August is Women’s Month and Cape Town Opera will be celebrating ten extraordinary South African women in opera with a series of featured conversations. 

The series will be hosted by Cape Town Opera Marketing Manager, Masixole Makwetu, and will be streamed live on the Cape Town Opera Facebook page and YouTube channel. All streams start at 19h00. Click here to follow us on Facebook, and here to view our YouTube channel.

1 August : Vuvu Mpofu

Vuvu is a South African soprano making waves on local and international opera stages. In 2019 she was awarded the prestigious John Christie Award at the Glyndebourne Festival, and recently won prizes at the Operalia Competition as well as the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition.

2 August : Zandile Mzazi  

Zandile is a South African soprano who will be singing the lead role of Mimì in our upcoming La bohème Judith Neilson Tour production. Zandile has won numerous competitions and awards in Europe (Austria, Germany, Italy) and the USA.

3 August : Magdalene Minnaar  

Magdalene, a South African soprano, director, producer and entrepreneur, is directing our upcoming La bohème Judith Neilson Tour production. She speaks to us on how she juggles the many hats she wears.

4 August : Rabia Davids and Juanita van Wyk

We go behind the scenes with two of the women who make Cape Town Opera’s productions happen: Rabia Davids, Cape Town Opera’s Wardrobe Manager, and Juanita Van Wyk, Cape Town Opera’s Stage Manager.

5 August : Cecilia Masabane Rangwanasha

Fresh from her success at the 2021 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Cecilia joins us to reflect on the triumphs and challenges of her musical journey.

6 August : Pauline Malefane

Known for her great stagecraft both on stage and screen, Pauline Malefane, a South African soprano and Lecturer at the South African College of Music (UCT), chats to us about her musical journey. Pauline is renowned for her role as Carmen in the film U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha.

7 August : Christine Crouse

Christine recently directed an all-female cast in Amagokra, a Cape Town Opera-commissioned production highlighting the scourge of gender-based violence. Christine will also be directing our November production of Puccini’s La rondine. She speaks to us about her experiences directing and teaching.

8 August : Aviva Pelham

With a career spanning over 50 years, Aviva Pelham, singer, director, motivational speaker and lecturer, will be giving us insights into the secrets behind her success.  

9 August : Siphokazi Molteno

Our series closes with Cape Town Opera Young Artist Siphokazi Molteno, who is the current Fleur du Cap Best Performance in an Opera – Female award holder.

Siphokazi will end our series with a short virtual concert, so please tune in!