Entertainment

CINEMA NOUVEAU PRESENTS 2014 / 15 METROPOLITAN OPERA SEASON, INCLUDING FIVE NEW PRODUCTIONS

Published

10 years ago

20 February 2015

Durbanite

Lehár’s enchanting operetta, “The Merry Widow”, performed in English, releases at Cinema Nouveau on 21 February 2015 for limited screenings

In The Merry Widow, the great Renée Fleming stars as the beguiling femme fatale, Hanna Glawari, who captivates all of Paris. In this new English production of the comic operetta, a wealthy widow’s countrymen launch a romantic plot to keep her—and her tax dollars—within their borders.

Lehár’s enchanting operetta is presented in an exciting new staging by Broadway virtuoso director and choreographer, and four-time Tony Award winner, Susan Stroman (The Producers, Oklahoma!, Contact). Stroman makes her Met debut with this production.

This next opera in the current Met: Live in HD series screened in South Africa, releases on Saturday, 21 February for a limited season till 05 March, at Cinema Nouveau and select Ster-Kinekor cinemas countrywide. The 17 January matinee performance was filmed for transmission worldwide as part of the Met’s Live in HD series, which now reaches more than 1 900 movie theatres in 70 countries around the world. Bookings are now open. Visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za for more details.

Stroman and her design team of Julian Crouch (Satyagraha, The Enchanted Island) and costume designer William Ivey Long (Cinderella, Grey Gardens, Hairspray) have created an art-nouveau setting that climaxes with singing and dancing at the legendary Parisian restaurant, Maxim’s. Nathan Gunn co-stars as Danilo and Broadway star Kelli O’Hara makes her operatic debut at The Met as Valencienne. The cast also includes Alek Shrader as Camille and Thomas Allen as Baron Zeta.

Sir Andrew Davis is the conductor of this lively opera, with highlights of the score including the familiar ‘Vilja Song’ for the title character, and a climactic song-and-dance set piece featuring a chorus line of grisettes at Maxim’s.

Renée Fleming adds a new role to her extensive repertory with this, her first-ever performance of Hanna Glawari, the title role in Lehár’s The Merry Widow. Four-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman makes her Met debut as director and choreographer of a new production of the comic operetta, in which a wealthy widow’s countrymen launch a romantic plot to keep her—and her tax dollars—within their borders.

Hanna Glawari is Renée Fleming’s 22^nd role at the Met, where she has given more than 230 performances in a wide-ranging repertory. Her most recent appearances with the company have been as the title characters in Dvořák’s Rusalka, Handel’sRodelinda, Rossini’s Armida, and Massenet’s Thais; Desdemona in Verdi’s Otello; and two Richard Strauss roles, the Countess inCapriccio and the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier. In 2010, she sang excerpts from the operetta in concert at the Dresden Semperoper.

Susan Stroman is the director and choreographer of nine Broadway musicals, most recently Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish, The Scottsboro Boys, Young Frankenstein, and The Frogs. She is the winner of four Tony Awards, including one each as director and choreographer for her work on the 2001 hit The Producers, and has been nominated an additional 12 times, for directing or choreographing a variety of productions including The Music Man, Steel Pier, Show Boat, Contact, and Crazy For You.

Nathan Gunn’s Met repertory of 15 roles includes Clyde Griffiths in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s An American Tragedy, the title role in Britten’s Billy Budd, Schaunard in Puccini’s La Bohème, Raimbaud in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, Guglielmo in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Mercutio in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, and Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, a role he has performed more than 30 times with the company.

Kelli O’Hara has appeared in nine Broadway musicals, earning Tony nominations for her last five starring roles: Francesca in The Bridges of Madison County, Billie Bendix in Nice Work If You Can Get It, Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, Babe Williams in The Pajama Game, and Clara Johnson in The Light in the Piazza. She recently played Mrs. Darling in NBC’s live broadcast of Peter Pan,and later this season will star as Anna Leonowens in a Lincoln Center Theater revival of The King and I.

Sir Andrew Davis conducted the Met premiere of The Merry Widow in 2000. He made his Met debut in 1981 leading Richard Strauss’s Salome and has conducted a total of ten operas with the company, including Don Giovanni; Il Barbiere di Siviglia; Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, which he also conducts at the Met this season; and both the Met premiere and 2011 revival ofCapriccio. Davis is the Music Director at Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chief Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

The Merry Widow features a new English translation by Jeremy Sams, who devised and wrote The Enchanted Island for his Met debut in 2011 and returned last season as lyricist and director for a new production of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. The set designer is Julian Crouch, whose previous Met credits include The Enchanted Island, Philip Glass’s Satyagraha, John Adams’sDoctor Atomic, and the Met’s 125^th Anniversary Gala. Six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long makes his Met debut as costume designer; his many notable credits include Nine, Guys and Dolls, Smokey Joe’s Café, Chicago, Cabaret, Contact, The Producers, Hairspray, Grey Gardens, Cinderella, and Bullets Over Broadway. Paule Constable’s previous lighting designs for the Met include Satyagraha, Don Giovanni, Anna Bolena, and this season’s new production of Le Nozze di Figaro.

