[J.S. Mzilikazi Khumalo]
AfriClassical recently posted a link to a review of the Opera Africa production of Princess Magogo. The music was composed by the South African composer, arranger and choral director J.S. Mzilikazi Khumalo (b. 1932), who is profiled at AfriClassical.com. Today we offer a second opinion of the production:
Tonight.co.za
April 30, 2009
By J Brooks Spector
COMPOSER: Mzilikazi Khumalo
ARRANGER/ADDITIONAL MUSIC: Michael Hankinson
LIBRETTO: Themba Msimang
COMPANY: Opera Africa
DIRECTOR: Themi Venturas
CONDUCTOR: Vincent de Kort and Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra
DESIGNER: Andrew Verster
WHERE: The Mandela at the Joburg Theatre
WHEN: Tonight at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm
RATING: ****
“The opera, Princess Magogo, is based on the life of the woman who helped revive the fortunes of the Zulu nation with her music in the hard years after the Bhambatha Rebellion.” “Director Themi Venturas and conductor Vincent de Kort guide the whole production with a clear, unified vision.
Mzilikazi Khumalo has said that he composes so that in their Valhalla… 'the thousands can sing, they can dance and they can celebrate'. He has succeeded. Princess Magogo demonstrates that South Africa holds great dramatic stories that can be worthy inspirations for operatic works - can we some day look forward to operas on such stories, among others, as the tragedy of Saartjie Baartman or the drama of the Treason Trial?”
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