Cape Town Opera

Cape Town Opera is the only permanent non-profit opera company in South Africa and Africa. Cape Town Opera was founded in 1999 by the management and staff of the former South Africa Arts Council Opera and the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB), itself a successor to the Cape Province Performing Arts Council and the previous Opera School at the South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town, which had been founded in the early 1920s under the Italian tenor Giuseppe Paganelli.^[1]

Biography

Cape Town Opera serves as an example of an artistically-engaged, socially conscious music institution. Since its inception, Cape Town Opera has applied itself to developing skills, resources, networks, infrastructure and markets for all opera practitioners and performing artists in South Africa.

As a national and international platform for South Africa’s extraordinary vocal talent, the Company stages world-class mainstage or site-specific productions of traditional opera repertoire and new commissions. Venues include Cape Town Opera’s home base, the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, and other local, national and international venues.

South African stars shining brightly on the international stage include Pretty Yende, Pumeza Matshikiza, Levy Sekgapane, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Golda Schultz and Vuvu Mpofu.

The stellar quality of the Company’s chorus is recognised worldwide, gaining attention when it was the recipient in 2013 of Best Opera Chorus at the International Opera Awards Competition in London in 2013.

Cape Town Opera’s Judith Neilson Young Artist Programme provides training, employment and invaluable experience working in a professional opera company for exceptionally talented postgraduate singers, pianists and conductors, open to participants internationally. The Company is very proud that Pumeza Matshikiza, Golda Schultz, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, and Vuvu Mpofu are alumni of this programme.

Cape Town Opera’s Youth Development and Education programmes actively engage with young singers and musicians throughout the country. One of the flagship programmes is the Foundation Studio, which plays a pivotal role in enabling exceptionally vocally gifted secondary school learners between the ages of 14 and 18 by laying the foundations for a career in music and singing. The course successfully bridges the gap for these learners who are disadvantaged by their lack of access to formal music tuition due to circumstances beyond their control. They are provided with the necessary skills and competencies to enable them to be eligible to apply for bursaries to study voice and music at a tertiary institution.

Cape Town Opera sees itself playing a vital role in the custodianship of the South African voice, one of South Africa’s national treasures

2024 - present

 

The cast of The Sound of Music take a final bow before closing off a successful four month run in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Photo by Nardus Engelbrecht.

Cape Town Opera's 2024 season commenced with an auspicious continuation of their acclaimed production of the beloved musical "The Sound of Music," in collaboration with Pieter Toerien Production, which initially debuted in 2023. The season officially launched to great fanfare with a sold-out performance at the Maynardville Open-Air Festival, featuring "Puccini in the Park" on February 4th, 2024.

 

Suor Angelica, portrayed by Nobulumko Mngxekeza, photographed with the Cape Town Opera Children's Chorus performing at the Artscape Opera House. Photo by Danie Coetzee.

Following this enchanting outdoor performance, Cape Town Opera made their highly anticipated Opera House debut for the season with a captivating Puccini double-bill titled "Suor Angelica Gianni Schicchi." This enthralling production graced the stage of the prestigious Artscape Opera House from February 14th to February 17th, delighting audiences with its masterful performances and captivating storytelling.

In April, Cape Town Opera launch their first opera festival called "Shorts: A Festival of Pocket Operas". The festival, which runs between 11 - 21 April features the World Premiere of SAMRO Composition Competition winner Conrad Asman’s Trial by Media, a new South African opera about the media's perceptions and complexities surrounding the trial of Oscar Pistorius; Poulenc’s La voix humaine (The Human Voice), a one-woman masterpiece which portrays the harrowing effects of dementia, capturing the protagonist’s battle with the condition through fragmented memories and confusion; and Mozart’s delightful comedic opera The Impresario, adapted from the original Der Schauspieldirektor and performed in English.

Featuring Cape Town Opera’s House Soloists, Judith Neilson Young Artists and with a special appearance by guest soloist Janelle Visagie, who won a Fleur du Cap for her role in La voix humaine in 2018. With musical direction by Robin Phillips and José Dias.

