Difference between revisions of "Black Tie Ensemble"
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The company later rebranded as [[BTE VO1SS]] in 2012, and as [[Gauteng Opera]] in 2013. | The company later rebranded as [[BTE VO1SS]] in 2012, and as [[Gauteng Opera]] in 2013. | ||
| − | + | ==[[Black Tie Ensemble]] ([[BTE]])== | |
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| + | ===History=== | ||
When [[PACT Opera]] at the [[State Theatre]] in Pretoria ceased to exist as a permanent opera company in 1997, a need arose to develop a programme to educate talented young singers from diverse cultural backgrounds and expose them to the professional opera stage in South Africa and abroad. In order to fill this need, the [[Black Tie Ensemble]] was established in 1999 by South Africa‟s diva [[Mimi Coertse]], acclaimed singer of international stature, and the renowned South African opera director and costume designer, [[Neels Hansen]]. This unique programme was aimed at developing all talented young singers who were interested in performing Western art music, especially opera, and to create work in order to generate income for the singers on a continuous basis. | When [[PACT Opera]] at the [[State Theatre]] in Pretoria ceased to exist as a permanent opera company in 1997, a need arose to develop a programme to educate talented young singers from diverse cultural backgrounds and expose them to the professional opera stage in South Africa and abroad. In order to fill this need, the [[Black Tie Ensemble]] was established in 1999 by South Africa‟s diva [[Mimi Coertse]], acclaimed singer of international stature, and the renowned South African opera director and costume designer, [[Neels Hansen]]. This unique programme was aimed at developing all talented young singers who were interested in performing Western art music, especially opera, and to create work in order to generate income for the singers on a continuous basis. | ||
During the first year of BTE‟s existence, singers were identified and invited to form the core of the group. Younger singers such as [[Jonathan Boinamo]], [[Agos Mohagi]] and [[Kaiser Nkosi]], who had already had a background in music and some voice training from tertiary institutions, also joined the BTE. These singers were funded by management and private sponsors in order to undertake further vocal training with their individual singing teachers such as [[Emma Renzi]], [[Eric Muller]], [[Louis Botha]], [[Virginia Davids]] and [[Sarita Stern]]. | During the first year of BTE‟s existence, singers were identified and invited to form the core of the group. Younger singers such as [[Jonathan Boinamo]], [[Agos Mohagi]] and [[Kaiser Nkosi]], who had already had a background in music and some voice training from tertiary institutions, also joined the BTE. These singers were funded by management and private sponsors in order to undertake further vocal training with their individual singing teachers such as [[Emma Renzi]], [[Eric Muller]], [[Louis Botha]], [[Virginia Davids]] and [[Sarita Stern]]. | ||
| − | ==Funding== | + | ===Funding=== |
In the beginnings of the BTE, all administrative activities were conducted from Hansen‟s apartment in Pretoria and rehearsals took place in various rehearsal venues such as at [[Tshwane University of Technology]] (TUT) opera school, the [[State Theatre]] and private venues. From 2001 until 2011 , the [[State Theatre]] allowed BTE to rehearse and perform at the theatre complex as BTE's permanent residence. | In the beginnings of the BTE, all administrative activities were conducted from Hansen‟s apartment in Pretoria and rehearsals took place in various rehearsal venues such as at [[Tshwane University of Technology]] (TUT) opera school, the [[State Theatre]] and private venues. From 2001 until 2011 , the [[State Theatre]] allowed BTE to rehearse and perform at the theatre complex as BTE's permanent residence. | ||
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Further sponsorship came from the Sunday newspaper, ''[[Rapport]]'', the [[Royal Bafokeng Holdings]], the [[Department of Arts and Culture]] (DAC) in 2006 for the Incubator Scheme and R5 million from the [[National Lottery]] in 2010. | Further sponsorship came from the Sunday newspaper, ''[[Rapport]]'', the [[Royal Bafokeng Holdings]], the [[Department of Arts and Culture]] (DAC) in 2006 for the Incubator Scheme and R5 million from the [[National Lottery]] in 2010. | ||
| − | + | ==Black Tie Ensemble Vocal Opera One Stop Shop - BTE VO1SS== | |
In 2012, [[Black Tie Ensemble]] rebranded as [[BTE VO1SS]] (pronounced 'Voice', an acronym for 'Vocal Opera | In 2012, [[Black Tie Ensemble]] rebranded as [[BTE VO1SS]] (pronounced 'Voice', an acronym for 'Vocal Opera | ||
One Stop Shop') with [[Marcus Desando]] as Artistic Director. The rebrand was to allow for a more diverse company, featuring two groups of singing, namely a classical singing group and a lighter musical group – enabling them to still nourish opera while accommodating the demand for other styles. | One Stop Shop') with [[Marcus Desando]] as Artistic Director. The rebrand was to allow for a more diverse company, featuring two groups of singing, namely a classical singing group and a lighter musical group – enabling them to still nourish opera while accommodating the demand for other styles. | ||
| − | + | ==Gauteng Opera== | |
In 2013, [[Black Tie Ensemble]] was renamed [[Gauteng Opera]]. | In 2013, [[Black Tie Ensemble]] was renamed [[Gauteng Opera]]. | ||
Revision as of 15:18, 23 April 2024
Black Tie Ensemble (BTE) was an independent South African opera company established in 1999 by Neels Hansen and Mimi Coertse.
