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Met Opera Production – Tristan und Isolde

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The second opera in the current 2016/17 Met: Live in HD season, filmed for broadcast into cinemas from The Metropolitan Opera in New York, is a new staging of Richard Wagner’s epic tragedy, Tristan und Isolde. This powerful production releases at Cinema Nouveau and select Ster-Kinekor cinemas on Saturday, 03 December, for limited screenings.

Now in its eleventh year, The Met: Live in HD series is screened in cinemas around the world, including exclusive releases at Cinema Nouveau and Ster-Kinekor here in South Africa. The Met’s new season presents ten opulent, full-length operas including five new productions, three of which are new to the series.

All three acts of Tristan und Isolde are originally set, respectively, aboard ship on the Irish Sea, in Cornwall (south-western Britain), and in Brittany (north-western France). The many versions of this story all pay homage to the Celtic ambience and probable origin of the tale. Wagner’s preservation of this context emphasises several key themes associated with ancient Celtic culture: mysticism, knowledge of the magic arts, an evolved warrior code, and a distinctly non-Christian vision of the possibilities of the afterlife.

The opera is conducted by Sir Simon Rattle in his first Live in HD performance, and is directed by Mariusz Treliński. Nina Stemme stars as the world’s pre-eminent Isolde, a touchstone role she has sung with major opera companies around the world. Her Tristan is Australian heldentenor Stuart Skelton, who sang Siegmund in the Met’s Ring cycle in 2013.

The cast also includes Ekaterina Gubanova as Brangäne and Evgeny Nikitin as Kurwenal (both in Met role debuts), with René Pape reprising King Marke, a role he has sung to acclaim in three previous Met seasons. The staging, by Mariusz Treliński (who directed the 2015 Met double bill ofIolanta and Bluebeard’s Castle) is a co-production with the Festival Hall Baden-Baden, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, and China National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Beijing.

With its world premiere at Munich Court Theater in 1865, Wagner’s breathtaking meditation on love and death holds a unique place in the opera world. Its music has astounded, infuriated, and inspired audiences since it was first heard, and the title roles in Tristan und Isolde are acknowledged as among the most extraordinarily demanding in opera. The vocal challenges, the sumptuous symphonic scale of the orchestral writing, and the mystical nature of the story, with its opportunities for creative visual design, make this awe-inspiring work a phenomenon of the Met repertory.

In addition to the production, cinema audiences are invited behind the scenes with the Met’s stars. Singers serve as hosts for the HD series, conducting live interviews with cast and crew members as well as the production teams. They introduce the popular behind-the-scenes features during the intermissions, giving cinema audiences an unprecedented look at what goes into staging an opera at one of the world’s greatest houses. The series has become a global phenomenon with more than 19 million tickets sold since its inception ten years ago.

The Tristan und Isolde intermission feature includes:

  • Peter Gelb previews the 2016-17 HD season
  • Live backstage interviews with conductor Sir Simon Rattle and stars Nina Stemme and  Stuart Skelton
  • 50th anniversary feature celebrating the Met at Lincoln Centre

The approximate running time is 4hrs 47mins, including two intervals.

Watch a preview of Mariusz Treliński’s new production of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, starring Nina Stemme and Stuart Skelton and conducted by Simon Rattle, here:   https://youtu.be/hgFbZpXywS8

View the Met: Live in HD 2016/17 season trailer here: https://youtu.be/cEG9JfPWXs8?list=RDcEG9JfPWXs8

These grand operas, filmed at the iconic Metropolitan Opera House, feature some of the world’s most talented singers, conductors, composers, orchestra musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers and dancers.

With these exclusive productions, Cinema Nouveau continues to give local audiences the opportunity to witness these spectacular ‘live’ opera productions broadcast on the big screen, in full digital projection, at various sites across South Africa. Past productions have received critical acclaim and gained recognition around the world.

For booking information on Don Giovanni as part of The Met: Live in HD season, visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za or https://movies.sterkinekor.co.za. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For information, call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437).

The Met: Live in HD – 2016-17 Schedule

The season opened on 19 November with Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and is followed by Wagner’s epic tragedy, Tristan und Isolde from 03 December. The season continues in 2017 with the series’ first broadcast of Kaija Saariaho’s L’Amour de Loin (07 January 2017), Verdi’s famous Nabucco (04 February), Charles Gounod’s lush adaptation of Shakespeare’s Roméo et Juliette (11 February), Rusalka by Antonin Dvorak (25 March), Verdi’s favourite La Traviata  (08 April), Idomeneo by Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (24 April), Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin (20 May), and finally, Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier (10 June).

L’AMOUR DE LOIN – Kaija Saariaho (releases on 07 January 2017)  – Met Premiere

Libretto: Amin Maalouf

Conductor: Susanna Mälkki

Production: Robert Lepage

Set Designer: Michael Curry

Costume Designer: Michael Curry

Lighting Designer: Kevin Adams

Lightscape Image Designer: Lionel Arnould

Cast: Susanna Phillips (Clémence), Tamara Mumford (The Pilgrim), Eric Owens (Jaufré Rudel)

One of the most highly praised operas of recent years, which had its premiere at the Salzburg Festival in 2000, Kaija Saariaho’s yearning medieval romance L’Amour de Loin (“Love From Afar”), has its Met premiere this season. Finnish composer Saariaho’s breakthrough opera, described by theNew York Times as “transfixing…a lushly beautiful score”, has its Metropolitan Opera premiere in a dazzling new production featuring glimmering ribbons of LED lights that extend across the length of the stage and over the orchestra pit. The production is by Robert Lepage, co-produced with L’Opéra de Québec, where it premiered to acclaim last summer, in collaboration with Ex Machina. Debuting Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki leads the performance, which stars Susanna Phillips as Clémence, Eric Owens as Jaufré, and Tamara Mumford as the Pilgrim who carries messages of love between them.

