OPERA AT STARWAYS ARTS CENTRE
Gwyneth Lloyd's arrival in Hogsback, Eastern Cape provided the impetus for the province's first opera company which she founded in 1995. She was engaged in performing for the provincial arts councils as an oratorio and opera soloist and recording recitals for both SABC and SATV, and her expertise was requested by local soloists to create staged performances. After her first recital in Grahamstown, she was also invited to teach voice at Rhodes University, where she has produced singing professionals, bursary winners, teachers and local soloists since 1996. Recently she also joined the music staff at Fort Hare University which enables her to combine the voices of all her students for the EastCape Opera Company ensembles.
Hogsback became the focus for all the annual productions of the EastCape Opera Company. In 1992 Gwyneth and her husband Anton also rallied the Hogsback artists to create the annual Hogsback Arts Festival. In 1995 Gwyneth and her Rhodes voice students with a local chorus presented Amahl and the Night Visitors at the Hogsback Inn. Once the Company attracted National Arts Council funding, the performances started touring the whole province, always starting the show at the Hogsback Arts Festival. They also commissioned and wrote scripts for operas about Eastern Cape legends and history - Temba & Seliba by Bongani Ndodana, The Moon Prince by Anthony Caplan and currently Ntsikana Xhosa Prophet. The Company was nominated for Best Practice Award by the national Arts & Culture Trust, for the EP Herald Show Biz Award and Gwyneth was presented with the Premier's Arts & Culture Trust Award. They were invited to tour The Netherlands with a show of Easter music and have appeared several times on the Main Festival in Grahamstown.
Highlights of their annual shows indicate a wide diversity of styles presented by the singers trained under Gwyneth Lloyd's guidance. Conductor Mkhululi Milisi joined her as music director of the Company and they were fortunate that director Neil Boyle settled in Hogsback just when they were looking for assistance with fully staged shows.
The Moon Prince - Inkosana Yenyanga toured the Eastern Cape several times, appearing in East London, Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, George and premiered at the Hogsback Inn. This was a commission of one of the great South African legends about a King with ten wives. He loses the heir to the throne who returns to his father after being nurtured by mice, crabs and a cow. It is in Xhosa and English and has rap, the blues and lively fun and dancing.
Misbehavin' appeared in the same venues, added Port Alfred and premiered at the Hogsback Festival. The Company put together a revue of Cole Porter, Gershwin and songs from musical shows which was highly entertaining, mischievous and a great hit with audiences.
The Magic Flute presented the Company for the first time with a full orchestra, they filled the theatres in Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown and premiered at Hobbiton Hall in Hogsback. Mozart's arias and ensembles were sung in German while the dialogue was in English.
There were comments that the meaning of the opera was made clearer than any other production and that the humour was easily appreciated.
The Mikado took the audiences by storm with a cast that by now was seasoned and highly competent. Higher levels of funding enabled the cast to work with an international conductor, to commission a superb lighting technician and request Japanese style scenery from Anton van der Merwe.
Opera Divertissement involves staged sections from Faust, Carmen and The Marriage of Figaro. Originally intended as a training show for new assistant directors, Opera Divertissement was so enthusiastically received when staged at The Rose Starways and the Rhodes Music Department that it has become standard repertoire for the Company.
The Singing Waiters have entertained international conferences and private dinner parties. They wear aprons and straw bashers and serve the customers while entertaining with American barbershop and humorous Xhosa songs.
There is a growing audience for opera and staged musical shows in the Eastern Cape as a result of the Company's tours. Many of the followers have seen opera for the first time and commented on the enjoyment of a genre that they would never have followed elsewhere. Gwyneth Lloyd raises all the funds and keeps the shows within the limits of each annual budget. All the workshops are held at Starways Arts Centre and the first productions will always be launched in Hogsback.
