Pro Musica Productions

Pro Musica Productions (formerly the Roodepoort City Opera Company)

Pro Musica Productions was a performing arts production and management company operating from the Pro Musica Theatre (formerly known as the Roodepoort City Theatre, and later as the Roodepoort Theatre) in Roodepoort serving Gauteng but also the surrounding provinces since 1981.

Production activities were disbanded in 2008 when the company focussed on the receiving house aspects of Pro Musica, and a more concerted effort to attract independent producers to the venue. Up until 2008, Pro Musica presented 400 opera performances and 500 symphony concerts.

In 2013, the company was incorporated (along with Joburg Theatre and Soweto Theatre) into the newly established Joburg City Theatres (JCT).

History and structure

Pro Musica Productions was managed by Weiss Doubell, erstwhile acting CEO, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.

Pro Musica Productions included:

• the Pro Musica Opera Company
• the Pro Musica Orchestra
• the Pro Musica String Quartet
• the Pro Musica Opera Chorus
• a Vocal Tuition Scheme
• an Instrumental Tuition Scheme

The main focus areas for this company can be divided into three sectors: opera and lyric arts; instrumental and orchestral music; and community development.

The Pro Musica Productions Company also involved itself in outreach projects. Known as the centre where potential singers and instrumentalists could launch their professional careers, it invested in the talents of all South Africans since its opening in 1981. The company established relationships with the Johannesburg Bach Choir, Mohlakeng Methodist Church Choir in Randfontein, St Bernard the Martyr in Atteridgeville, Johannesburg Philharmonic Choir and Pretoria Oratorio Chorus. Other associations were with the Dobsonville Brass Band, Dobsonville Chorale, the Musica Mundo Choir, the Dobsonville Arts Association and the brilliant Soweto based chorus Imilonji KaNtu.

The City of Johannesburg, as part of its Institutional Review of 2012, resolved that Joburg Theatre (SOC) Ltd and Roodepoort City Theatre (NPC) t/a Pro Musica be integrated into a single theatre management company. The theatre management company, now known as Joburg City Theatres (JCT) renders the functions and services that, until 31 December 2012, were rendered by the 2 theatres. It also institutionalized the operation of the newly established Soweto Theatre. The effective date of the integration was 1 January 2013.

The Pro Musica Opera Company

For more information on the history and productions of the Opera company, see Pro Musica Opera Company.

The Pro Musica Orchestra

The second artistic body attached to the Theatre was the resident orchestra, the Pro Musica Orchestra which was founded in 1984. This orchestra, under the baton of Principal Conductor Weiss Doubell proved to the public that artistic standards need not be compromised even though many of the musicians are talented but inexperienced players needing development and training. Exposure to the standard orchestral repertoire equipped many to take their places in fulltime orchestras in our country. Indeed, many South African instrumental soloists today have emerged from the Pro Musica Orchestra’s ranks and make careers here and abroad.

The orchestra performed and completed more than 500 symphonic concerts all over Southern Africa, and in 1992, when UNESCO lifted the 26-year old cultural boycott on South Africa, it was invited by UNESCO to tour France, with the main concert of the tour performed in the Great Hall of UNESCO in Paris, internationally televised by ITV and attended by heads of state, the corps diplomatique and many other dignitaries. The Orchestra performed in hundreds of performances of opera, oratorio and in concert all over South Africa. More recently the Pro Musica Orchestra performed at a gala event hosted by the Mayor of Johannesburg in honour of ex-president Nelson Mandela who donated his law library to the New Constitutional Court as part of the Celebration of 10 years of Democracy directly preceding another event – an Opera Gala co-produced with the Royal Norwegian National Opera in the Johannesburg City Hall to celebrate 10 years of democracy in South Africa and 100 years of independence in Norway. These events were attended by international and local judges, corps diplomatique and other important guests.

The Orchestra closed in 2008.

The Pro Musica Opera Chorus

The Pro Musica Opera Chorus was founded in 1996. Since 1996 the Chorus performed in all the operas and works with chorus produced and staged by Pro Musica Productions, with recent successes such as Verdi’s Requiem, Un Ballo in Maschera, Rigoletto, Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, Faure’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and Tosca as well as Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, La Bohème by Puccini, Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass and Mozart’s Requiem. The chorus drew its talent from the rich choral tradition in our country and uses voices which cross all racial and social lines and represent our rainbow nation.

The Vocal Tuition Scheme

The vocal tuition scheme was established in 2005 to accommodate talented singers who are tutored in music theory, music appreciation and history as well as theatre practice and theory.

The Instrumental Tuition Scheme

As part of its outreach project and equity plan Pro Musica Productions had an instrumental tuition scheme which was started in 1994 to facilitate the development of instrumental performance in disadvantaged communities. The Pro Musica Orchestra’s principal musicians teach promising students from these communities including string and wind musicians, who do not have the means or access to proper training. In 2007, the programme involved promising pupils who are being equipped with the basic skills to master their instruments and some day to become tutors themselves. This way they could turn their talents into means to earn an income in future through professional or amateur musical ensembles and thereby reducing physical but also spiritual and cultural poverty. The interest from musicians brought about the realisation that fostering and development of this talent is of utmost importance as it helps in developing a South African character, it empowers the previously disadvantaged and it helps to create the perception of "World Culture" amongst the black population.

Sources

Pro Musica Productions, 2007.

https://www.roodepoorttheatre.com/about-us/

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