In a unique international celebration, Terfel will be accompanied by the Cape Town Opera chorus, winners of the 2013 International Opera chorus award and 70-strong voices of the Wales Millennium Centre's Only Kids Aloud Chorus. The world premiere of Spirit of Unity, a piece especially commissioned by Wales Millennium Centre, will be sung by this group of talented nine- to 13-year-old singers from all over Wales, who were specifically auditioned for this tour. Spirit of Unity was written by Dr Paul Mealor to celebrate the end of apartheid with the people of South Africa. This is a unique opportunity to hear over 120 voices on the opera stage and is one of the many celebrations marking Cape Town Opera's 15th anniversary year. MD Michael Williams said: "The concert is the perfect gift from the people of Wales to all South Africans as we celebrate our 20 years of democracy."
The Wales Millennium Centre and Cape Town Opera enjoy a mutually beneficial partnership that spans a decade. The partnership began when South African businessman Sir Donald Gordon donated GBP10 million towards the centre's development in 2003. One of the conditions of the donation was that the centre established a relationship with a creative company in his home country. Bet Davies from Wales Millennium Centre said: "With the strong choral traditions in both Wales and South Africa, our partnership with Cape Town Opera is a perfect fit."
Bryn Terfel has performed in all the great opera houses of the world and is especially recognised for his portrayals of Figaro, Falstaff and Wotan. He made his operatic début in 1990 as Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte for the Welsh National Opera. His international operatic career began in 1991 when he sang the Speaker in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels and in the same year he made his US début as Figaro at the Santa Fe Opera. Other roles performed during his career include Holländer in Der Fliegende Holländer, Méphistophélès in Faust, both the title role and Leporello in Don Giovanni, Jochanaan in Salome, Scarpia in Tosca, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress, Wolfram in Tannhäuser, Balstrode in Peter Grimes, Four Villains in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Dulcamara in L'Elisir d'Amore and the title role in Sweeney Todd.
Terfel is also known for his versatility as a concert performer, with highlights ranging from the opening ceremony of the Wales Millennium Centre, BBC's Last Night of the Proms, and the Royal Variety Show to a gala concert with Andrea Bocelli in Central Park, New York. He has also performed with opera tenor José Carreras and soprano Hayley Westenra, has given recitals in major cities around the world and for nine years hosted his own festival in Faenol, North Wales.
Book now at Computicket. For further information and details of Cape Town Opera's 2014 season, go to www.capetownopera.co.za.
Venue: Opera House, Artscape Theatre, Cape Town.
Friday, 2 May at 7.30pm.
Saturday, 3 May at 6pm.
Tickets priced at R140, R270 and R380 inclusive.
Book at Computicket by calling 0861 915 8000, go to www.computicket.com or visit your nearest Computicket outlet.