Each of The Met: Live in HD operas is a glorious production that will be screened exclusively at Cinema Nouveau and select Ster-Kinekor theatres countrywide, including: Gateway Nouveau, Durban; V&A Waterfront Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor Blue Route in Cape Town; Ster-Kinekor Garden Route in George; Rosebank Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor Bedford View in Johannesburg; and at Brooklyn Nouveau, Pretoria.

The Merry Widow releases on Saturday, 21 February 2015, for a limited season. The running time of this production is approximately 2hrs 57mins, and includes one intermission.

For booking information on The Met: Live in HD season, visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mobi, You can also download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry smart phone for updates, news and to make bookings. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For queries, call Ticketline on 0861 Movies (668 437).

View a preview of The Merry Widow here: http://www.metopera.org/video/2014-15/the-merry-widow/watch/the-merry-widow-201415-new-production/3193161336001#play?src=1415hdmer

Hi-res images can be downloaded at: www.skpictures.co.za

The Met: Live in HD, the Met’s award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters around the world, has expanded its worldwide distribution to more than 2 000 theatres in 70 countries this season, the largest global audience the initiative has ever reached. The series has sold more than 17 million tickets since its inception in 2006. Their release onto the big screen affords South African lovers of opera the unique opportunity to become part of the ‘live’ audience of these breathtaking performances.

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Entertainment

Jeremy Loops to perform at Durban Botanic Gardens on Saturday 19 October.

Published

6 days ago

11 September 2024

Shelley

Durban, September 11th, 2024 – Get ready for an epic Spring celebration as South Africa’s beloved singer-songwriter, Jeremy Loops, returns to Durban for the Old Mutual Music at the Lake concert series. On Saturday, 19 October, the iconic Durban Botanic Gardens will be transformed into a vibrant festival of live music and fun for the whole family.

Gates open at 2PM, with the concert wrapping up by 7PM, making it a perfect afternoon of music in one of Durban’s most stunning outdoor venues.
Tickets are limited and available on Webtickets – grab yours before they’re gone!

“Old Mutual’s sponsorship of the Music at the Lake series showcases our deep-rooted commitment to nurturing community spirit and celebrating both local and international talent. We believe in the power of music to bring people together and create lasting memories. Our support for this series is our way of supporting the arts and the communities we serve. We are proud to create platforms where talent, family and joy can flourish in the heart of Durban’s historic Botanic Gardens,” said Thobile Tshabalala, Head of Brand at Old Mutual.

Jeremy Loops brings more than just his live performance magic—he’s back with brand-new music! His latest single, “Go Again,” drops today, 11 September, giving fans a fresh anthem to vibe to before the show. Featuring his signature blend of soulful lyrics and upbeat melodies, “Go Again” is an empowering track about facing life’s challenges head-on.

In Jeremy’s words, “Go Again is my declaration to lean into positivity, to find strength in the storm, and to bring the sunshine, even when it’s raining.” The song, co-written and produced with Edd Holloway (known for his work with Dean Lewis and Lewis Capaldi), marks Jeremy’s second release this year following “Dust Over Dunes” (August 2nd) and gives fans a taste of what to expect from his forthcoming album.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to experience Jeremy Loops live at the Durban Botanic Gardens. Enjoy the perfect family outing, surrounded by nature and incredible music. Book your tickets now!

Event Details:

Old Mutual Music at the Lake with Jeremy Loops
Date: Saturday, 19 October
Location: Durban Botanic Gardens
Tickets: Available now via Webtickets
Capacity: Limited to 2500 attendees
Times: Gates open 14h00 – Show ends 19h00.

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Attractions

Drakensberg Hikes with PathFinders_SA

Published

7 months ago

1 March 2024

mrjoelmagic

Explore the Drakensberg mountains with PathFinders_SA!

