Walter John Charles (Weiss) Doubell

11.05.2015  Performing arts pioneer, founder and CEO of Roodepoort-based Pro Musica Productions, and orchestral conductor Weiss Doubell passed away at the age of 71. A passionate arts lover and promotor of young vocal and instrumental talent in South African, Doubell was the driving force behind the establishment of various ensembles in the musical performing arts. These included the Rand Chamber Music Orchestra, the Rand Afrikaans University Choir, the Pro Musica Opera Production Compan, Pro Musica Orchestra and Opera Chorus and Instrumental Tuition Schemes. The Roodepoort Civic Theatre was founded in 1980. On the initiative of Weiss Doubell, first director of the theatre, it not only hosted renowned international and national talents, but also produced productions with its own production units – the Pro Musica Orchestra, Opera Company and Opera Chorus. It became a community theatre with the emphasis on music. The performing arts council, especially the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) often presented their productions in the Pro Musica Theatre. As a community theatre in the full sense of the word, the theatre was available to schools (operettas, revues, choir festivals), ballet companies (Ballet Theatre Afrikan, Johannesburg Youth Ballet), dance companies (Roodepoort Dance Festival), theatrical companies (ATKV, RUKO, Roodepoort Little Theatre, Theandaba Spielbühne), bands and other local artists. Much importance was attached to performance opportunities for the youth. Many young soloists made their opera debut with the Pro Musica Orchestra, amongst them Johan Botha, Kobie van Rensburg and, Deon van der Walt. Students of the Pretoria Technikon Opera School performed in various Pro Musica opera productions at Pro Musica. . Of the 79 singers who made their debut on Pro Musica’s stage, 44 are still professionally active in the opera industry and 19 are enjoying international careers. Many co-productions and concerts with other institutions were undertaken with i.e. PACT, the South West Africa Performing Arts Council, Performing Arts Council of the Orange Free State, Collegium Musicum and Pretoria University’s Music Academy. School choirs were involved in opera productions on the Pro Musica stage, giving learners an opportunity to partake in professional productions. Larger works for orchestra and chorus were often performed with choirs from other communities. Pro Musica regularly performed in other venues, such as the Oude Libertas Theatre (Stellenbosch), the Witbank Civic Theatre, the Aula (Pretoria), the State Theatre (Pretoria), the Johannesburg Civic Theatre and the Sand du Plessis Theatre (Bloemfontein) with opera productions or orchestral concerts. In 1992 the Pro Musica Orchestra went on a concert tour of France. The tour took place under the auspices of UNESCO and the highlight was the concert in the UNESCO Great Hall – it was attended by heads of state, diplomats and other European dignitaries and televised internationally. Thus Pro Musica became the first South African orchestra to perform overseas after the lifting of the significant worldwide cultural boycott against South Africa stemming from the apartheids regime. Renowned international artists regularly performed in the theatre, including Nigel Kennedy (violin), Elly Ameling (soprano), Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), Gundula Janowitz (soprano), Jenny Drivala (soprano), Mimi Coertse (soprano), Werner Nel (baritone), Oystein Liltved (bass), Sibongile Khumalo (mezzo-soprano), Otto Maidi (bass), Hans van Heerden (baritone), Marita Napier (soprano), Manuel Escorcio (tenor), Francois du Toit (pianist), Ben Schoeman (pianist), Alma Musica Trio, Petronel Malan (pianist), Zanta Hofmeyr (violinist), etc. Works by South African composers were often included in symphonic programmes, e.g. Die Skilderye van Henri Rousseau (Hubert du Plessis), Sinfonietta for Chamber Orchestra (Henk Temmingh). Tuition was also attended to. Since 1994 several wind instrumentalists in the orchestra have been giving tuition to previously disadvantaged students, in Soweto and at the Roodepoort Theatre. Since 2005 a vocal tuition scheme has also been introduced – choir members have been receiving vocal training from the Pro Musica Chorus’ choirmaster. The name of the theatre was later changed to the Pro Musica Theatre. After retirement in 2008, Doubell spent his time with his family and enjoying his treasured music collection. Doubell is survived by his wife Rita, daughters Cecile and Grethe, sons-in-law Stefan and Mike and grandchildren Rudi, Gabrielle and Jean.