The Township Opera Company will perform Carols In The Forest at The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant in Newlands, Cape Town, on Monday 17 December at 5.30pm.
This is an opera company with a difference. While the Township Opera Company is in its infancy, having first performed as a collective at St Paul’s Church in Rondebosch in July, the company is made up of trained opera singers from the townships of Cape Town whose members own the venture themselves.
In order to implement their vision of using their talent, experience and love of opera to build sustainable careers, the group has registered as a co-operative. The ensemble is drawn from Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga and Langa and has 23 members – most of whom have studied at UCT Opera School.
Mandela: Music and Spoken Word
After a flash mob event at Old Mutual Park, Township Opera Company launched with The Living Opera at Century City – an interactive performance of arias by Verdi, Mozart, Bizet and Puccini, plus African favourites and poetry.
They then showcased the Gugulethu 50th Anniversary Mandela and Sisulu Centenary Concert with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in September and held their first official concert at the Baptist Church Hall in Mowbray in October.
Township Opera Company then produced Mandela: Music and Spoken Word at the Artscape Theatre, written by Lungile Jacobs kaNyamezele and featuring the spoken word of Bulelwa Basse. On 25 November, they appeared before a delighted audience at the Rhodes Memorial Restaurant with Opera in the Forest, a selection of favourite arias and choruses from popular operas.
Carols In The Forest Township Opera Company
This is their first Christmas and they look forward to bringing you their own spirited interpretations, as well as traditional renditions of well-known and newer carols. These classically trained opera singers will blend different styles of carols to give you a mesmerizing musical feast in this beautiful setting.
Rhodes Memorial Restaurant won’t be serving meals, but there will be a bar service. Running time: 1hr 30 min including interval. As this is an outdoor venue, bring along a jacket. This is a Voices of Cape Town initiative.
For more Cape Town music: https://weekendspecial.co.za/whats-on-in-cape-town-music-diary/
Who: Township Opera Company
What: Carols In The Forest
Where: Rhodes Memorial Restaurant Cape Town
When: Monday 17 December 2018, 5.30pm
Tickets: R120, https://www.quicket.co.za/events/63428-township-opera-company-presents-carols-in-the-forest/#/ Seniors with ID 10% reduction, scholars/students with card on the day. EFT pre-booking tcahill@webafrica.org.za, 021 448 9081
Township Opera Company: https://www.facebook.com/townshipoperacompany/
WS
