Gauteng Opera presents Cosi Fan Tutte at the State Theatre, Pretoria
Gauteng Opera (previously Black Tie Ensemble VO1SS) will kick off its 2014 season with a fully-staged operatic production of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte (sung in Italian with English subtitles), opening on Sunday 02 March at the State Theatre in Pretoria. Directed by the company’s CEO, Marcus Desando, and funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), the production forms part of Gauteng Opera’s development programme. The main cast will be understudied by Gauteng Opera’s Studio members and Gauteng Opera Academy trainees will form part of the chorus. The cast consists of experienced opera singers, including soprano Nozuko Teto, who is currently performing in Italy, after winning an international singing competition, “Toti del Monte”.
Cosi Fan Tutte, which is popularly loosely translated “Women are like that” poses fun at how fickle love is, by playing two young men against themselves, really, as they place a bet to test their lovers’ love.
“This production of Cosi Fan Tutte will be based in the present period and in a seaside village where the rich and the navy can mix. It will explore the sites of opulence within the ridiculousness of the rich girls and their very fickle lovers” says Director Marcus Desando.
He enthusiastically adds, “Gauteng Opera (GO), with the wonderful support of the NLDTF, is able to celebrate opera to the core and also celebrate home-grown South African talent. We chose Cosi Fan Tutte by WA Mozart as the first opera to be produced by GO as it has all the elements of a great opera from beautiful singing to the drama it puts forward. We as a company are very excited about this opera because it will be proudly South African; from the smallest chorus role to the conductor and with this we proudly say “Opera for Everyone”.
Production Team
- Conductor Alex Fokkens
- Director Marcus Desando
- Set Designer Nadine Minnaar
- Lighting Designer Wilhelm Disbergen
- Costume Designer Arnold Cloete
Cast list
- Fiordiligi Nozuko Teto (Soprano)
- Dorabella Annemarie Steenkamp (Mezzo Soprano)
- Despina Teresa De Wit (Soprano)
- Ferrando Phenye Modiane (Tenor)
- Guglielmo Aubrey Lodewyk (Baritone)
- Don Alfonso Douwe Bijkersma (Baritone)
Performance dates
- Sunday 02 March 2026 15h00
- Tuesday 04 March 2026 15h00 (School performance)
- Friday 07 March 2026 19h30
Bookings at Computicket, Telephone 011 340 8000 or book online at www.computicket.com
Ticket prices: R180 to R400.
Discounts are also available for Pensioners and block bookings of 10 or more. There will be a scholars-only performance on 4 March 2026 for children aged 16 and above, with tickets selling at R50.00. Kindly contact 012 3227944 to book these tickets.
About Gauteng Opera
With the slogan “Opera for Everyone”, Gauteng Opera aims to expose opera to varied audiences, by offering Opera in different forms (Opera for One, Opera on the Go, Opera for Fun, Opera to the Core, and Opera for the Future). Driven by excellence in vocal performance and theatre, Gauteng Opera prides itself in being one of the foremost nurturers of experts and proponents for quality vocal performance and theatre practitioners.
Both the Gauteng Opera Studio and Academy aim to discover and nurture the voices of naturally-talented singers, and mould them in order to produce quality vocal performances that can proudly and excellently epitomize the rich artistic talent that South Africa possesses.
About funding supporter, NLDTF
The NLDTF relies on funds from the proceeds of the National Lottery, guided by The Lotteries Act on the way in which NLDTF funding may be allocated. The NLDTF wants the grants to make a difference to lives of all South Africans, especially those more vulnerable and to improve the sustainability of the beneficiary organisations. Available funds are distributed to registered and qualifying non-profit organisations in the fields of charities; arts, culture and national heritage; and sport and recreation. By placing its emphasis on areas of greatest need and potential, the NLDTF contributes to South Africa’s development.
Issued by Gauteng Opera on 06 January 2026
Contact: Audrey Mekgwe at 012 322 7944
[email protected]; www.gautengopera.org
