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GEORGE NEWS - The opera production Operatunity brought to George by the Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport on Sunday 16 July was a fabulous opportunity for Georgians to get a first-hand live performance on their doorstep.
Three Cape Town University students - soprano Zoleka Amanda Meke, bass baritone Lesego Mkhwanazi and tenor Xolane Marman - gave smooth performances at the Oakhurst George Arts Theatre.
Mkhwanazi, who has a rich baritone voice, is currently doing his second year in a performer's diploma in opera under Patrick Tikolo. The trio were accompanied by Dalene Steenkamp-Brits who has had an illustrious career as pianist and choir director. She undoubtedly brought solid professionalism to this matinee show.
Former Knysna-ite Xolane Marman, who started his studies in 2011, gave a charming rendition of Un'aura amorosa from Cosi fan Tutte by Mozart. Xolane is currently in his final year of a performer's diploma course in opera under Mr Tikolo. Meke's execution of The Song to the Moon from Rusalka by Vorá was soulful. She is doing her first year in a PGDip in music performance under Mr Tikolo.
There was some spontaneous interaction with the audience, especially towards the end of their 60-minute performance when the trio sang the drinking song, Libiamo, from La Traviata by Verdi, at which Mkhwanazi shone with his velvety voice.
The audience, clearly enamoured, got up and clapped along. Two of the scintillating songs sung by Mkhwanazi, Pilate's Dream and This nearly was mine from Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical South Pacific, were memorable.
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ARTICLE & PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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