbs, the festival honours a rich performance heritage while embracing bold new work, collaborations, and world-class artists. Each summer, audiences gather beneath the trees for unforgettable evenings of storytelling, orchestral music, jazz, dance, and celebration, complemented by the vibrant Maynardville food market. Maynardville 2027 invites you into a season of connection, imagination, and shared experience, where every evening becomes part of Cape Town’s living cultural story.