(Running time:  2hrs 33mins, including one interval)

Durbanite
Author: Durbanite

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‘DON’T LET’S GO TO THE DOGS TONIGHT’ PREMIERES LOCALLY THIS MONTH

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Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, the highly anticipated feature film based on Alexandra Fuller’s best-selling memoir, will have its official South African premiere on 25 July 2025.

Directed and adapted for screen by Embeth Davidtz, the film marks a rare and powerful cinematic portrayal of Zimbabwe’s transition from colonial rule to independence through the eyes of a child.

Shot in South Africa , the film brings to life 8-year-old Bobo’s coming-of-age amidst the final days of the Rhodesian Bush War. Played by newcomer Lexi Venter, Bobo is a white child growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe, grappling with grief, fractured family life, and the racial dynamics of a world at war. The film’s raw emotion and nuanced storytelling offer an African narrative told from within, with complexity, empathy, and historical depth.

With a powerful local cast including Zikhona Bali, Fumani N Shilubana, and Rob Van Vuuren, and supported by a seasoned creative team, the film is both global in its reach and deeply rooted in the Southern African soil.

Director Embeth Davidtz, who also stars in the film, drew on her own childhood in apartheid-era South Africa to tell the story from Bobo’s point of view allowing space for innocence, questioning, and emotional truth.

This film is deeply personal for me. It helped me process my own childhood in apartheid-era South Africa. Through Bobo’s eyes, I wanted to show that even in the middle of pain and inherited racism, love and transformation are actually possible” stated Embeth Davidtz.

The film is executive produced by South African media powerhouses Anele Mdoda, Frankie Du Toit, and Trevor Noah, and produced by Helena Spring and Paul Buys, whose work continues to redefine African cinema on the global stage.

Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight now comes home, inviting South African audiences into a layered exploration of land, identity, memory, and healing.

Shelley
Author: Shelley

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Jeremy Loops to perform at Old Mutual Music at the Lake Concert at the Durban Botanic Gardens on Saturday 19 October.

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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 2 PM, with the concert wrapping up by 7 PM, 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,” gives 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.

Shelley
Author: Shelley

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DRIVE IN CINEMA AT SUNCOAST DURBAN

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In early May, Impi Concept Events launched Parkflix, a drive-in style entertainment solution to provide KZN fans with their fix of (socially-distanced) entertainment through a host of open-air movie screenings. As lockdown restrictions slowly start to ease, event organisers are thrilled to announce a partnership with Marriott Investment Managers and… an official start date:  Thursday the 13th of August.

From the 13th to the 30th of August, fans can join in the outdoor entertainment from the safety and comfort of their own cars as a series of family favourite movies, blockbuster DVD hits and golden oldie movies are screened outdoors at Suncoast, Durban.

Up to 200 vehicles can be accommodated per show; with attendees arriving in their cars and tuning in via their FM radio sets. The concept ticks all the boxes in terms of safety, as entertainment is displayed on the 12m wide large screen and food is ordered and delivered on-site, giving attendees no reason to leave the car – other than to visit the bathroom.

Suncoast is thrilled to be part of the team bringing back the drive-in concept to Durban,” says Suncoast Marketing Louise Howell. “In a time when everyone needs a little fun to lift the spirits, Parkflix provides the perfect opportunity to entertain the whole family and support local businesses while still adhering to the COVID safety regulations.“

 

SCHEDULE

Movie screenings will take place at 18h45 on Thursday through to Sunday, with an additional 14h00 screening on both Saturday and Sunday. Movies to be aired include Bad Boys For Life featuring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, Star Wars: Rise of the SkywalkerShrekToy Story 4Notting Hill and Black Panther. Show dates, times and screenings are all available on the Parkflix and Suncoast Facebook pages.

DAY SCREENING TIME
Thursday 13th Aug Bad Boys For Life 18h45
Friday 14th Aug Star Wars: Rise of the Skywalker 18h45
Saturday 15th Aug Shrek 15h00
Notting Hill 18h45
Sunday 16th Aug Toy Story 4 15h00
Black Panther 18h45

COSTS

The cost per show is R220-00 per car of 2 people, with R50-00 per additional person.
Children under 8 are free. Tickets are available immediately via www.webtickets.co.za.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

No movie experience is complete without popcorn. As such, each car will receive one box of Marriott popcorn and one bottle of still aQuelle water. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks or they can purchase from the dedicated Suncoast food vendors who will deliver orders directly to cars.

“Marriott Investment Managers are really excited to be able to partner with Impi Concept Events again,” says Sally Anderson, Head of Marketing at Marriott. “Having previously worked with them on the Marriott Ballito Beats music series on the North Coast of KZN, we share a common goal of bringing fun, family-centric entertainment to the people of Durban with an exciting new form of entertainment during these times.”

In an economic downturn, this partnership is a key investment for KZN’s entertainment industry,” says Stu Berry, Director at Impi Concept Events. “Marriott’s investment will not only provide a wonderful opportunity for the people of KZN to be entertained but will stimulate the industry’s supply chain through the injection of cash flow into the technical, security, ticketing and operational companies that would be required to run these events.

REGULATIONS

No alcohol, cigarettes or firearms are allowed on site; and no picnic spots are to be set up outside of cars. Stringent social distancing regulations will be adhered to at all times. Patrons will be required to wear their masks when making their way to the ablutions.

Limited VIP and general access tickets are available at www.webtickets.co.za.
For personal enquiries around the potential booking of the Parkflix venue and setup for private functions, please email info@splashyfen.co.za.

Shelley
Author: Shelley

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