I cannot imagine how Tosca at Artscape, which is on for just five days, makes economic sense, but it makes sense in every other way. It is a fabulously extravagant show with a large, super-talented cast performing on one gorgeous set after another.
Go see it, Cape Town! It is an absolute delight for the senses, and way better value than anything else you could do on any of the next four nights, except maybe to sit and read a great book … from the library … by the light of a gas lantern.
Puccini’s powerful opera will help you feel all those unexpressed feelings, that unvented anger, the unrequited love, all that unhealed pain … oh the burden of feeling laid bare on stage. Then, at the end, you can wipe it all away with the tears you will no doubt shed.
Cape Town Opera’s Tosca will make you gasp and cry and remember every slight ever inflicted on you. It will also make you smile, laugh even, and perhaps feel quite romantic when you experience the delightful on-stage magic of Floria Tosca (soprano Nobulumko Mngxekeza in her first role since being appointed as CTO house soloist) and her beloved, Cavaradossi (tenor Lukhanyo Moyake).
Mngxekeza and Moyake are superbly supported by baritone Conroy Scott as police chief Baron Scarpia, (Call Off The Search favourite) Lonwabo Mose as Angelotti, Van Wyk Venter as Spoletta, Lwazi Dlamini as Sciarrone and the sensational Cape Town Opera chorus, directed by Marvin Kernelle. A lovely addition to Tosca’s 60-strong cast is a 28-member children’s chorus, overseen by Antoinette Huyssen.
The CTO production of Tosca has come home to Cape Town after a stellar run at the Joburg Theatre. It is directed by Magdalene Minnaar with set and costume design by Maritha Visagie and Leopold Senekal. Movement direction is by Fiona du Plooy and lighting design is by Oliver Hauser. Björn Bantock conducts the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.
Back to the economics of this spectacular production, CTO acknowledges with grateful thanks the support of the Judith Neilson Foundation, the Rupert Music Foundation and the City of Cape Town. And a special thanks to Simonsig for those delectable bubbles.
Tosca is on at the Artscape Opera House until 17 September. Tickets, from R180, through Computicket or on 021 4217695.
We enjoyed seeing Tosca and give it +5 stars. I couldn’t be more proud to see such amazing local talent. The singing, orchestra, sets, lighting everything was wonderful. The performance fittingly got a 5 min. standing ovation. Thank you Siobhan for your wonderful recommendation.