About Opera Africa:
Opera Africa based in Sandton, Gauteng is a national, Non-Profit Company (NPC) founded in 1994 with the primary objective to communicate with new audiences. This has been achieved firstly, by staging traditional operas within a South African context, and secondly to commission the writing, composition and production of indigenous South African operas by our own composers and text writers. Princess Magogo by Mzilikazi Khumalo premiered in 2002 at the Playhouse, followed by a national SA tour in 2006 that ended in Soweto. Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit by Phelelani Mnomiya, based on a historical tale, was premiered to acclaim at the SA State Theatre, Pretoria and Joburg Theatre in March 2012.
Princess Magogo featured in 2003 at the Ravinia Festival, Chicago and thereafter at Het Muziek Theater, Amsterdam in 2006 and Den Norske Opera, Oslo in 2007. It was seen by critics as a new voice and a fascinnating work from South Africa. Numerous international requests continued to be received from opera companies in the Middle East, Europe and USA. Opera Africa pursues these opportunities to expose more indigenous operas that the Company commissioned, as part of a drive to brand our cultural heritage internationally.
The Opera Africa Development, Training and Mentorship Program (OA Studio) was officially launched in 2009 for talented young artists to work under professional coaches. As ‘Future Stars’ they feature in our local and international productions, festival performances and concert series. Preference is given to emerging young talent from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Audience transformation programs are under constant revision and all new research statistics pertaining to the ever changing youth market are thoroughly reviewed. The most recent results of strategies employed by Opera Africa can justly be described as excellent. See quote under CRITICAL ACCLAIM.
Local & international partnerships Opera Africa established contractual agreements with performing arts companies such as: The SA State Theatre Pretoria, Bloemfontein Sand du Plessis, Joburg and Soweto & Market Theatres Johannesburg. Opera Africa has an extensive international network that includes the Ravinia Festival Chicago, Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, Den Norske Opera Oslo, Theater Erfurt Germany and the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto Italy to stage annual opera produtions and to present training programmes.
In-kind partnerships and collaboration agreements with: The Maponya Group, Jensen Safaris, DAL Shipping, Lufthanza, German, Italian, French Chambers of Commerce and Cultural Institutes (Italian Institute, Italian SA Cultural Institute, Verdi Society), Rotary Club, ATKV, Tswane University of Technology, University of Pretoria, University of Johannesburg and North West University Opera/Music Departments and Arts Centres, RSG, Radio Today, ChaiFM, Media24.
Critical Acclaim
President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela addressing the audience at the SA State Theatre on 29 January 2003: ‘I enjoyed the performance of Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu” very much. The opera is a true reflection as a part of our history. I congratulate the cast’.
Wall Street Journal: ‘The opera Princess Magogo has it all: Stunning design, exhilarating dancing, wonderful singing and lavish costumes……..a bold, breakthrough opera never before seen in this country……the Ravinia Festival audiences more accustomed to Mozart was dazzled’.
New York Times: ‘The music became much more affecting, especially as sung with such riveting authenticity by the impressive cast. The show stopping moments came when the male dancers took the stage. It was hard not to think, now this sounds like the first Zulu opera. And what dancers!’
Michael Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago: ‘South Africa’s first African opera, Princess Magogo, combines a visually stunning theatrical display with a breathtaking score by composer Mzilikazi Khumalo and librettist Themba Msimang’.
Ismail Mahomed, Grahamstown Festival Director, Eastern Cape Herald, 28 March 2012: ‘Opera Africa is increasingly projecting itself as a company that is smart, savvy, sexy and attractive to younger audiences……The Company has made it an obsession to make itself and its product appealing to a more diverse audience……There is much that theatre management across South Africa could learn from Opera Africa on how to grow new audiences.
Opera Africa based in Sandton, Gauteng is a national, Non-Profit Company (NPC) founded in 1994 with the primary objective to communicate with new audiences. This has been achieved firstly, by staging traditional operas within a South African context, and secondly to commission the writing, composition and production of indigenous South African operas by our own composers and text writers. Princess Magogo by Mzilikazi Khumalo premiered in 2002 at the Playhouse, followed by a national SA tour in 2006 that ended in Soweto. Ziyankomo and the Forbidden Fruit by Phelelani Mnomiya, based on a historical tale, was premiered to acclaim at the SA State Theatre, Pretoria and Joburg Theatre in March 2012.
Princess Magogo featured in 2003 at the Ravinia Festival, Chicago and thereafter at Het Muziek Theater, Amsterdam in 2006 and Den Norske Opera, Oslo in 2007. It was seen by critics as a new voice and a fascinnating work from South Africa. Numerous international requests continued to be received from opera companies in the Middle East, Europe and USA. Opera Africa pursues these opportunities to expose more indigenous operas that the Company commissioned, as part of a drive to brand our cultural heritage internationally.
The Opera Africa Development, Training and Mentorship Program (OA Studio) was officially launched in 2009 for talented young artists to work under professional coaches. As ‘Future Stars’ they feature in our local and international productions, festival performances and concert series. Preference is given to emerging young talent from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Audience transformation programs are under constant revision and all new research statistics pertaining to the ever changing youth market are thoroughly reviewed. The most recent results of strategies employed by Opera Africa can justly be described as excellent. See quote under CRITICAL ACCLAIM.
Local & international partnerships Opera Africa established contractual agreements with performing arts companies such as: The SA State Theatre Pretoria, Bloemfontein Sand du Plessis, Joburg and Soweto & Market Theatres Johannesburg. Opera Africa has an extensive international network that includes the Ravinia Festival Chicago, Het Muziektheater Amsterdam, Den Norske Opera Oslo, Theater Erfurt Germany and the Teatro Lirico Sperimentale di Spoleto Italy to stage annual opera produtions and to present training programmes.
In-kind partnerships and collaboration agreements with: The Maponya Group, Jensen Safaris, DAL Shipping, Lufthanza, German, Italian, French Chambers of Commerce and Cultural Institutes (Italian Institute, Italian SA Cultural Institute, Verdi Society), Rotary Club, ATKV, Tswane University of Technology, University of Pretoria, University of Johannesburg and North West University Opera/Music Departments and Arts Centres, RSG, Radio Today, ChaiFM, Media24.
Critical Acclaim
President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela addressing the audience at the SA State Theatre on 29 January 2003: ‘I enjoyed the performance of Princess Magogo kaDinuzulu” very much. The opera is a true reflection as a part of our history. I congratulate the cast’.
Wall Street Journal: ‘The opera Princess Magogo has it all: Stunning design, exhilarating dancing, wonderful singing and lavish costumes……..a bold, breakthrough opera never before seen in this country……the Ravinia Festival audiences more accustomed to Mozart was dazzled’.
New York Times: ‘The music became much more affecting, especially as sung with such riveting authenticity by the impressive cast. The show stopping moments came when the male dancers took the stage. It was hard not to think, now this sounds like the first Zulu opera. And what dancers!’
Michael Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago: ‘South Africa’s first African opera, Princess Magogo, combines a visually stunning theatrical display with a breathtaking score by composer Mzilikazi Khumalo and librettist Themba Msimang’.
Ismail Mahomed, Grahamstown Festival Director, Eastern Cape Herald, 28 March 2012: ‘Opera Africa is increasingly projecting itself as a company that is smart, savvy, sexy and attractive to younger audiences……The Company has made it an obsession to make itself and its product appealing to a more diverse audience……There is much that theatre management across South Africa could learn from Opera Africa on how to grow new audiences.
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