The gala concert is a rare opportunity for opera lovers to see one of the world's foremost singers live on stage in Johannesburg
WHEN a few years ago I saw him on TV rendering a spiritually operatic piece at the then Johannesburg Civic Theatre in Braamfontein, now the Joburg Theatre, I became envious of those who were there in person.
In fact, it was a revelation to discover that here was a musical talent from South Africa yet the people benefiting from his genius were not South Africans but lived in other world capitals.
Big both in stature and vocally, meet Johan Botha, who to date is probably the foremost musical export from South Africa.
Botha and a carefully chosen group of opera singers - Nonzuko Teto, Violina Anguelov, Aubrey Lodewyk and Xolela Sixaba - are currently starring in the Mandela Trilogy at the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg. It closes today.
Hailed by many as South Africa's most famous vocal export, dramatic tenor Botha is one of the world's most sought-after singers.
Now living in Vienna, Austria, Botha has returned to Gauteng, where he studied and made his stage debut (as Max in Von Weber's Der Freischütz in Roodepoort in 1989), for a special Johan Botha gala concert tomorrow.
Presented by the Cape Town Opera the glorious romantic repertoire includes Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavallo and Lehár.
The gala concert is a rare opportunity for opera lovers to see one of the world's foremost singers live on stage in Johannesburg.
Following his international breakthrough in 1993 at the Opera de la Bastille as Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Botha regularly appears in the world's great opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Berlin Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Liceu in Barcelona and the Vienna Staatsoper.
Under the batons of the greatest conductors of our day, including Abbado, Levine, Bychkov and Pappano, Botha continues to thrill audiences around the globe with his masterly performances of the heavier Italian repertory, as well as the great Wagner and Strauss tenor roles.
Sharing the stage in Mandela Trilogy with Botha are Bulgarian-born South African mezzo-soprano Anguelov; soprano and member of the Black Tie Ensemble Lehobye; Eastern Cape-born operatic soprano Teto; and multi-talented baritone Sixaba.
The Cape Town Opera Voice of the Nation Ensemble and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the singers.
Botha will be joined on stage by American operatic soprano Deborah Voigt at another one-night-only gala concert in Cape Town at the Artscape on Saturday, August 28.
Great tenor back to charm locals
The gala concert is a rare opportunity for opera lovers to see one of the world's foremost singers live on stage in Johannesburg
WHEN a few years ago I saw him on TV rendering a spiritually operatic piece at the then Johannesburg Civic Theatre in Braamfontein, now the Joburg Theatre, I became envious of those who were there in person.
In fact, it was a revelation to discover that here was a musical talent from South Africa yet the people benefiting from his genius were not South Africans but lived in other world capitals.
Big both in stature and vocally, meet Johan Botha, who to date is probably the foremost musical export from South Africa.
Botha and a carefully chosen group of opera singers - Nonzuko Teto, Violina Anguelov, Aubrey Lodewyk and Xolela Sixaba - are currently starring in the Mandela Trilogy at the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg. It closes today.
Hailed by many as South Africa's most famous vocal export, dramatic tenor Botha is one of the world's most sought-after singers.
Now living in Vienna, Austria, Botha has returned to Gauteng, where he studied and made his stage debut (as Max in Von Weber's Der Freischütz in Roodepoort in 1989), for a special Johan Botha gala concert tomorrow.
Presented by the Cape Town Opera the glorious romantic repertoire includes Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavallo and Lehár.
The gala concert is a rare opportunity for opera lovers to see one of the world's foremost singers live on stage in Johannesburg.
Following his international breakthrough in 1993 at the Opera de la Bastille as Pinkerton in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Botha regularly appears in the world's great opera houses, including La Scala in Milan, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Berlin Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Liceu in Barcelona and the Vienna Staatsoper.
Under the batons of the greatest conductors of our day, including Abbado, Levine, Bychkov and Pappano, Botha continues to thrill audiences around the globe with his masterly performances of the heavier Italian repertory, as well as the great Wagner and Strauss tenor roles.
Sharing the stage in Mandela Trilogy with Botha are Bulgarian-born South African mezzo-soprano Anguelov; soprano and member of the Black Tie Ensemble Lehobye; Eastern Cape-born operatic soprano Teto; and multi-talented baritone Sixaba.
The Cape Town Opera Voice of the Nation Ensemble and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the singers.
Botha will be joined on stage by American operatic soprano Deborah Voigt at another one-night-only gala concert in Cape Town at the Artscape on Saturday, August 28.
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