Preview: Nozze di Figaro – inspired by the romanticism of artful decay- exciting collab-CTO and Sempre Opera

Preview: Nozze di Figaro 2022 tour– inspired by the romanticism of artful decay- exciting collaboration-between Cape Town Opera (CTO) and the Gauteng based Sempre Opera

Exciting news is the announcement of Cape Town Opera’s production of Mozart’s masterpiece, Le Nozze di Figaro. The production is “proudly sponsored by the City of Cape Town”. It is thrilling that we will see this production in Cape Town, at the Artscape Opera House from June 18 to 26, 2022. After the Cape Town season, the production will move to Johannesburg’s Roodepoort Theatre and will be on there from July 6 to 15, 2022, as part of the first Judith Neilson Cape Town Opera Tour of 2022. It is wonderful that this production is touring and that audiences, out of Cape Town will get an opportunity to see it. Remember that seating is restricted as per Covid regulations and that the seasons in Cape Town and Roodepoort are likely to sell out.  Before the pandemic, Cape Town Opera sold out its houses and this has continued in lockdown. This epic production of Nozze di Figaro looks fabulous. Take a look at the pics – beautiful. Info as supplied:

Collaboration

Cape Town Opera presents Mozart’s popular masterpiece, Nozze di Figaro. The production, a collaboration between Cape Town Opera (CTO) and the Gauteng-based Sempre Opera, is directed by CTO’s Magdalene Minnaar, with set and costume design by Maritha Visagie and Rabia Davids, movement direction by Fiona du Plooy and lighting design by Nicolaas de Jongh.

Cape Town Pops Orchestra

The Cape Town Pops Orchestra, led by Lucia di Blasio-Scott, will be conducted by Schalk van der Merwe, whose fresh new presence on the podium befits an opera by a young composer: unbelievably, Mozart was barely 30 when he wrote Le Nozze di Figaro.

Director is Magdalene Minnaar

Director Minnaar relishes her part in staging what she sums up as “a perfect opera in every way”, with good reason. In this gem of the repertoire may be found a symbiosis of farce, political comment and psychological finesse as sublime music is married to a rich text. Sparkling but never superficial, beneath its shimmering surface darker issues still relevant today are discernible to alert audiences. This work is adapted from the second novel of a sprightly trilogy by the 18th century author Pierre-Augustin Caron (Beaumarchais). His cheerful cynicism matched the spirit of his age, and is clearly apparent in Le Nozze. Here we have the sequel to Le Barbier de Séville, in which a younger, more sentimental Figaro promotes the obstacle-fraught romance and marriage of a lovelorn Count (Almaviva) and an equally smitten girl (Rosina). In Le Nozze di Figaro, a decade later, the lustre has worn off their once radiant union; the Count has become an inveterate lecher, and his Countess is understandably depressed.

Once more, Figaro comes to the rescue with the added incentive of jealousy, as his comely fiancée Susanna has caught Almaviva’s wandering eye… and he is ably abetted by his betrothed in frustrating the adulterer’s intentions. Between them the Count’s social inferiors not only outwit Almaviva, but also contrive to reignite his love for the wronged Rosina. So all’s well that ends well, in the best tradition of comic opera. To this central plot are added a couple of entertaining sub-plots to pique audience interest up to the dénouement.

Cast

The stellar all-South African cast features Conroy Scott as Figaro, Brittany Smith as Susanna, William Berger and Siphamandla Moyake as Count and Countess Almaviva, Megan Kahts in her ‘trouser role’ début as Cherubino, Monica Mhangwana as Marcellina, Lwazi Dlamini as Bartolo, Siphesihle Mdena as Basilio/Don Curzio, Alida Stoman as Barbarina, Rouel Beukes as Antonio and the award-winning Cape Town Opera Chorus under the direction of Chorus Master Marvin Kernelle.

Sustainability, Creativity and Diversity -production inspired by the Rococo aesthetic

Minnaar and Visagie approached the production with a view to this year’s CTO themes of Sustainability, Creativity and Diversity, in light of which they created modular set units for reuse in future productions on stages of varying sizes. Costumes, wigs, props and furniture form a sumptuous collection, judiciously upcycled from the existing CTO and Artscape stores. Inspired by the Rococo aesthetic, Minnaar opted for a period look-and-feel, but takes a few liberties here and there to enliven it with a slightly modern twist. All in keeping with Mozart’s sense of fun. “I wanted to create a world inspired by the romanticism of artful decay. This, for me, not only encapsulated the story of the opera, but the world we live in,” says Maritha Visagie.

Tickets

Tickets for the Artscape performances are available at Computicket or through Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695, and through Webtickets for the Roodepoort season. All Covid protocols will be observed. For more info visit the Cape Town Opera website www.capetownopera.co.za and follow the behind-the-scenes journey on Instagram @capetownoperacompany and on Facebook. For more info email info@capetownopera.co.za.  

✳ Sponsored content. Featured image – Conroy Scott (standing) as Figaro and William Berger as the Count. Pic by Annène van Eeden. Image supplied.