Mission

The company produces many fully staged opera productions during an annual season at the Opera House of the Artscape Theatre Centre as well as various venues throughout South Africa. The company has established itself as South Africa's largest performing arts organisation^[2] and the only opera house in Africa with a year-round programme;^[3] alongside the classics, Cape Town Opera fosters the expression of a national identity through the creation and performance of new SA works such as Mandela Trilogy and Tsotsi, The Musical, based on Athol Fugard's novel. Cape Town Opera's calendar offers an exciting repertoire of opera, operetta and musicals.^[4]

Youth Development & Education

Cape Town Opera’s Youth Development and Education (YDE) programmes actively engage with young singers and musicians throughout the country. Spearheaded by Head of Youth Development and Education Madrè Loubser, the Cape Town Opera YDE department is the company’s flagship music education programme. The aim is to address the lack of equitable music pedagogy for learners in marginalised, township and rural South African communities.

Foundation Studio

 

A student pictured during a Foundation Studio lesson.

In response to the diminishing presence of music education in schools, Foundation Studio emerges as a dedicated initiative with the aim of granting high school learners access to music literacy courses that may not be available within their educational institutions. This comprehensive program delivers weekly offerings, encompassing vocal lessons, theory instruction, keyboard studies, aural training, meals, and transportation between school, home, and the offices of Cape Town Opera. Additionally, all necessary materials, including stationary, are provided to facilitate a well-rounded educational experience. The overarching objective of Foundation Studio is to equip learners with the essential skills required for successful entry into tertiary education institutions, ensuring a robust foundation for their musical pursuits.

Arts Access

Arts Access is a transformative program that embraces the principle of inclusivity, offering a unique opportunity for primary and secondary school learners, individuals from marginalized communities, the elderly, and those with disabilities, to immerse themselves in the world of performing arts. This initiative is centred around granting access to final dress rehearsals and performances, ensuring that the joy and enrichment of opera are accessible to everyone.

One standout feature of Arts Access is its incorporation of surtitles in two of the 12 official languages, along with sign language. This intentional approach aims to dismantle language barriers, fostering a deeper connection between the audience and opera. This thoughtful inclusion guarantees that individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds can fully appreciate the nuances of opera, creating a shared experience that transcends cultural and linguistic divides. In 2022, Cape Town Opera received the Neville Alexander Award for an Outstanding Contribution to the promotion of Multilingualism from the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

At its core, Arts Access is dedicated to breaking barriers. The program offers secure transportation and provides dedicated sign-language and audio-visual interpreters for Deaf, hearing-impaired, Blind, and visually-impaired patrons.

Arts Access is a celebration of diversity, emphasizing that the arts belong to everyone. By offering tailored services, it not only enhances opera accessibility but also advocates for the enjoyment of the performing arts by individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. This initiative serves as a compelling example of harnessing the transformative power of the arts to foster a more inclusive and enriching community.

 

Students during a workshop in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal

National Schools Tour

The National Schools Tour, established in 2005, is a vital part of Cape Town Opera's mission to nurture young talent and celebrate South Africa's cultural diversity. This tour aligns with the Open Section category of the ABC Motsepe South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod (SASCE), organized by the Department of Basic Education. SASCE promotes unity, reconciliation, and social cohesion among learners through choral music.

SASCE unfolds in three phases from May to July – regional, provincial, and national. Following regional and provincial rounds, the final competition takes place in Gauteng during the winter school holidays in July.

The programme uses opera, classical singing and musical theatre to provide learners with access to performing arts, addressing current social challenges and exposing them to the recognized classical music repertoire. Their involvement in interpreting live musical performances addresses numerous academic, cognitive, social and intellectual challenges. Beneficiaries participate in the programme regardless of race, ethnicity, age, disability or socioeconomic circumstance. This programme arose from the desperate need for music education and theatre skills development not widely available in South Africa. The vital importance of this programme can be seen not only through its cultural significance but also through the genuine interest and eager participation expressed by learners.

 

Cape Town Opera Children's Chorus performing on stage at Puccini in the Park in February 2024.

The Cape Town Opera Children's Chorus

Established in 2023, the Cape Town Opera Children’s Chorus is a vibrant ensemble of 31 young voices. Under the expert guidance of Chorus Master Antoinette Huysen, this project-based chorus is an integral part of Cape Town Opera productions, lending their youthful brilliance whenever a children's chorus is called for.

