Nataniël visits Rhewal’s studio. (Photo: Rhewal)
The Netherlands is not an unknown destination for Nataniël. A new experience that does await him, and Dutch audiences, is his first concert that will be presented in Amsterdam soon.
On Saturday 13 May, this iconic artist can be seen at the Theater Amsterdam Nathaniel in Concert.
“It’s always exciting for me to see how a new theatre, or a theater I’ve never been to, functions,” says Nataniël in the Rhewal studio.
With 37 years of experience on South African stages, seven years of television recordings in France, and performances in countries such as Britain and Australia, it is still a challenge for Nataniël to present this concert.
Fortunately, he can take it on with world musicians he knows well and with whom he has been performing for years. The musicians who entered with Nataniël Nathaniel in Concert on stage are Steinway pianist Charl du Plessis, double bass and bassist Werner Spies, and drummer Peter Auret.
“We can no longer take musicians with us, because the rest of the seats on the plane are for costumes,” Nataniël jokes.
Nathaniel in Concert is a compilation of Nataniël’s characteristic stories, original music in English and Afrikaans, as well as unique arrangements of some timeless hits. He will also appear on stage again in Floris Louw’s excellent costumes.
“While we are busy with rehearsals for different concerts, there are many suggestions for stories, music and costumes that we have to consider for the concert in Amsterdam,” says Nataniël. He adds that transporting his costumes almost always requires a good dose of planning.
Nathaniel. (Photo: Provided)
“My biggest issue is how I get my costumes safely to the Netherlands, because some of my stuff is so big it fills one suitcase. I have booked an extra suitcase for each member of the company so that everyone can take a costume with them. I also take a few extra with me, but it’s really not possible to take everything.”
He is also having new costumes made for the show. Not only to surprise audience members who were at one of his shows recently, but also because it’s not too heavy to travel with.
“It’s so peculiar to me, but I’m grateful for it, that there are people who have just been to one of my shows and they fly to Amsterdam for Nathaniel in Concert. Why, I don’t know,” says Nataniël.
Nathaniel in Concert is 90 minutes long. The concert has no intermission, no photos or recordings, or children under 15 are allowed.
- Buy your tickets for the concert in the Netherlands here at EventBrite.com.
- Listen to the full interview with Nataniël at the top of the article. He talks about his show in Amsterdam, and what it takes to travel in costume.
