May 23, 2006
By Thuli Ntuli
THE stage is set for a classic battle between good and evil at the Pro Music Theatre in Roodepoort, which is putting on a performance of Mozart's much loved opera, The Magic Flute.
Die Zauberflöte, as it is called in the original German, is a tale about Tamino, who searches for love and enlightenment. He undergoes trials of fire, water and silence, finally winning the heart of Pamina.
Pamina is in the care of Sarastro, the wise high priest who is trying to counter the effects of Pamina's mother, the Queen of the Night. The queen urges Tamino, who is given a magic flute, to rescue her daughter from Sarastro. Tamino finds Pamina and through various initiations becomes a disciple of the wise priest. The opera ends with Tamino and Pamina united.
Tenor Andy Cloete and soprano Hanli Stapela are the lovers. Paul Madibeng sings the role of Sarastro, while Denver Smith sings the comic role of Papageno. Michelle Veenemans is the Queen of the Night.
Other cast members include Deirdre Blignaut, Tina Tshupane, Aukse Trinkunas, Hans van Heerden, Reinaldt Moagi, Kegomoditswe Mocumi, Edward Mabunda and Frans Schoeman. The Pro Musica Opera Chorus also performs.
"We call this opera our lucky charm," says Pro Musica's public relations officer, Cecile Doubell. "It's special to us as it was the first opera performed at the Pro Musica Theatre in 1981."
The theatre chose to perform the opera as part of its celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth, which is being marked on musical calendars around the world.
"The Magic Flute is still relevant and people never get tired of it," Doubell explains.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in Salzburg in Austria in 1756, is believed to have composed more than 600 musical works, his first work when he was just five years old.
The Pro Musica is encouraging the audience to bring their picnic baskets and blankets for the Sunday shows, to picnic in the gardens before the afternoon performance. The opera is on at 8pm on Saturday, 1 July; Wednesday, 5 July; Friday, 7 July; and Friday, 14 July; and at 3pm on Sunday, 9 July and Sunday, 16 July.
Tickets are available from Computicket on 083 915 8000, at Computicket outlets, or online at the Computicket website. Prices range from R70 to R150 and R210. For credit card bookings call Queen at Computicket in the Pro Musica Theatre on 011 672 2217. Discounts are available for pensioners, learners and students.
For more information call Cecile Doubell on 011 674 1357/8. The Pro Musica Theatre is on Christiaan de Wet Road, Florida Park, Roodepoort.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
