Fidelio on Robben Island
23 March 2004
Noted conductor Heinz Fricke of the Washington Opera will conduct the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Cape Town Opera chorus and cast in the one-off performance of Fidelio on Robben Island on 27 March.
The production, mounted as part of the celebrations of the 10th year of South Africa's democracy, will star London-based soprano Elizabeth Connell as the courageous heroine Leonore and Cuban-born tenor Moises Parker as the political prisoner Florestan.
Jointly presented by the Norwegian National Opera and Cape Town Opera, Fidelio on Robben Island also recognises 150 years of democracy in Norway and its long-standing relationship with South Africa.
Norwegian singers Carsten Stabell (as Rocco) and Trond Halstein Moe (as Pizarro) will be joined by South Africans Linda Bukhosini (as Marzelline), Bongani Tembe (as Jaquino) and Abel Moeng as the good governor Don Fernando.
The show will be filmed for international release by Norwegian
director Stein-Roger Bull, who specialises in site-specific cultural events, in collaboration with the SABC.
The SABC will be transmitting the performance to a giant screen at the Green Point Track (cricket ground) from 7pm on Saturday. The venue seats about 3 000 people, and attendance is free.
SAfm, the SABC's national radio station, will also be relaying Fidelio live from Robben Island. SAfm senior producer Simon Lomberg told Tonight that the SABC has tackled some really big music projects before, "but probably never to this extent. A 47-piece orchestra, chorus, nine vocal soloists, plus presenters and audience effects will all have to be recorded."
According to Tonight, a huge amount of planning has gone into the recording of Fidelio. The hi-tech set and lighting, TV and radio equipment - not to mention the kitchen - had to be shipped across to Robben Island. Ten cameras as well a helicopter equipped with a camera
for aerial shots will be used during the opera.
Cape Town Opera CEO and University of Cape Town professor Angelo Gobbato, who directs the opera, told The Star Tonight that he considered the production a pilgrimage.
"Here is a prison that has liberated the leaders of South Africa", Gobbato said. "And here is Beethoven's opera talking of just that. It was originally written based on a piece of real history in Marseille, but it could just as easily have been written for Robben Island."
Gobbato told The Star that the physicality of Robben Island would be brought into the production. "We thought of doing it in the quarry or various hills. Then without thinking we went to a recreational court yard, a walled space with barbed wire at the top of it. At one end is a stone tower crying out for a trumpeter to climb to the top and give the famous trumpet call."
The acoustics, Gobbato said, "are absolutely wonderful. It won't be amplified music, it will be a live controlled
artistic performance."
Booking for this historic performance of Beethoven's "freedom opera" has opened at Computicket, and tickets cost R1250. The price includes the ferry trip, printed programme, a full meal, a souvenir from the island and the performance.
To ease the strain on the ferries, the dinner will be served in two stages: early arrivals will eat before the performance and those who come later will eat afterwards. The departure time for the performance will be indicated on admittance tickets.
The final dress rehearsal, on 25 March, will be reserved for community audiences at a reduced rate. Inquiries to Christine Crouse at (021) 410-9858.
Fidelio on Robben Island is supported by the National Lotteries Distribution Fund, the national department of arts and culture, the Western Cape provincial government, the Western Cape Cultural Commission, the Robben Island Museum, Artscape and the South
Africa-Norwegian Education and Music programme.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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