Jason Atherton

Africa’s premier opera company, Cape Town Opera (CTO) provides a stage that allows local talent to launch international careers and attracts international talent to South Africa. As South Africa’s largest permanent non-profit performing arts organization, CTO provides permanent employment to 35 young singers and 32 opera practitioners, instructors and administrators. In addition, annually the company issues an average of 150 ad hoc contracts to artists ranging from choreographers, musicians, directors, conductors, designers and technicians. While celebrating the classics, CTO’s much anticipated local season ensures a pinch of controversy to entertain audiences with a varied and exciting repertoire of opera, operetta and musicals. Alongside the classics, CTO fosters the expression of a national identity through the creation and performance of new SA operas and musicals. For example, Mandela Trilogy and Tstotsi -The Musical, based on Athol Fugard’s novel. CTO is a vibrant cultural ambassador that showcases South Africa’s unique singing talent to the rest of the world, promoting South African talent and earning foreign revenue. The company maintains an energetic touring schedule that includes Porgy and Bess, African Angels, Mandela Trilogy; African Prophetess and Showboat. CTO provides unmatched skills development and hands on training to young artists from across South Africa. The Cape Town Opera Studio Training Programme is the only comprehensive advanced curriculum of its kind for young graduate singers in South Africa. It gives singers, with soloist potential, the opportunity to consolidate and refine their technique and stage skills before launching professional careers. With two full-time staff and 10 contract workers, CTO’s education and outreach department provides free, valuable musical training to over 4 000 learners in rural/township communities across eight provinces each year.