Opera Blocks

 

Two children pictured at the 2023 edition of Opera Blocks.

Opera Blocks offers a 45-minute immersive theater experience tailored for children aged 0 to 5 years, aiming to introduce them to opera and classical music in an engaging and interactive manner. The program features a curated selection of arias, ensemble pieces, and songs from various operas, art song collections, and musicals in multiple languages, designed to entertain both children and their adult companions. Different programs cater to specific developmental stages, including infants aged 0–18 months, active toddlers aged 18 months to 3 years, and families with multiple young children up to 5 years old. By creating an inclusive environment where children are encouraged to move and explore, Opera Blocks seeks to foster a love for live performance and theater etiquette from an early age. The sensory-focused approach emphasizes auditory experiences through exposure to diverse musical styles, voice types, and instruments, while also incorporating visual and tactile elements. Singers wear elaborate costumes with removable accessories, and props are made from soft and safe materials to encourage interaction. Environmental decor and lighting techniques further enhance the thematic immersion, with productions like "Bubbles" and "Twinkle-Twinkle" featuring marine and nocturnal themes respectively. Collaborations with renowned choreographers such as Dalija Thelander enrich the experience with movement techniques aimed at motor and sensory development. Opera Blocks offers flexibility in themes, programs, venues, and schedules, providing a versatile platform for introducing young children to the world of theater and music.

Remote Learning

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cape Town Opera faced challenges in working with their learners in person, necessitating the adaptation of their methods for knowledge dissemination. In response, the organization initiated an e-learning series tailored for secondary school learners, alongside developing an opera activity book specifically designed for primary school students.

E-Learning Programmes

Sing Like a Pro

Cape Town Opera created an e-learning series of 13 instructional videos, called Sing Like a Pro, to assist learners with their SASCE Open Section repertoire in 2020.

The videos demonstrate proper vocal technique, highlight specific challenges to each piece and voice type, and showcase past SASCE competition winners now singing professionally.

CTO together with the Department of Basic Education made these videos available to learners throughout SA. To date, these videos have attracted close to 73 000 views.

Sing Like a Pro: The Masterclass

In 2021, the absence of the SASCE competition for the second consecutive year prompted Cape Town Opera to launch the second season of their e-learning series as a response. Entitled "Sing Like a Pro: The Masterclass," this season comprises seven instructional videos. Collaborating with 12 learners from partner schools and Cape Town Opera singers, the series provides a masterclass for each prescribed musical piece. Notably, learners from partner schools actively participated in the filming process to ensure relatability for viewers. The primary aim of these videos is to educate and inspire, offering a means for participants to remain engaged and productive amidst the challenges of the pandemic, where collaborative music-making was limited. To enhance accessibility, both the first and second seasons of the series have been translated into isiXhosa, IsiZulu, and Sesotho languages, catering to a broader audience of learners across South Africa.

Sing Like a Pro: Centrestage

Upon the relaxation of restrictions, Cape Town Opera transitioned from virtual workshops back to in-person sessions, enriching them with an expanded integration into the school curriculum. The Sing Like a Pro: Centre Stage workshop was devised to enhance musical knowledge, refine singing style and technique, impart insights into stagecraft and conducting, and offer guidance on appropriate performance attire. The workshop encompasses modules covering Opera and Choral Music, Musical Theatre, Pop Music, and Traditional African Music. Despite the extensive reach of their e-learning modules, facilitating interaction with both former and new learners and educators, Cape Town Opera recognizes the irreplaceable value of in-person workshops and rehearsals.

Opera Activity Book

Rather than solely focusing on secondary school learners, Cape Town Opera extended their efforts to engage younger students in primary schools by introducing a captivating Opera Activity Book aligned with the primary school curriculum. This book features six abridged, child-friendly operas accompanied by text and illustrations, fostering engagement through activities such as reading, coloring, maze-solving, dot-to-dot, fashion design, recipe following, word searches, and drawing exercises. Tailored for children aged 8-11, the book was published in English, Xhosa, and Afrikaans, with over 2000 copies distributed throughout the Western Cape Province. Each selected opera carries moral themes addressing issues such as bullying, poverty, hope, determination, and sacrifice. The chosen operas include adaptations of "Hansel & Gretel," "Magic Flute," "Cinderella," "Amahl and the Night Visitors," "The Boy Who Grew Too Fast," and "Mandela Trilogy," depicting the life of former president Nelson Mandela and his journey as a freedom fighter and activist.

