Three of South Africa’s brightest international opera stars will sing in a concert performance of Donizetti’s masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor.
With rising star Pretty Yende, who recently made a sensational debut in the Metropolitan Opera, Colin Lee – one of the world’s foremost bel canto tenors – and stalwart baritone George Stevens in the leading roles plus Cape Town Opera’s Voice of the Nation Chorus. The three stars join the legendary maestro Richard Bonynge for a musical experience of a lifetime.
The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in association with Cape Town Opera presents two concert performances of Donizetti’s masterpiece Lucia di Lammermoor on Thursday 18 and Saturday 20 April in the Artscape Opera at 20:00.
Book now at Computicket , Artscape or Artscape Dial a Seat 021 421 7695.
Featured in the Mail & Guardians ‘This week’s top 10’ compiled by Miles Keylock and Brent Meersman.
Biographies:
Richard Bonynge
Throughout his illustrious career, RICHARD BONYNGE has conducted in the world’s leading opera houses in Europe, North and South America, Australia and New Zealand and Asia. He has received world-wide acclaim as a scholar of bel canto opera and is celebrated for leading the renaissance of eighteenth and early-nineteenth century musical theatre, such as Les Huguenots (Meyerbeer), Semiramide, Sigismondo (Rossini), La Fille du Régiment, Maria Stuarda, Anna Bolena, Lucrezia Borgia (Donizetti) to mention a few. Together with his wife, the late Dame Joan Sutherland, he was responsible for the revival of the art of bel canto in the twentieth century.
Pretty Yende
The young South African soprano PRETTY YENDE, who recently made a sensational debut in the Metropolitan Opera, first made her debut to great acclaim at La Scala, Milan in 2010 and will make her debut as Lucia at La Scala in 2014. Among the many international awards, she scooped the top prize at the prestigious Operalia 2011 competition in Moscow. Over the past few years she has won several acclaimed competitions, including the Vincenzo Bellini International Voice Competition, Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, in Vienna taking top honours in four categories. She also triumphed at one of the largest competitions for singers, the Montserrat Cabbalé International Singing Competition in Barcelona, Spain. She also shared first prize in the Savonnlina International Singing Competition (Finland).
Colin Lee
South African born COLIN LEE is one of the brightest international operatic stars who established himself as one of Britain’s leading tenors in the bel canto repertoire. He performs regularly in the foremost opera houses in the world, among them Covent Garden in London, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Paris Opera, Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Deutsche Staatsoper in Berlin, the Netherlands Opera and Vienna State Opera. He has enjoyed a decade-long relationship with the recording label Opera Rara, participating in 11 recordings for the label. Opera Rara’s recording of Ermione, with Colin as Oreste, was awarded the prestigious Gramophone Award for Best Opera Recording in 2011.
George Stevens
The Cape Town born baritone GEORGE STEVENS took up his voce training studies with Nellie du Toit. He has sung in major opera houses in South Africa, and performed in different roles including Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, Il Barbiere de Seville and Le Nozze di Figaro. His European opera debut started in the Bavarian State Theatre with the Bavarian State Orchestra. Mr Stevens’ repertoire of masses and oratorios include the Verdi Requiem under the baton of Sir David Will cocks with the London Bach Choir.
