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new image for opera
Bongani Ndodana marries African and European music to create accessible opera Philip Kakaza (Mail & Guardian July 98) Opera in South Africa has taken a radical turn. Michael Williams’s Orphans of Qumbu, which premiered at the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in 1993, springs to mind. This year, Bongani Ndodana brings a new image to opera with his piece Uhambo: The Pilgrimage, an opera/oratorio based on Guy Butler’s epic poem, Pilgrimage to Dias Cross. Butler’s poem traces an imaginary journey of a poet who meets the ghosts of historical figures. The spirit of Bartholomew Dias enables these figures to share their songs and affirm their common humanity. Ndodana won the 1998 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Award for music. Uhambo, financed by the award, brings opera to the people by using ethnic idioms and rhythms. Uhambo will be performed by the Cape Town Opera Orchestra, three solo voices and a chorus. Ndodana has also included a narration by a praise singer to give it an African touch. Ndodana has been acclaimed a maestro in writing lyrical scores that marry African and European music in an unpretentious and almost unconscious way. In November, Ndodana’s string quartet, The Sun, the Moon, the Rain, premiered at the Chicago Cultural Centre. He has also collaborated with choreographer Lindi Raizenburg of the Cape Town City Ballet on the work Episodes, for which he composed the music and conducted the orchestra. His other commissions to be performed this year include his symphony, Umuntu wa Bantu (Man of the People), with a children’s chorus. The work was commissioned by the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra in association with the Madame Walker Theatre, and will premiere later in July. He will also conduct workshops, chamber music concerts and other residential activities with members of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Ndodana will collaborate with choreographer Ronald Taylor of the Canboulay Dance Theatre of Toronto for their 1998/1999 season as music director and composer in residence. Ndodana’s music career goes back to his school days at St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown, where he started writing choral works, musicals and directing ensembles. He pursued his studies at Rhodes University and later went on to Stellenbosch University. As a student he conducted many of his own works, including Vespers, performed in 1996 at the Endler Hall at Stellenbosch. Ndodana proves that opera is for everybody. His commitment to working with young musicians makes him one of the youngest opera composers willing to take opera to the people. »read more
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