Cape Town Opera's PORGY AND BESS to Embark on European Tour
Nonhlanhla Yende and Siyabulela Ntlale lead the cast, with Enrique Mazzola conducting.
Cape Town Opera has announced details of its September 2026 European tour of George Gershwin's masterpiece, Porgy and Bess, directed by Magdalene Minnaar. Presented as a shared stage concert, the production will showcase South African vocal excellence alongside London's celebrated Chineke! Orchestra, Europe's first majority Black and ethnically diverse professional orchestra. This landmark collaboration brings together exceptional artists from several countries in a historic staging of the opera. Maestro Enrique Mazzola will conduct.
The tour opens on 11 September 2026 at the Philharmonie de Paris, followed by performances at the Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre in Switzerland, the historic Musikfest Berlin, DE SINGEL in Antwerp, and the Konzerthaus Dortmund, where the tour concludes on 18 September.
The international engagement builds on CTO's long-standing global presence via previous global performances and through several artists who have gone on to excel in some of Europe's most revered houses. Established in 1999, the company has spent more than two decades serving as a cultural beacon, representing the diverse identity of South African society both at home and beyond.
In keeping with Gershwin's original wishes, Porgy and Bess is performed by an all-Black cast that will feature CTO's outstanding Vocal Ensemble with CTO House Soloist Nonhlanhla Yende opposite Siyabulela Ntlale in the iconic title roles. They are joined by CTO House Soloists Brittany Smith as Clara, Lukhanyo Moyake as Sportin' Life and Conroy Scott as Crown. Siphamandla Moyake will sing the role of Serena. Choreography is by Yaseen Manuel (fight scenes are choreographed by Tailyn Ramsamy) and costumes are by Maritha Visagie.
'We are incredibly proud to bring South African operatic excellence back to Europe,' said Magdalene Minnaar, also Artistic Director of Cape Town Opera. 'This tour underscores our commitment to sharing the immense talent of our artists with global audiences, proving that opera remains a vibrant, universal and deeply relevant art form.'
Following the European tour, Cape Town Opera will return to its home base at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town to prepare for upcoming seasons at Artscape which include Gounod's Roméo et Juliette in November and Oliver! the Musical, in December and January 2027, in collaboration with Pieter Toerien and by special arrangement with Cameron Mackintosh.