If it’s arias and ensembles that tickle your fancy, along with ballet and a celebration of South African heritage, then the Joburg Theatre is just the place for you.

Opera fans and lovers of dance will be thrilled to hear that, for two nights only, they will be treated to two shows in one, courtesy of Gauteng Opera and Joburg Ballet. They are bringing Opera Classics and I am an African to The Mandela Theatre at Joburg Theatre as a double bill on August 29 and September 10. The two evenings promise to be a feast of music, culture and dance.

Directed by Gauteng Opera’s Marcus Desando, the I am an African evening features Laetitia Orlandi on piano and choreography by Thoko Sidiya and Joburg Ballet, with lighting design by Simon King.

The cast is headed up by Khumbuzile Dhlamini, Kagiso Boroko and Phenye Modiane. Guest artists are Annemarie Steenkamp, Khanyakazi Madlala, Pretty Skhosana, Solly Motaung, Nkosinathi Malamane and dancers from Joburg Ballet.

With Opera Classics the audience can expect well-known, memorable performances, from Dome epais le jasmin (Flower duet) from Lakmé (made famous by the British airways advert) and the much loved aria Casta diva from Norma. There will also be selections from operas such as Bizet’s Carmen, Puccini’s La Bohème and Donizetti’s La fille du regiment.

The second half will be a celebration of heritage. This programme will be a mixture of singing and poetry, including music such as African dream, made famous by Vicki Sampson, Pata-Pata by our own African goddess “Mama Africa” Miriam Makeba, Circle of Life from The Lion King, and Weeping. All these songs are from Africa or inspired by Africa.

This initiative is another example of of Gauteng Opera and Joburg Ballet’s desire to collaborate with other arts enterprises and to provide the greatest possible variety for its audiences. With the slogan “Opera for Everyone”, Gauteng Opera aims to expose opera to varied audiences with different opera offerings.

Tickets are available at joburgtheatre.com and start at R200. To book call 0861 670 670.

MEET THE CAST:

Khumbuzile Dhlamini is a soprano, and studied a BA in music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has appeared as a soloist in a number of UKZN concerts, including the 2006 Lunch Hour Concerts with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra. She also performed in OSCA’s production of Purcell’s Masque in Dioclesian, OSCA’s East and West and the National Arts Council Youth Festival in 2006.

She won the Arts, Culture and Tourism Music Eisteddfod and the South African Post Office Music Eisteddfod.

Khumbuzile has toured internationally with Opera Africa, performing in Mzilikazi Khumalo’s Princess Magogo singing the role the first hand maiden. She also appeared in a number of concerts under the baton of Richard Cock.

She played the role of Sharon in the Terrence MacNally’s play about Maria Callas, Master class, in which she sang Lady Macbeth’s great Act 1 letter scene from Verdi’s Macbeth.

She has also appeared in a number of concerts with KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra such as the Young Performers and Youth Concerts; and appeared in the Opera Africa’s staging of Puccini’s La Boheme and La Traviata at the State Theatre in Pretoria and the Johannesburg Theatre.

Khumbuzile appeared as a soprano soloist in the playhouse’s stage version of Hymn of Praise which was directed by Marcus Desando as well as Handel’s Messiah under the direction of Ralph Lawson.

Phenye Modiane was born and bred in Ga-Rankuwa. He started singing at an early age, in school choirs, church choir and community choirs.

In 2002, he represented North West Province at the Tirisano School Choir Eisteddfod (now called SASCE) as a solo tenor, under the guidance of the late Mrs J.C Motshwane.

In 2003, he enrolled at Tshwane University of Technology under the guidance of Pierre du Toit. There he sang in various choruses including school choruses, Salon Music and Opera Africa choruses. And also did the roles of Conte Ivrea in Un Giorno di Regno and Gherrardo in Gianni Schicchi, both school productions. He completed his Btech in Vocal Art in 2006.

In 2011, he sang the role of El Ramendado in the Opera Africa production of Carmen. In March 2012, he sang the role of Guard in the newly composed opera of Ziyankomo by Phelelani Mnomiya. He sang as a soloist in the BTE VO1SS production of Kyk hier staan ‘n nuwe mens and the Verdi Gala.

Currently he is a member of Forté and he is also busy with his BMus Hons through University of Pretoria.

Kagiso Boroko hails from Hammanskraal and already at school, he showed interest in choral music, joining his school choir in 2003.

During this year he also joined the group ‘Sweet Voice Masters’ under the leadership of Bhekezizwe Nhlapo. As a member of the ‘Sweet Voice Masters’ he realised that he loves performing and as a member of this group he performed and participated in the various events, competitions and performances, to name a few: The Unisa Music Foundation Competition, the birthday celebration of Bill Venter, the Altron Awards in 2007 at the Sun City Palace at the Yamaha young talent Rocks Competition and at the Caltivisia Festival.

Kagiso successfully auditioned in 2010 for The Black Tie Ensemble’s Incubator Scheme. During 2011 he sang the role of the ‘Page’ in BTE’s production of Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian-Carlo Menotti. Later that year he was part of the Vignette opera production of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia de Lammermoor and during September, Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and sang the role of Pinellino in the BTE production of Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini.

During 2012 he participated in Forté: Power of the Voice; Verdi Opera Gala; A Spring Gala; One Voice: An African Celebration; A Christmas Concert and Carols by Candlelight.