Verdi celebrated at Linder Auditorium
South Africa's best tenors and sopranos under the baton of world famous conductor.
The Linder Auditorium at Wits University, along with Gauteng Opera, recently celebrated the 200th birth-year of well-known composer Giuseppe Verdi with an opera gala of note.
The concerto was conducted by the Kapellmeister from the State Theatre of Nürnberg in Germany, Philipp Pointer, who was joined by baritone Aubrey Lodewyk and soprano Natalie Dickson. Assisting them were artiests from Forté; Kagiso Boroko, Annemarie Steenkamp, Phenye Modiane and the Gauteng Opera Choir. A full philharmonic orchestra supported the vocalists and choir to the audiences delight whilst exploring the genius of Verdi’s most popular operatic choruses, including Va Pansiero, I Lombardo and the moving Don Carlo. Dickson and Steenkamp were a feast for the eyes in their designer ball gowns.
Lodewyk and Dickson’s version I vespri Sicilliani sent goose bumps along one’s spine. The evening was concluded by masterfully honed voices which serenaded the auditorium filled with opera lovers, who cheered loudly and even gave a standing ovation after the riveting performance of Aida.
