Following its hugely successful premiere in Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2012, Umculo’s “The Fairy Queen” returns to Cape Town’s Joseph Stone Theatre for three performances this March.
This production of Purcell’s opera, will go to Berlin at the end of the year. “It has fire and humour. The voices of the young soloists are irresistible… everything is fresh, energetic and playful. The juxtaposition of Shakespeare’s comedy with real life in today’s South Africa never seems contrived.” – Antonia Beermann/ Adrian Hermann – Opernwelt, Germany.
In the title role, Umculo is pleased to welcome UCT graduate Angela Kerrison, who lives and works in Zurich and has been one of the Salzburg Festival’s Young Singers. Njabulo Madlala, Guildhall graduate and winner of the 2010 Kathleen Ferrier Award, makes his South African opera debut in the role of Drunken Poet, and Berlin-based Barcelona graduate July Zuma returns to Cape Town to take the part of Demitrius. Other cast members are: Melissa Gerber, Ronald Paseka, Mlamli Lalapantsi, Brenda Thulo, and Sandile Mabaso.
Members of the South African National Youth Orchestra will be lead by Stefano Pagliano, concertmaster of the orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Vienna-based Warwick Stengards conducts.
German stage director Robert Lehmeier, South African costume designer Thando Lobese and South African lighting designer Michael Maxwell join forces with the choir of Bloekombos Secondary School from Kraaifontein, Western Cape for this unique production.
8 March (7pm), 9 March (3pm), and 10 March (3pm) at the Joseph Stone Auditorium.
“This was an invigorating effort from an industrious young company bravely shaking up all formulas.” -Brent Meersman, Financial Times (UK)
