Cape Town Opera's Breakthrough Into Africa

Cape Town Opera will make history with its first tour into Africa in February to open the Kijana Kenya Trust 2007 Festival in Nairobi with an abbreviated concert version of Gershwin's jazz opera "Porgy and Bess".

This festival, now its fourth year, attracts performers from South Africa, the UK and Kenya, and is aimed at raising funds to support HIV/Aids and conservation in Kenya. To date these festivals have raised KShs 13 million for charity and entertained more than 10 000 people.

CTO's General Manager Michael Williams said he was delighted at the chance to showcase his singers at three performances including a "glittering gala evening" on Saturday February 24 in the spectacular open-air amphitheatre at Hell's Gate National Park. Both the first and final performances on February 23 and 25 would be matinees in Nairobi's arboretum.

"We will be travelling with 21 people - 16 singers, two pianists, three technical and executive staff. The cast will be in costume but this will not be the full-scale version of 'Porgy and Bess', which we staged in the Artscape Opera in September, and has just finished its sold-out season in Sweden.

"That touring version had 15 soloists and actors, a chorus of 40, 12 children and ran for three hours accompanied by a 46-piece orchestra.

"In Kenya we will be doing only 90 minutes of the opera (with an interval) and the 10 soloists and six choristers will be accompanied by a piano and keyboard. There will be no set, no orchestra and no large chorus, no actors or children.

"But we think with our powerful singers we will be able to put over the heart and soul of the work in the shortened time."

The visit to Kenya follows the increasing interest shown by oversea companies in the activities of CTO.

This year it has undertaken four overseas tours.

In April CTO's joint production with NorrlandsOperan gave eight performances of Dvorak's opera "Rusalka" in Umea, Sweden.

In July the company of 61 singers, a technical crew of 15 and 40 members of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra returned to Nurnberg, by public demand to repeat the successful 2005 season of "Show Boat".

In August members of the Vocal Ensemble travelled to France to give one performance of Scott Joplin's "Treemonisha", in the open-air theatre at La Turbie. This was at the invitation of John Persenda's Sphere Foundation to celebrate his company 30th birthday.

On its fourth and final tour this year, the company presented "Porgy and Bess" from October 7 to 28 in two towns in Sweden - Umeå and Kiruna, 600 km away. All performances were sold out before the company left Cape Town.

Michael Williams said he was very grateful to the way "doors are being opened" outside South Africa to give his singers employment and undreamt of opportunities.

"Our production of 'Porgy and Bess' seems destined to travel the world. We've been asked to stage the full version at the Wales Millennium Centre in 2008 and discussions are under way for tours to Berlin, Oslo, Nurenburg and Erfurt.

"We are delighted with our breakthrough into Africa."

By www.capetownopera.co.za