Local auditions for new South African opera

AUDITIONS for the new ‘Ubuntu’ opera by South African musician Juan Burgers, will be held at Esayidi College’s Gamalakhe campus this Saturday, July 11 from 10am to 1.30pm.

Supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, the work centres on the life and mission of Nelson Mandela, and other struggle icons such as Winnie Madikizela Mandela, Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Bram Fischer, Alan Paton and more. Local choral singers are invited to audition.

The opera is scheduled to premiere at the Playhouse in Durban in November. It has been composed and set to a libretto by multi-talented Juan Burgers, choral director, voice teacher and pianist par excellence, who for many years has been a key role player on South Africa’s musical landscape. With him at the helm as its artistic director and with the well-known South African baritone Raphael Vilakazi as its producer, Ubuntu will be presented by Esayidi College in collaboration with Bravo Africa Entertainment.

Directed, designed and choreographed by the gifted Netherlands-based, South African-born dancer, David Krugel (Spartacus of Africa), the ground-breaking new opera-to-be will feature a hand-picked cast of leading South African operatic soloists and choristers, with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra performing under the baton of Lykele Temmingh. This week’s South Coast auditions will follow those held in Durban, Pretoria and Cape Town, as part of a nation-wide drive to source operatic talent for the production.

It is essential to secure an audition slot for Ubuntu in advance, by telephoning 083 7990045 between 8pm and 10pm. Those wishing to audition for a place in the chorus must prepare an aria of their choice. Singers who are selected for the production must be available for rehearsals in Durban from the end of August, through to Ubuntu’s run of performances in the Playhouse Opera theatre in November.