Blake and Cortes join up for SA tour

Some of the best loved classical crossover music ever written, masterfully arranged and expertly performed, mixing pop, rock and classical anthems with rich harmony vocals. British "boy band" Blake launched their first album in 2007. The public embraced the album immediately, with over 100 000 copies being sold in just three weeks and earning the group their first Gold disc. The music industry followed in early 2008, when the album received the Brit Award for Album of the Year.

Since that time their music has achieved remarkable success. Their upbeat version of Swing Low was chosen as the Official Anthem of England Rugby for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In 2008 their second album, "And So It Goes", was released and went straight in at number 12 in the UK pop charts and number one in several classical charts around the world.

The "James Bond" of classical music

Joining Blake on their debut South African Tour, is the "James Bond" of classical music, Cortes, an Icelandic tenor who was born into a musical family and trained as a singer in Vienna, Copenhagen and London. He has performed various leading tenor roles in operas, as well as a leading part in The Phantom of the Opera in London's West End. His debut album in the UK, entitled "Cortes", entered the UK classical chart at number one.

For Joburg, Blake and Cortes will be accompanied by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. For the Cape Town shows, the Distinguished Stellenbosch Camerata Orchestra will accompany them.

Performances are on 20 and 21 June 2014 at 8pm at the Cape Town Convention Centre. Performances in Joburg on 27 and 28 June at 8pm at Emperors Palace.

Booking is open for all shows at Computicket. Tickets from R300.