Cape Town Opera’s “Porgy and Bess” created an extraordinary cultural confluence in its Chinese premiere at the Poly Theatre. Closing the 27th Beijing Music Festival on 12 October 2024, this production brings together 39 singers and 75 musicians as Gershwin’s South Carolina masterpiece, reimagined through South African artistry, finds new resonance on the Beijing stage.

It arrives at a moment when cultural dialogue between China and Africa is more vital than ever. Festival director Zou Shuang envisions this centerpiece performance as more than just an artistic showcase- it becomes a living bridge where Chinese audiences discover the rhythms and spiritual depths of South African artistry while honoring the work’s timeless power. Director Noa Naamat’s staging softens the opera’s raw portrayal of race, drugs and social struggles, opting instead for a visual poetry of minimalist sets and vibrant costumes. Dynamic lighting shapes this gentler vision, crafting intimate moments that let the performance’s emotional depth shine through.

Under Kazem Abdullah’s direction, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra doesn’t merely accompany but actively shapes the drama. Their reading of Gershwin’s score reveals both its classical refinement and vernacular vitality. The orchestra paints a sonic landscape that feels at once authentic and revelatory: from the opening notes, their nuanced interplay brings the world of port loaders, fishermen, street vendors, and beggars to vivid life. The strings excel in atmospheric passages and maintain clarity through rhythmically complex passages, with especially moving performance in the spirituals. Though occasional clarity issues emerge in softer passages, woodwinds demonstrate exceptional agility during “Clara, Clara.” The brass section’s jazz inflections prove especially effective in the hurricane’s approaching fury and Crown’s menacing scenes.

Illuminating Vocal Performances

The vocal performances illuminate both individual journeys and communal bonds. Otto Maidi’s Porgy moves fluidly between heroic strength and touching vulnerability, his resonant bass-baritone wielding consonants like weapons in moments of determination while revealing delicate sensitivity in passages of tenderness. “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’” becomes both a personal declaration and a universal statement of resilience.

Nonhlanhla Yende brings vocal ambition to Bess, particularly in “Porgy I’s Your Woman Now,” where her powerful high notes declare both strength and yearning for freedom. Yet, in tracing her path between independence and dependence, her dramatic transitions often lack definition, leaving pivotal moments without their full emotional impact.

From this central relationship, the drama expands through a rich supporting cast. Siphamandla Moyake’s Clara opens with a hauntingly layered “Summertime.” Her voice floats beautifully between bluesy inflections and operatic lines, capturing both struggle and hope of Catfish Row.

Pumza Mxinwa’s Serena delivers a heart-wrenching “My Man’s Gone Now.” Her grief touches something universal in all of us. The night’s biggest surprise comes from Mandisinde Mbuyazwe’s Crown and Siphamandla Moyake’s Sporting Life.

Mandisinde’s Crown radiates dangerous charisma with his rough-edged sound, and his command of descending bass lines is particularly impressive. As Sporting Life, Siphamandla brings perfect wit to “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” his jazz-infused phrasing making every note both question and entertain. He skillfully undercuts the community’s religious certainties while keeping Gershwin’s delicious sense of humor intact. Together, these characterizations vividly reveal the ever-present temptations and dangers facing the community.

Embodying the bittersweet rhythms of life in Catfish Row, the chorus becomes the beating heart of this production. Their voices navigate complex passages with precision while never losing their essential humanity. Whether in the Six Simultaneous Prayers during the hurricane scene or celebrating the tender union of Bess and Porgy, the ensemble transcends mere technical excellence to achieve genuine authenticity, infusing each phrase with a spirit that is uniquely their own—powerful enough to make the world grow small.

Inspiring & Community-Building Production

Each production of “Porgy and Bess” carries its own distinct aesthetic and cultural identity. In an era where cultural discourse often seems trapped between extremes, this Chinese premiere reveals something profound about music’s community-building power. The singing here creates a Catfish Row that transcends its specific setting, where spirituals and blues, gospel fervor and operatic refinement coalesce into something universal.

