BASA together with Ster-Kinekor Cinema Nouveau recently hosted a screening of Ernani, attended by arts leaders and students from the UCT Opera School.
Lola Gallant, marketing manager at Cinema Nouveau says the vision is to change the perception that opera is only for the elite, and make it accessible to a wider audience, including students and arts lovers. "Following on the successful attendances this season, we are confident that there is already a good love of opera in this country," Gallant comments. "Added to this, we are confident that there is a massive growth potential, opening doors for the appreciation and development of the musical arts locally."
The opportunity facilitated by Cinema Nouveau and BASA has been welcomed by Hendrick Hofmeyr, associate professor in Music at UCT. Hofmeyr says it represents a wonderful opportunity for the students to experience world-class operatic productions with some of the greatest singers currently in the field. "This kind of exposure is invaluable as it exposes the students to new repertoire and new interpretations of standard works, and also raises their awareness of the complex requirements of an operatic career."
Hofmeyr's encouragement of Cinema Nouveau's Opera Seasons is supported by the chief executive of Opera Africa, Sandra de Villiers. "We're really supportive of the opera seasons and applaud Cinema Nouveau for taking this initiative," says De Villiers. "Opera Africa is currently on a significant drive to increase audiences for opera in all communities and across different ages and being able to watch an opera from The Metropolitan just weeks after it has opened in New York is really an amazing opportunity for arts lovers."
The public can participate in this drive to ignite a love of opera in South Africa by attending the remaining productions in the current Cinema Nouveau The Met Opera Season. These are Manon, from 27 April, and La Traviata, from 4 May. For more information, go to www.sterkinekor.com.
