The DUET Endowment Trust Gala 2025 Promises an Evening of Fine Music with World-class Talent

On 4 October 2025, the Artscape Opera House will set the stage for an evening of musical brilliance as Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra present the Duet Endowment Trust Gala Concert. The event celebrates South Africa’s world-class talent and cultural legacy, bringing together internationally renowned stars, rising voices, and full orchestral forces under the baton of maestro Gaetano Lo Coco.

Founded by Mrs. Wendy Ackerman, the Duet Endowment Trust supports the long-term sustainability of both Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. It also underlines the importance of investing in the future of classical music in South Africa. Here’s everything you need to know about the gala.

Guest Performers of the DUET Endowment Trust Gala 2025

Golda Schultz

Cape Town-born soprano Golda Schultz has risen to international acclaim as one of today’s most captivating lyrical voices. A graduate of the University of Cape Town and the Juilliard School in New York, she honed her craft as a Cape Town Opera Judith Neilson Young Artist and the Bavarian State Opera Studio.

Schultz’s artistry has graced stages including La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera, where her interpretations of Mozart, Strauss and Verdi have enchanted audiences worldwide. Her 2022 debut solo album This Be Her Verse revealed her intellectual and emotional depth, earning her the Bavarian government’s Special Prize for Culture and recognition as Artiste Étoile by the Lucerne Festival.

Jacques Imbrailo

Sharing the stage with Schultz is South African baritone Jacques Imbrailo, whose compelling stage presence and richly expressive voice have captivated audiences around the world.

After winning the Audience Prize at the 2007 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, Imbrailo has performed leading roles at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne and the Metropolitan Opera. His versatility and emotional nuance have made him a standout performer in both classical and contemporary operatic repertoire.

Conductor: Gaetano Lo Coco

At the helm of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is maestro Gaetano Lo Coco, a rising international star whose unique blend of literary insight—honed at Oxford—and musical training from Vienna has led to deeply engaging performances across Europe. Lo Coco’s 2022 debut conducting Nabucco with Plácido Domingo, the Slovenian Philharmonic and the Wiener Staatsopernchor in Graz marked a significant milestone in his career.

Equally accomplished in operatic and symphonic repertoire, he has led productions at esteemed venues such as Opera Vlaanderen, the Opéra National de Lorraine and Teatro de la Maestranza. As founder of the Rossini 2016 Young Artists’ Opera Festival, Lo Coco has also demonstrated a deep commitment to emerging talent.

Rising South African Voices

The gala will also feature Cape Town Opera House Soloists Brittany Smith, Nonhlanhla Yende and Lukhanyo Moyake, alongside Judith Neilson Young Artists Khayakazi Madlala, Lonwabo Mose and Sisikelelwe Mngenela. Together with the Cape Town Opera Vocal Ensemble and Children’s Chorus, these performers will contribute to choral highlights and beloved ensemble pieces.

Enjoy a Rich and Diverse Programme

The evening promises a superb musical journey. Highlights include Schultz’s interpretations of Gounod’s ‘Jewel Song’ from Faust, Mozart’s ‘Or sai chi l’onore’ from Don Giovanni and Stravinsky’s ‘No word from Tom’ from The Rake’s Progress. Imbrailo will shine in excerpts from Eugene Onegin, Billy Budd and Don Carlo.

The Vocal Ensemble will bring sparkle with arias and ensembles from Carmen, Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, Roméo et Juliette and La traviata. Meanwhile, the CTO Children’s Chorus will add youthful energy in works including Péter-Louis van Dijk’s The Selfish Giant. The performance will culminate in unforgettable moments from The Marriage of Figaro and Carmen.