Philharmonic’s first season kicks off
PARKTOWN - The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra will kick off the first symphony season of the year in mid February.
The first symphony season of the year will run from February to March, and comprise of a special collaborative performance with the Big Whig Opera Company on the 4 and 5 March.
The Big Whig Opera Company was founded in November last year by tenor Stéfan Louw and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Lombard.
Lombard, whose experience in the industry spans 25 years has been appointed artistic director at Big Whig Opera.
She said with the right vision, planning and financial support, opera had a definite future in South Africa.
“We have a wealth of talent, much of it as yet undiscovered,” said Lombard.
According to Marisa Louw, a production manager at Big Whig Opera, the company focuses on classical opera and looks to maintain high artistic standards. “We are looking to collaborate with as many classical artists as possible,” she said. “We have [also] chosen a handful of the best people and held auditions for [upcoming operas],” she said.
The collaboration will include Italian opera pieces from Aida and Il Trovatore, and French opera pieces from Roméo et Juliette, Manon and Lakmé.
Details: www.jpo.co.za; info@jpo.co.za.
