After captivating hearts across the globe with their soulful rendition of The Prayer during lockdown, father/daughter vocal duo Adrian and Emma-Jean Galliard are back to take South African audiences on a powerful musical journey with their new revue show, Striking a Chord. The production opens at Theatre on the Square from 26 August to 7 September, promising an unforgettable celebration of music, emotion, and family connection.
It all began in April 2020 when Adrian and then-11-year-old Emma-Jean uploaded a simple home video of themselves performing the Andrea Bocelli and Céline Dion classic The Prayer. Within days, it went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of views before skyrocketing to millions after being shared by UK music platform The Music Man. The unexpected fame catapulted the duo into the global spotlight—along with a swirl of amusing confusion when international media mistakenly identified them as Andrea Bocelli’s son and granddaughter.
Now, fresh off a successful tour of England and a standout performance at the 2024 Hilton Arts Festival, the Galliards bring Striking a Chord home. With musical direction by Johan Heystek, the show is a captivating blend of soaring vocals, theatrical flair, and heartfelt storytelling.
The 70-minute performance features the duo’s most beloved covers including The Prayer, Time to Say Goodbye, and Sound of Silence; Broadway classics like I Dreamed a Dream and Defying Gravity; and unique arrangements of Pie Jesu, Bring Him Home, and Barry Manilow hits One Voice and I Write the Songs. A surprise classical mash-up featuring O Sole Mio adds a thrilling touch of virtuosity.
