Janelle Visagie

While there are three mini-operas within the SHORTS programme, this reviews centres around two of them: LA VOIX HUMANE and THE IMPRESARIO. Over the last couple of years, I have been lucky enough to attend various operas staged in Cape Town. They are magnificent: grand and opulent.

This autumn, Cape Town Opera will present SHORTS: A Festival of Pocket Operas, a captivating series of concise operas, at the Artscape Theatre from April 11 to April 21, 2024.

After a successful sell-out season at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town, Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera’s stunning production of the world’s most loved family musical – The Sound of Music – ended its record-breaking month-long run yesterday,  Sunday 14 January 2024.  

Everyone has been acquainted with the story of CINDERELLA in some way, shape or form. What not everyone has experienced is this timeless tale told through a mixture of opera, ballet and acting. Indeed, this self-aware adaptation of Pauline Viardot’s chamber opera CINDERELLA (CENDRILLON), presented by Cape Town Opera with AM Productions

An enchanting operatic production of CINDERELLA is coming to the Artscape Opera House from 4 to 8 July 2023. Presented by Cape Town Opera (CTO) in association with AM Productions, this is the South African premiere of this brand-new adaptation of Pauline Viardot’s chamber opera CENDRILLON.

An enchanting operatic production of Cinderella will come to life in the upcoming winter school holidays in a spectacular family-friendly production at the Artscape Opera House from 4 to 8 July 2023. 

From 31 March to 3 April 2022, CAPE TOWN OPERA in collaboration with The Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, will host four unique performances entitled BON APPETIT! The stunning music and cuisine event will take place at The Restaurant and will delight gourmands and opera lovers alike.

In his first live theatre collaboration, photographer Roger Ballen will plumb the psychological depths of a familiar fairy tale, designing a unique visual world for Engelbert Humperdinck's opera, Hänsel und Gretel.

The Phantom of the Opera won't just be in your mind June 15 through July 7 as the world tour plays at Istana Budaya.

Winners of the 54th annual Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were announced on Sunday 10 March 2019 at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the world's most popular musical, today announced the remaining cast members for the long-awaited Asian tour. Presented in Manila by PLDT Smart, the musical premieres at The Theatre at Solaire for a limited season from February 20,2019 and tickets are now on sale through Ticketworld.com.ph.

The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards announced its nominees for 2018 today. These annual awards are regarded amongst the most valued and prestigious in the South African performing arts industry. This year's ceremony will take place on Sunday, 10 March at 17:30 at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town and promises to be an evening celebrating Vintage theatre and wines.

The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards announced its nominees for 2018 today. These annual awards are regarded amongst the most valued and prestigious in the South African performing arts industry. This year's ceremony will take place on Sunday, 10 March at 17:30 at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town and promises to be an evening celebrating Vintage theatre and wines.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the world's most popular musical, today announced the remaining cast members for the long-awaited Asian tour. Presented in Manila by PLDT Smart, the musical premieres at The Theatre at Solaire for a limited season from February 20,2019 and tickets are now on sale through Ticketworld.com.ph.

The hills are truly alive with the arrival of London's West End production's The Sound of Music. On the gala night (September 29), audiences across generations came running to the Theatre at Solaire just to see the show for the first time and for some, many times over a beloved musical that became part of their childhood. The Sound of Music is a nostalgic theatrical experience that brings candid memories of yore and a myriad of familiar tunes that would prompt any viewer to go home humming if not singing.

Every generation, past or present, knows what a great musical is: it's one that's so hauntingly memorable, its score and plot reflective of the time or the aspirations of the time. Such is The Sound of Music whose songs and romantic narrative have haunted us to this very day, since its November 16, 1959 Broadway opening.

From England to New Zealand to Hong Kong, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber-produced 2006 lavish revival of The Sound of Music finally made it to Manila, which officially held its gala performance last Friday, September 29, at The Theatre at Solaire and an after party at the Diamond Hotel. (Thanks to Globe Live, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Concertus Manila, and David Atkins Enterprises--yes, it takes a village to import a first-rate international theatrical production!)

Associate Director Frank Thompson, who was also the resident director of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival production of The Sound of Music at the London Palladium, presented the cast of the international touring production of The Sound of Music, led by Carmen Pretorius (Maria) and Janelle Visagie (Mother Abbess), at a media call yesterday.

The winners of the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards were announced at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town on 15 March 2015.

The Fleur du Cap nominations are out! Here are some thoughts about the nominees in each of the categories.