Four notable South African composers have teamed up with four acclaimed writers to create half hour works that are powerful and innovative, telling contemporary African stories in imaginative new ways.
Presented by Cape Town Opera in collaboration with the UCT Opera School, the four new home-grown operas The Application, Blood of Mine, Bessie: The Blue-Eyed Xhosa and Anti-Laius will be onstage at the Artscape Theatre on 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th November, 2015.
“We must constantly create new operas,” says conductor Kamal Khan. “There are so many exciting new singers being discovered in South Africa, but what will they sing? They should be able to sing their own stories.”
“For most artists working in the field of opera, the majority of our time is spent reviving classics by long-dead composers,” adds CTO Artistic Director Matthew Wild. “So it’s a real thrill to bring a brand new work to life for the first time in collaboration with a composer and a librettist. New works are a vital ingredient in keeping the art form of opera vital and relevant.”
The wide pool of creative talents behind FOUR:30 including Director, Geoffrey Hyland (The Application and Anti Laius); Composer, Robert Fokkens (The Application); Librettist, Laurence Allan (The Application); Composer, Adrian More (Anti Lauis); Librettist Joan Hambidge (Anti Lauis), Director, Marcus Desando (Bessie: The Blue-Eyed Xhosa and Blood is Mine); Composer Angelique Mouyis (The Blue-Eyed Xhosa); Librettist, Mkhululi Mabija (Bessie: The Blue-Eyed Xhosa); Author , Wame Molefhe (Blood of Mine); Composer and Sibusiso Njeza (The Blood is mine) with the exception of Librettist Janice Honeyman (The Blood is Mine) are not usually involved in opera so they bring fresh fresh ideas to these operatic pieces. Kamal Khan conducts the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, with set design Michael Mitchell, lighting design by Kobus Rossouw and costumes designed by Leigh Bishop. Sifiso Kweyama is the choreographer for Bessie: The Blue Eyed Xhosa & Blood of Mine. Orchestration by Alan Stephenson.
From the Cape of Storms to a ship wreck in the 1700’s; from the death of a famous opera singer to the troublesome process to obtain a passport, the FOUR:30 short operas proudly showcase South Africa’s finest and freshest operatic talent, setting the tone for even-greater opera performances in 2016. Don’t miss FOUR:30!
On 26 November, professional South African Sign Language interpreters will be in attendance in order to make the performance accessible to the Deaf audience. There will also be specialised Deafblind interpreting services to ensure full participation by Deafblind audience members.
This project is made possible by a R5.7m National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant which Cape Town Opera used to fund the creation of new works and develop opera in 2015. Four:30 is also supported by Rand Merchant Bank and Business and Arts South Africa.
WHERE: Artscape Theatre Centre, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 25 – 27 November 2015 @ 19:30 28 November 2015 @ 18:00
TICKETS: R170 Opera Ticket only R200 Opera Ticket includes cheese, wine/juice served during the interval. Bookings: Computicket call 0861 915 8000, visit online or visit your nearest Computicket service centre.
Block Bookings: 10% discount on Opera Ticket only + R40 for cheese, wine/juice plus meet and greet for groups of 8 or more
Pensioners & Students: R85 for Opera Ticket only and R125 for Opera Ticket including cheese, wine/juice plus meet and greet, on presentation of a valid ID (limited to 250 tickets for 25 November performance)
All ticket holders must hold onto their ticket stubs and use to redeem cheese and wine/juice
