06 / Wagner society takes to the boards again:

The fourth opera presented by the Richard Wagner Society takes place at Artscape in the Suidooster Fees in February. Coming on the heels of the hugely successful The Flying Dutchman by Wagner himself, Viva la Mamma, correctly Le Convenienze ed inconvenienze teatrali by Gaetano Donizetti, furthers the society’s aim to help build the careers of gifted young musicians in performance, giving them recital platforms as well as opera experience.

Three performances take place on February 16, 18 and 19. This opera buffa is an opera within an opera, as a bunch of singers, the composers of score and libretto get together to thrash out the details of a production, sending up opera at the same time.

Of course, there’s no money, and of course there are huge egos, some deserved and some not. The star of the show is Donna Agata, mother of the seconda donna, and a singer in her own right. Problem is, the mother is a baritone, who starts calling the shots. Singers storm out, positions are protected, the police make an appearance.

The brilliant baritone, Siyabulele Ntlale, plays Mamma Agata, in drag of course.

He has taken to the role with the expertise of a comic actor and opera singer, and his antics will bring the house down. The rest of the cast are all great singers, as well, and also with some operatic experience mainly in UCT operas. They are Hlengiwe Mhkwanazi, a recent SAMRO competition winner, Karen van der Walt, Thesele Kemane, Mandisinde Mbuyazwe, Lynelle Kenned, Makudupanyane Senaoana,Thando Mpushe and Phelo Nodlayiya.

All of this takes place in about 90 minutes, with the backing of the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. Kamal Khan, one of the country’s most experienced opera conductors, will be at the helm. Lara Bye is the director. Lara directed the first three operas as well – La Serva Padrona, La Scala di Seta and The Flying Dutchman.

Faheem Bardien is doing the lighting, with sets by Double Door Design and costumes by Reza Levy.

Performances in the kykNET Theatre at Artscape are on Thursday, February 16 at 20:00, Saturday February 18 at 19:30 and Sunday, February 19 at 16:00. Tickets at R220, R185 and R100 are available from Computicket now.