Nobulumko Mngxekeza as Floria Tosca Picture: Christiaan Kotze
Cape Town Opera (CTO) will present Puccini’s Tosca at the Artscape Opera House from Tuesday September 12 to Sunday September 17.
The opera in three acts follows Floria Tosca and Mario Cavaradossi, the ill-fated lovers whose romance plays out amid political turmoil in Italy in 1800 against the backdrop of a Roman revolution during the Napoleonic Wars.
Cape Town Opera’s production blends Roman grandeur with contemporary elements and strong references to the architecture of the day.
The grand scale production is directed by Magdalene Minnaar with set and costume design by Maritha Visagie and Leopold Senekal. Movement direction is by Fiona du Plooy while lighting design is by Oliver Hauser.
Maestro Björn Bantock will conduct the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and the Cape Town Opera Chorus will be directed by Marvin Kernelle. A 28-member children’s chorus, overseen by Antoinette Huyssen, is part of the 60-strong cast.
Heading the cast is a trio of Cape Town Opera House Soloists led by soprano Nobulumko Mngxekeza as the fiery Floria Tosca in her first production with Cape Town Opera since being appointed as House Soloist last year. Joining Mngxekeza will be tenor Lukhanyo Moyake as Cavaradossi, Tosca’s love interest, and baritone Conroy Scott as the malicious police chief Baron Scarpia.
Singing alongside them are baritone Bongani Khubeka and Cape Town Opera Judith Neilson Young Artists including Lonwabi Mose as Angelotti, Van Wyk Venter as Spoletta and Lwazi Dlamini as Sciarrone.
Tickets cost from R180 to R520 through Computicket.