Cape Town Opera Chorus returns with free community concerts

Join the Cape Town Opera for a series of free community concerts in Gugulethu, Woodstock, Pinelands, and Sarepta in Kuils River, aiming to make opera accessible to all.

The series of free performances, entitled “Opera in Your Neighbourhood” returns following the death of tenor Lula "Mlungiseleli" Nqadini, earlier this month.

The free concerts are sponsored by the City of Cape Town and the Judith Neilson Foundation.

CTO artistic director Magdalene Minnaar said the series was aimed at making this genre of music accessible to all “by bringing free performances to local community venues, fostering a deeper connection between the art form and diverse audiences across the city.”

“The series is part of the opera’s broader commitment to community engagement and cultural enrichment,” she said. 

“By eliminating barriers to access, such as ticket costs and travel distances, CTO ensures that the transformative power of opera reaches every corner of Cape Town, reflecting CTO's shared vision of inclusive and accessible arts programming,” said Ms Minnaar.

Each concert will be an entertaining showcase of the rich vocal talents of the chorus directed by Antoinette Huyssen. 

These performances are designed to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds, emphasizing the universal appeal of opera.

The performances include the renowned CTO Chorus singing a combination of contemporary, traditional songs and a few operatic favourites.

The concerts start at noon and will be at the Gugulethu Community Hall on Wednesday June 25; Woodstock community hall on Thursday June 26; Pinelands Town Hall at 6pm Friday June 27; and at Sarepta Community Hall, in Kuils River, noon on Saturday July 12.

Entry to each of the concerts is free, on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information, visit  @capetownopera on social media or visit www.capetownopera.co.za