The Judith Neilson Young Artist Programme

 

Brittany Smith, a graduate of the Judith Neilson Young Artist Programme, performing in The Sound of Music, a collaboration between Cape Town Opera & Pieter Toerien Productions.

With the assistance of the Judith Neilson Foundation, this training and bursary programme is dedicated to nurturing exceptionally talented postgraduate singers, pianists, and conductors, with a focus on preparing them for the demands of a professional career. It refines participants’ techniques, blending formal tuition with hands-on experiences in rehearsal rooms and onstage alongside experienced performers. This approach ensures that participants gain invaluable, real-world experience within an opera company setting.

Beyond skill enhancement, the programme offers personal mentorship and expert artistic guidance. Additionally, members receive a monthly stipend, reinforcing the programme’s commitment to their development. It is the only comprehensive advanced training curriculum of its kind for young graduate singers in South Africa.

Tours

The Company presents a varied lineup of productions each year that include mainstage, site-specific and touring opera productions, as well as musicals, concerts, programmes for young children and community concerts. It plays a crucial role in championing South Africa’s vocal talent, offering support and development through programmes like the National Schools Tour, the Foundation Studio for high-school learners and the Judith Neilson Young Artist Programme for postgraduate singers, pianists and conductors.

Cape Town Opera has regularly toured Europe and has partnered with companies such as Sweden's NorrlandsOperan and Malmö Opera, as well as the Welsh National Opera. Notable international productions include performances for the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Puccini's Turandot with NorrlandsOperan, a European tour of Jerome Kern's and Oscar Hammerstein's Show Boat, and performances of Porgy and Bess with both the Welsh National Opera and NorrlandsOperan, and Deutsche Oper Berlin. The company brought Porgy and Bess to the Wales Millennium Centre, Royal Festival Hall and Edinburgh Festival Theatre; it toured six locations in the UK with 26 performances and featured in a concert performance under Simon Rattle in the final concert of the Musikfest Berlin, part of the Berliner Festspiele. The ensemble also gave two concerts at Hamer Hall, Melbourne, Australia. One concert presented a selection of Verdi choruses and arias and works by Gershwin; in the other, the company performed David Fanshawe's African Sanctus and extracts from the Mandela Trilogy.

In addition to this, Cape Town Opera’s successful tour of Porgy and Bess have included seasons at The Liceu Barcelona, Teatro Real Madrid, Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, Berlin Philharmoniker, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, London Coliseum and venues throughout the UK, South Korea and Sweden.

Awards

 

Brittany Smith won the award for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical for her role as Maria in The Sound of Music at the 59th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.

The chorus of CTO, then directed by Albert Horne, was awarded the prize for the best opera chorus at the first International Opera Awards in London in May 2013. The Awards are sponsored by the London magazine, Opera.^[5]

On March 17, 2024, three of Cape Town Opera's soloists were prize winners at the Annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards.

Soprano Nobulumko Mngxekeza took home the Best Performance in an Opera prize for her work in Tosca. Meanwhile, Lukhanyo Moyake was awarded for Best Performance in an Opera for his interpretation of Cavaradossi in that same Tosca.

 

Nobulumko Mngxekeza won Best Performance in an Opera (Female) for her portrayal of Floria Tosca in TOSCA.

Finally, Cape Town Opera founder Angelo Gobbato was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the art form over the years.

Additionally, Brittany Smith was the winner of Best Performance by a Lead Actress for her turn as Maria in The Sound of Music - a collaboration between Cape Town Opera and Pieter Toerien Productions.

References

1. Angelo Gobbato, History of CTO on CTO's website
2. "Cape Town Opera Announces Porgy & Bess Summer UK Tour Cast – Tsakane Maswanganyi & Xolela Sixaba Star", Broadway World (26 April 2012)
3. Cape of Good Voices 11 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine, summary
4. "2018 Season 3". Cape Town Opera. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
5. Brommert, Beverley, "Company Profile: Cape Town Opera", Opera Now (London), June 2013, p. 62

External links

• Official website