Postales desde Soweto

By Juan José Freijo, 12 June 2015

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“altísimas dosis de pasión, arrojo y un encantador desorden”

Reviewed at Teatro Real: Sala Principal, Madrid on 10 June 2015

Gershwin, Porgy and Bess

Cape Town Opera

Tim Murray, Conductor

Christine Crouse, Director

Michael Mitchell, Costume Designer, Set Designer

Nonhlanhla Yende, Bess

Philisa Sibeko, Bess

Siphamandla Yakupa, Clara

Arline Jaftha, Serena

Tina Mene, Serena

Miranda Tini, Maria

Fikile Mthetwa, Maria

Lukhanyo Moyake, Sportin’ Life

Mandisinde Mbuyazwe, Crown

Mandla Mndebele, Crown

Xolela Sixaba, Porgy

Lindile Kula Sr, Porgy

Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid

Cape Town Opera Chorus

An entertaining Mandela Trilogy

Andrew Larkin, 14th September

Good singing, incisive production and colourful choreography in The Mandela Trilogy make for many entertaining moments though inherent flaws in libretto and music fail to make it a satisfying, coherent whole.

***11

Stellar Lost in the Stars at Glimmerglass Festival

Gale Martin, 3rd August

The seldom-seen opera musical Lost in the Stars found prominence Friday night, enrapturing a full house at Glimmerglass Festival in New York, moving some of the actors themselves to tears, and stirring the audience to its feet for curtain call.

*****

Cape Town Opera: Mandela Trilogy at Wales Millenium Centre

Verity Quaite, 20th June

Whatever I was expecting from the European première of Mandela Trilogy, a musical tribute to the life of the iconic Nelson Mandela, it certainly wasn’t humour. Yet it is to writer and director Michael Williams’ credit that he has managed to convey what could have been extremely tense and serious subject matter with vibrancy and flair.

***11

Mal was Anderes: Salome in Kapstadt

Freya Apffelstaedt, 17th March

Kapstadt wagt den lohnenden Blick über den Tellerrand des Belcanto und zeigt eine Salome von begeisternder gesanglicher Leistung.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

Rossini's Cenerentola proves great fun in Adelaide

Sandra Bowdler, 7th May

Neil Armfield's production for State Opera South Australia combines a sparkling night of entertainment with first class musical values.

****1

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Juan José Freijo

Juan José Freijo nació en Madrid en 1970. Desde siempre apasionado por el estudio de la música, sus intereses orbitan principalmente alrededor de la ópera y el género vocal. Inició su formación y carrera profesional en el campo de las ciencias, donde completó un doctorado en física aplicada. Más adelante, amplió su formación en diferentes áreas de humanidades, incluyendo estudios en historia del arte y en la actualidad un postgrado en filosofía teórica y práctica. Juan José Freijo sigue de cerca las temporadas de las principales capitales europeas y durante los últimos años ha estado a cargo de la sección de crítica musical de ocioxocio.com.

Porgy and Bess en el Teatro Real: postales desde Soweto