Opera Africa

Opera Africa is a South African opera company.

Founded by with Sandra de Villiers and Hein de Villiers as a non-profit organisation in 1994 in Durban but relocated to Johannesburg in 2005. It has a core of full-time choristers and soloists and seeks to present uniquely South African productions in major opera houses. Over the years the company has established a wide range partners, including the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Theater Erfurt, Germany, and Il Teatro Lirico di Sperimetale, Spoleto, Italy. From time to time American conductors and directors of high standing are employed to enhance the work.

Initially operating as a national touring opera company, presenting mainstage productions such as The Magic Flute, Fidelio, Faust, and Carmen, it has confined its productions to the South African State Theatre, Pretoria and the Joburg Theatre since 2005, acting as the premier opera company for these venues.

A key objective of the company has been the commissioning of new South African works such as Princess Magogo (composed by Mzilikazi Khumalo) and Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit (by Phelelani Mnomiya).

Productions

1995: The Magic Flute

199?: Carmen

1998: Faust

2002: Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu

200?: La Traviata

200?: Rigoletto (State Theatre and in Bloemfontein)

2006: I Capuleti e i Montecchi

2008: Aida

Sources

http://www.operaafrica.co.za

https://www.facebook.com/pg/operaafricapage/about/?ref=page_internal

https://www.musicinafrica.net/directory/opera-africa

Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).

Margaret von Klemperer. 'Opera in Africa'. News24. 17 May 2001.

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