The company later rebranded as BTE VO1SS in 2012, and as Gauteng Opera in 2013.
Contents
Black Tie Ensemble (BTE)
History
When PACT Opera at the State Theatre in Pretoria ceased to exist as a permanent opera company in 1997, a need arose to develop a programme to educate talented young singers from diverse cultural backgrounds and expose them to the professional opera stage in South Africa and abroad. In order to fill this need, the Black Tie Ensemble was established in 1999 by South Africa‟s diva Mimi Coertse, acclaimed singer of international stature, and the renowned South African opera director and costume designer, Neels Hansen. This unique programme was aimed at developing all talented young singers who were interested in performing Western art music, especially opera, and to create work in order to generate income for the singers on a continuous basis.
During the first year of BTE‟s existence, singers were identified and invited to form the core of the group. Younger singers such as Jonathan Boinamo, Agos Mohagi and Kaiser Nkosi, who had already had a background in music and some voice training from tertiary institutions, also joined the BTE. These singers were funded by management and private sponsors in order to undertake further vocal training with their individual singing teachers such as Emma Renzi, Eric Muller, Louis Botha, Virginia Davids and Sarita Stern.
Funding
In the beginnings of the BTE, all administrative activities were conducted from Hansen‟s apartment in Pretoria and rehearsals took place in various rehearsal venues such as at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) opera school, the State Theatre and private venues. From 2001 until 2011 , the State Theatre allowed BTE to rehearse and perform at the theatre complex as BTE's permanent residence.
Through corporate entertainment, concert series and school tours, the BTE started to build a support system of funding. The BTE initially received R60,000 from Nedbank in the first year of their existence before securing a further R230,000 from Nedbank over a period of three consecutive years. Other sponsors, such as ABSA, Nedbank Investment Bank, Investec and later SAPPI, SASOL, the Royal Bafokeng Holdings, Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and the National Lottery Trust Fund were involved in the funding of the BTE.
The BTE management created opportunities for the singers to generate their own income through a number of performances at the Kloppenheim Country Estate near Machadadorp and monthly dinner concerts presented by the Mazzone family of Ristorante Ritrovo in Pretoria. With these concerts they initiated an innovative sponsoring scheme, Adopt an Artist, whereby individuals or companies could adopt an artist, with the result that the adopted artists received a fixed monthly allowance which enabled financial support for housing, as well as travelling costs to rehearsals.
Further sponsorship came from the Sunday newspaper, Rapport, the Royal Bafokeng Holdings, the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) in 2006 for the Incubator Scheme and R5 million from the National Lottery in 2010.
Black Tie Ensemble Vocal Opera One Stop Shop - BTE VO1SS
In 2012, Black Tie Ensemble rebranded as BTE VO1SS (pronounced 'Voice', an acronym for 'Vocal Opera One Stop Shop') with Marcus Desando as Artistic Director. The rebrand was to allow for a more diverse company, featuring two groups of singing, namely a classical singing group and a lighter musical group – enabling them to still nourish opera while accommodating the demand for other styles.
Gauteng Opera
In 2013, Black Tie Ensemble was renamed Gauteng Opera.
For more information, see Gauteng Opera.
Productions
2001: Rigoletto
2002: Madama Butterfly (April and November)
2004: La Bohème
2005: A Tribute to Mario Lanza, Gianni Schicchi and Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Lucia di Lammermoor
Sources
'Gauteng Opera'. National Arts Council website. https://www.nac.org.za/artisan-post/gauteng-opera/
Antoinette Johanna Olivier. 2014. 'Exploring contributions to opera by The Black Tie Ensemble: a historical case study'. Mini-dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master‟s in Music at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.
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