A love affair: Momo’s amapiano and classical music embrace
Darlings, Shwa was practically glued to her seat at the Teatro in Fourways, Joburg, for the opening night of the 2025 Red Bull Symphonic on June 6, and Kelvin Momo? He turned it OUT!
The amapiano king, cool as a Jozi breeze, set the stage on fire, blending his deep, jazzy beats with the lush, cinematic strings of Adam Howard and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra. It was like amapiano and classical music had a love affair, and honey, the result was pure bliss!
Your super phly gossip girl was just happy that the fellow showed up to his own show.
Kelvin didn’t come to play; he brought a stellar line-up of vocalists who stole the show. Mzizi I’m did his thing and had us eating out of the palm of his hand with the guitar and Sotho vocals. Mrs Momo, or rather Babalwa M was, as always, a vocal goddess, her sultry tones weaving through Kelvin’s beats like silk. At some point, I thought Kelvin would finally listen to her and pay imali yamalobolo if he hasn’t done it yet.
But let’s talk about the other stars who lit up the night! Sino Msolo, yes darlings, he is still around, anyway this guy strutted out looking like Bruno Mars’ cooler cousin, complete with slick moves, a sharp outfit and charisma that could light up Joburg for days.
His performance was electric, his vocals soulful, and the crowd ate it up. Shwashwi was whispering, “Is that Bruno or Sino?” The resemblance was uncanny, and his energy was dynamite!
Then there was Tracy, who brought vocal fire that had Shwashwi clutching her pearls! Her voice was smooth yet powerful, hitting every note with a vibe that screamed star power.
And Mashudu’s soulful delivery was like a warm hug, wrapping the audience in feelings and giving Kelvin’s tracks an extra layer of magic. Each vocalist added their unique flavour, turning every song into a moment.
Absolute perfection!
The production was a dream – flawless lights, crisp sound, and an orchestra that made every log drum and melody feel like a Hollywood soundtrack.
The sold-out crowd (tickets were gone faster than Shwa chasing a hot scoop) was on its feet, tears flowing, cheers erupting, and phones capturing every second. Social media was ablaze with clips, and fans were screaming “GOAT!” for Kelvin. Trust me, he and his crew earned every bit of that love.
Day one was a triumph, setting the bar sky-high for the weekend. Kelvin, Adam, Babalwa, Sino Msolo, Tracy, Mashudu, and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra? Y’all gave us a night for the history books. If you missed it, start praying for a rerun, because this was amapiano royalty at its finest!
