Category Archives: Opera

Tristan und Isolde

Posted on December 10, 2016 by moirads

Opera is not an audio experience.  Anyone who has tried aand failed to enjoy Wagner by listening only will nod in understanding when I point out that Wagner himself said that it encompassed many genres (Gesamtkunstwerk).  This is one of … Continue reading →

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Don Giovanni at the Met live in HD

Posted on November 22, 2016 by moirads

Don Giovanni is the first of the 2016/17 Live in HD movies in The Metropolitan Opera movie season. It is the 11th such season, and there are ten operas in this season. The movies are screened at Cinema Nouveau theatres … Continue reading →

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Lamento, a patchwork pastiche, pleases

Posted on November 4, 2016 by moirads

Claudio Monteverdi’s (1567-1643) musical magic enchanted audiences at The Market Theatre tonight. He was a Catholic priest best known as a composer and musician. He is the person who made the transition between Renaissance music with its polyphony and Baroque … Continue reading →

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Florence Foster Jenkins

Posted on October 8, 2016 by moirads

Florence Foster Jenkins is a 2016 biographical drama. Written by Nicholas Martin and directed by Stephen Frears, the movie stars Meryl Streep as Florence and Hugh Grant as her husband, St. Clair Bayfield, together with Simon Helberg as Cosme McMoon. … Continue reading →

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Love Potion – L’elisir D’Amore

Posted on August 3, 2016 by moirads

  This charming two act comic opera by Gaetano Donizetti is currently running at The Mandela, Joburg Theatre on 2, 4, 6 and 7 August 2016. It is a charming production directed by Marcus Desando, with a fabulous set and … Continue reading →

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What’s right with South Africa?

Posted on April 17, 2016 by moirads

On Thursday 14 April 2015 I attended a concert at the Linder Auditorium. On the podium was one of my heroes, Kutlwano Masote.  Masote is from a musical dynasty, a cellist and conductor.  His father is a fine musician who … Continue reading →

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Met’s Magic Flute Movie

Posted on January 10, 2016 by moirads

The Magic Flute (The Met: Live in HD) by Mozart, shortened and in English, is currently showing at Cinema Nouveau.  Starring Nathan Gunn as Papageno (my favourite character from this opera) and Ying Huang as Pamina, Matthew Polenzani as Tamino … Continue reading →

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Cav and Pag ends the 2014/2015 The Met: Live in HD season

Posted on May 20, 2015 by moirads

Johannesburg based opera lovers have been visiting Cinema Nouveau in their droves for The Met: Live in HD screened operas.  Ending the 2014/2015 season is the popular verismo double bill, Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci. I … Continue reading →

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New production of La Boheme set in South Africa

Posted on March 17, 2015 by moirads

I have just received a press release which reveals that Big Wig Opera has partnered with the South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA) for its upcoming production of Puccini’s opera, La Bohème, at the end of May. La Bohème, made … Continue reading →

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Opera evening at the symphony concert season

Posted on March 6, 2015 by moirads

The second week of the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) season has just finished.  Unusually the concert feature an opera gala evening, making use of Big Wig Opera.  Big Wig Opera is a new South African company formed by Stefan Louw … Continue reading →

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