Cinderella-based opera hits all the right notes
The wicked stepmother is replaced by a father-in-law, the fairy godmother becomes a philosopher
IF YOU are still in the Dark Ages and think that opera is only about gods and Ancient Egyptians wait till you hear about Rossini’s Opera La Cenerentola.
It is based on one of the bestknown fairy tales – Perrault’s touching story of Cinderella’s triumph of love over malice.
But with several twists. The wicked stepmother is replaced by a father-in-law even more cruel than he is stupid, the fairy godmother becomes a philosopher and the famous slippers are a pair of bracelets.
This opera, which the UCT Opera School will be presenting in a semi-staged concert version on September 5,6, 7, 8 at 7.30pm in the Baxter Concert Hall, is considered by the visiting director Claudia Blersch from Zurich Opera House, as Rossini’s best, even though it was a last minute commission written in 24 days. Blersch has been struck by the excellence of the student singers. “The girls are good, but I have to say the male section is remarkable. I am amazed at the tenor, Lunga Hallam, who plays (the) Prince. When I heard him sing for the first time my jaw fell open and I said ‘wow’.
“He is incredible with such a natural talent. And he also has the right look. I am also impressed by Martin Mkize, our Dandini (the Prince’s servant disguised as the Prince) and Bongani Kubheka (Cinderella’s father). It is so demanding to sing all those notes and in Italian, which is not their home language. I have my ear on a lot of young voices in Europe, but what I hear in Cape Town is astonishing.”
It’s thanks to the German conductor Jochen Rieder of the UCT Symphony Orchestra that Blersch is here. He phoned her, asking her to direct Cenerentola in “some nice city”. Rieder is a regular figure on the podium of renowned orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia and many more. Over the years he has developed a long and intense musical friendship with star tenor Jonas Kaufmann, with whom he has made several recordings. For all his musical pedigree he appears to be “very friendly and patient” even though some of orchestral players are in their first year at the College of Music.
The fact that these two international figures are involved in this student production is due to the contacts in the opera world, which the Cape Town baritone George Stevens built up in his years as principal soloist of the Theater Bremen from 1998 and thereafter as guest artist in opera houses in Rome, Pesaro, most of Germany, Portugal and Norway.
The title role is played by the beautiful and dainty soprano Ané Sophia and she actually has four ugly sisters to contend with as there is a double cast. Clorinda is shared by Leah Gunter and Ipeleng Kgatle and Tisbe by Jacobi de Villiers and Moloko Letsoalo.
You can understand why Cinderella needed a good fairy to get to the ball.
Book at info@computicket. co.za or theBaxter 021 685 7880.