The purpose of PathFinders_SA is to provide more people with the opportunity to experience the majesty of the mountains and all they have to teach us. They achieve this through offering guided adventures in the Drakensberg, South Africa: their guides are qualified and registered with CATHSETTA. PathFinders_SA offer both calendar hikes (pre-planned adventures that any individual or small group may join) as well as customised group trips. We are able to guide anywhere in the Drakensberg, and are not limited to a few commercial routes. However, here are some of their community favourites:

Mnweni Circuit
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 30km, 1500m elevation gain
Level: intermediate
Cost: R2000pp including permits, guide and tents

Mnweni Circuit

Mafadi
Duration: 3-4 days
Distance: 52km, 1800m elevation gain
Level: intermediate to advanced
Highlights: Highest peak in South Africa
Cost: R2500pp including permits, guide and tents

Pillar Cave
Duration: 2 days
Distance: 5km
Level: beginner. Suitable for children
Cost: R1200pp including permits, guide and dinner and breakfast on the mountain

Pillar Cave

Rhino Peak
Duration: 1 or 2 days
Distance: 21km
Level: intermediate (2days), advanced (1day)
Cost: R1000pp including permits and guide

Rhino Peak

Didima Circuit
Duration: 3 days
Distance: 35km
Level: intermediate to advanced
Highlights: Tseketseke Hut and Roland’s Cave
Cost: R2200pp including permits, guide and tents

Roland’s Cave

Amphitheatre Adventure
Duration: 1 or 2 days
Distance: 12km
Level: beginner to intermediate
Cost: R2500pp including permits, shuttle to the start and guide

Amphitheatre

For more information or to book your next adventure, connect with us:

Website: www.pathfinderssa.com
Instagram: @pathfinders_sa
Call: 071 411 0768
Email: pathfinderssa@gmail.com

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Competitions

Win Tickets to Milky Chance in Durban!

Published

8 months ago

2 February 2024

mrjoelmagic

Milky Chance recently announced their long-awaited return to South Africa with their “Living In A Haze” tour in February 2024 which will see them perform in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. The German Duo are excited to confirm that both Neon Dreams and Sean Koch will join them as support acts on the line-up for their shows in Cape Town (15 February) and Johannesburg (17 February), and Neon Dreams will also join Milky Chance in Durban (18 February) as support act.

Canadian duo Neon Dreams are no strangers to the South African music scene. Their 2019 single “Life Without Fantasies” reached the top of the South African viral charts amassing millions of streams in 2021 during the lockdown. The band connected with tens of thousands of fans online which led to their first sold out headline tour. They have continued to cement themselves in the industry here, having toured the country a number of times over the past few years and return in February 2024 to share the stage with Milky Chance in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

Sean Koch is one of SA’s most-loved indie-folk artists who brings a mixed bag of African and western, influence alongside messages of home, a connection to nature, the ocean and the people around him; to his storytelling, feel-good music. While rooted in his flowing-folk style, his music is diverse. From dance infused songs like ‘Lift You Up’ the standout single from his collection (including the Double MZK & G DOM remix) to the dreamier songs like ‘Feel the Energy’ that carry deeper messages of connection to the natural world and the people that surround us. There is something for everyone in Sean’s catalogue.

How to Enter:

Instagram
1. Follow Durbanite, Milky Chance & Breakout Events’ Instagram pages.
2. Tell us who Milky Chance’s supporting act is in Durban & tag who you’d take with if you win.

Facebook
1. Follow Durbanite, Milky Chance & Breakout Events’ Facebook pages.
2. Tell us who Milky Chance’s supporting act is in Durban & tag who you’d take with if you win.

Closing Date:
Monday, 12 February 2024

Winner Announced:
Tuesday, 13 February 2024

Entries limited to 5 per day.
Winners will be selected at random from valid entries.
Durbanite Competition T&Cs apply.

Tickets are on sale from https://breakoutevents.co.za/ and are selling fast, so get yours now!

Neon Dreams

Milky Chance “Living In A Haze” South African Tour 2024 details:

DURBAN

Date: Sunday 18 February 2024
Time: 11:00 – 18:30
Venue: Durban Botanic Gardens uMphafa Field
Address: 9A John Zikhali Road, Berea, Durban 4001
Line up: Milky Chance + Neon Dreams + final opening act to be announced
Tickets:
General Admission Phase One: R495 ex R35 Fee
General Admission Phase Two: R595 ex R35 Fee
Ticket Link: https://breakout.howler.co.za/events/milky-chance-live-in-durban-5c47
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/181914891636282/

#MilkyChanceSouthAfrica

For more info, go to:
Ticketing link: https://breakoutevents.co.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abreakoutevent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abreakoutevent
Twitter: https://twitter.com/abreakoutevent

Follow Milky Chance online:
Official Website: https://www.milkychance.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkychance_official/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/milkychancemusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/milkychance

Milky Chance “Living In A Haze” South African Tour Dates:

15 February 2024 – Green Point A-Track, Cape Town
(supported by Neon Dreams and Sean Koch)

17 February 2024 – Marks Park in Emmarentia, Johannesburg
(supported by Neon Dreams and Sean Koch + final opening act to be announced)

18 February 2024 – Durban Botanic Gardens uMphafa Field, Durban
(supported by Neon Dreams + final opening act to be announced)