What emerges is a performance both precisely crafted and deeply spontaneous, where formal excellence meets raw emotional truths. Through the alchemy of these voices, whether raised in spiritual ecstasy or touched with blues tinged sorrow, the stage transforms into a living community. Here, black operatic voices soar with jazz-like freedom, creating a neighborhood that exists simultaneously in South Carolina, Johannesburg, and Beijing, yet speaks to us all.

The post Cape Town Opera 2024 Review: Porgy and Bess appeared first on OperaWire.

The mezzo-soprano has been coordinator and facilitator for the company’s Youth Development and Education Department for three years. She joined the Cape Town Opera Studio in 2010 and has performed at Hamer Hall in Melbourne and in the Teatro Colón’s “Porgy and Bess.”

With Cape Town Opera, Yende has appeared in “Messiah,” “Der Fliegende Holländer” as Mary, “Rigoletto” as Maddalena, and “Carmen” as Mercédès.

She is set for performances of “Shakespeare in the Park” at Maynardville in February, followed by the “SHORTS” Festival at Wave Theatre in March. She will also perform as Amneris in Cape Town Opera’s production of “Aida” in May.

The post Nonhlanhla Yende Named House Soloist at Cape Town Opera appeared first on OperaWire.

Vienna 

The Vienna State Opera will offer two Verdi works including “Macbeth” with Simon Keenlyside and “Falstaff” with Ambrosio Maestri and Carmen Giannatasio. In between these classic works the house will also present Donizetti’s “L’Elixir d’Amore” with Bryn Terfel and newcomer Aida Garifullina.

Belgium

At La Monnaie in Brussels Rimsky Korsakov’s “The Golden Cockerel” will be presented in a new production by Laurent Pelly. Alain Altinoglu conducts the work with Alexey Dolgov.

Germany

In Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper the company will present a revival of Puccini’s “Turandot” with Nina Stemme in the title role and Stefano La Colle. The company will also continue its run of Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsenk” with Anja Kampe in the title role.

In Berlin the Staatsoper will present Mozart’s “Die Zauberflaute” with Anna Prohaska. The company will also continue its run of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” with Anna Nechaeva and Riccardo Massi.

At the Deutsche Oper Berlin Puccini’s “Tosca” returns with Hui He in the title role and will be followed the next day with Wagner’s “Lohengrin” with Peter Seiffert and Annette Dasch.

Meanwhile at the Hamburg State Opera, the company will present Mozart’s “Die Zauberflaute” and Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

Italy 

At the Teatro Regio di Torino, the opera house will continue its foray into Broadway with “West Side Story.” The production stars Jenna Burns and Kevin Hack and will be conducted by Donald Chan.

Verdi’s “Attila” will be La Fenice’s offering for the weekend. Stefan Pop and Roberto Tagliavini lead the cast conducted by Claudio Marino Moretti.

Meanwhile at the Teatro alla Scala, the company will continue performing Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” starring Maria Jose Siri and Bryan Hymel. Riccardo Chailly conducts the original version of Puccini’s famed work.

Spain 

At the Grand Theatre Liceu in Barcelona Patrice Chereau’s production of Strauss’ “Elektra” will be presented with Evelyn Herlitzius and Waltraud Meier.

Angela Meade will continue her run at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville of Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena.” The star soprano will sing alongside Simon Orfila and Maurizio Benini conducting.

Roberto Abbado will conduct Verdi’s “I Vespri Sicilianni” with Gregory Kunde and Maria Ortega at the Valencia Opera. The cast will also include Juan Jose Rodríguez.

United Kingdom

Sondra Radvanovsky and Aleksandrs Antonenko will continue their run of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut” while Anita Rachvelishvili will continue her acclaimed run as Azucena in Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at the Royal Opera House.

Argentina 

Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” continues its run at the Teatro Colon with Xolela Sixaba starring as Porgy and Nonhlanhla Yende as Bess.

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