Winnie, the Opera
Winnie, the Opera is a contemporary African opera in English and Xhosa composed by Bongani Ndodana-Breen with a libretto by Mfundi Vundla and Warren Wilensky.
Contents
The original text
Based on the life of Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. The opera tells the story of her life as the wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, and her role in the country's anti-apartheid struggle. The score mixes classical and African music.
The opera is a re-working of an original experimental version, The Passion of Winnie, produced as a a low-budget "digital opera in Toronto in 2007 and performed by Canadian students.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
2011: Premiered at the State Theatre in Pretoria, directed by Shirley-Jo Finney, with the Kwa Zulu Natal Philharmonic conducted by Jonas Alber. The cast included: Tsakane Maswanganyi (as Winnie).
Sources
Official website. https://www.ndodanabreen.com/bio/
Louise Redvers. "Winnie the Opera premieres with all eyes on Winnie the spectator". The Guardian. 29 April 2011.
"Winnie: The Opera - on home turf and ready for her close-up". The Globe and Mail. 22 April 2011.
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