Cape Town Opera 2017 Calender

Cape Town Opera 2017 Calendar. Picture: Supplied

Cape Town Opera 2017 Calendar. Picture: Supplied

Published Dec 7, 2016

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After a successful 2016 run, with 88000 opera enthusiasts having supported the local opera scene, 2017 is set to be an exciting year for Cape Town opera. 

On Monday they unveiled their programme for the next 12 months, with five tantalising productions sure to have their dedicated fans chomping at the bit.

Those five, standout, shows are Verdi’s Rigoletto in February, Tiger Bay The Musical in May, Wager’s Der Fliegende Holländer in August, The Magic Flute in the November/December, and Grace Notes (no dates available at the time of printing).

South African director Marthinus Basson starts the 2017 season with his take on the dark Verdi melodrama, which features Fikile Mvinjelwe returning to the Cape Town stage as the hunchbacked jester, Rigoletto.

READ: L'Ormarins Queen's Plate 2017

Two up-and-coming locals, Noluvuyiso Mpofu and Lukhanyo Moyake, are making their debuts as Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda and the Duke of Mantua, respectively.

The Cape Town Opera is excited to continue their partnership with the Wales Millennium Centre. Together, they are hosting the world

premiere of the musical Tiger Bay before it moves to the UK later in the year.

Tiger Bay is set at the docks of Cardiff, during a time when coal reigns supreme. This musical boasts unforgettable characters and inspiring music, as it weaves a tale of love, reconciliation and courage.

This new musical will be directed by Tony-award nominated director Melly Still.

Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) graces the stage in August. As part of the Naspers Grand Masters Series, this production looks at Dutch colonialism.

READ: MCQP 2016: The Musical

Cape Town Opera associate music director Tim Murry will be at the helm, while celebrated Swedish soprano, Elisabet Strid stars as Senta, and South African-born baritone Jaco Venter will inhabit the role of the Dutchman.

A young cast of singers from Cape Town Opera and the UCT Opera School usher in the 2017 summer season with Mozart’s joyous masterpiece, The Magic Flute.

The final production for the 2017 calender, Grace Notes, sees local opera newcomer Thuthuka Sibisi curating this unique a capella production.

Grace Notes will be heard in Cape Town for the first time, juxtaposing ancient and modern music from Africa and Europe.

This inspiring production intersperses compositions by Byrd, Palestrina, Duruflé and Pärt with religious music from Xhosa, Venda, Zulu and Swahili traditions.

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