South Africa’s premier performing arts companies, Cape Town Opera (CTO) and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO), join forces to present an Easter performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in the iconic Toringkerk in Paarl on Saturday 16 April at 16.00.
The performance will feature Ané Pretorius (soprano), Nonhlanhla Yende (alto), Siphesihle Mdena (tenor), and Lwazi Dlamini (bass) as soloists, with the Cape Town Opera Chorus and Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Brandon Phillips.
Given that there are always performances of “Messiah” at this time of year, Cape Town Opera’s Artistic Director Magdalene Minnaar comments: “We thought long and hard about this and realised that the stars were aligning in a way that was impossible to ignore. Collaborating for an Easter concert and performing in the historic Toringkerk was an opportunity too good to miss. We were able to engage the wonderful organist Mario Nell to play the extraordinary Norman and Beards organ, manufactured in 1906 in Norwich, England.
By combining the award winning Cape Town Opera Chorus under chorus master Marvin Kernelle, CTO in-house soloists and Young Artists with the internationally renowned Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, we knew we were on the path to success. As an opera company, we are incredibly proud of being able to cross genres and give our audiences an oratorio for Easter and we are also very excited to reach our audiences in the Paarl area. The minute the announcement went out, the ticket sales began!”
The “Messiah” is arguably the best-loved oratorio and has been performed by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra many times in the last 20 years with partners such as the Philharmonia Choir and the New Apostolic Church. Traditionally Messiah is performed at Christmas and Easter, as the story covers the birth, the passion, and the ascension of Jesus Christ.
Tickets cost R240 and are available through Quicket (www.quicket.co.za).
