(Herman Theron, co-founder of the festival)A new Swiss-South African artistic collaboration will see the launch of the Reakopana Opera Festival later this year, in an exciting work-creation initiative for performing artists that also spells good news for lovers of classical music.
This cultural exchange project is the brainchild of South African lyric tenor Herman Theron and Yves Senn from Switzerland’s L’Avant-Scène Opéra, who forged a strong friendship bond during their years as students of Nicolai Gedda in Switzerland almost 10 years ago. Theron has also sung principal roles in Verdi’s La Traviata and Bernstein’s West Side Story at the L’Avant-Scène opera house.
Reakopana means “We are coming together”, with Europe and Africa working side by side in a progressive new partnership that will be music to the ears of the South African opera scene. This independent, non-profit opera festival will launch with three performances of a soon-to-be-announced operetta in August 2012 at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria, followed by three performances in November in Colombier, Switzerland.
In this, Reakopana’s first production, the lead roles will be shared by Swiss and South African singers, and the Pretoria performances will feature a local ensemble and musicians. When the production travels to Switzerland, the South African leads will sing alongside an ensemble and musicians from L’Avant-Scène Opéra.
Theron, who is currently performing in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera at the Montecasino Teatro, harbours a particular passion for artist development, having had to make his own way in the industry and endure the attendant hard knocks.
“I wasn’t attached to any ‘stable’ and had no natural ‘in’ anywhere, so over the years I’ve been trying to carve my own path and create my own work opportunities,” says Theron. “And by extension, I now want to create opportunities and give experience to other South African artists. Some can’t afford to go overseas to be exposed to the opera scene there, and through Reakopana we hope to assist in that. At the same time, we want to expose the Swiss to the wealth of talent we have here in SA.”
For more information and updates on the Reakopana Opera Festival, visit www.reakopanaoperafestival.co.za, check out the festival’s Facebook page, or e-mail herman@reakopanaoperafestival.co.za
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