Event information
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Opera School presents the fully staged performance of Gaetano Donizetti's "lost" opera, 'Dalinda' at the Baxter Theatre.
This marks the first complete performance of this opera in history.
'Dalinda', an opera believed to have been lost to history, was rediscovered in 2019 and meticulously reconstructed. Initially thought to be another version of Donizetti’s famous opera, 'Lucrezia Borgia,' (as he had a tendency to replicate his own work), further examination of the score revealed that 'Dalinda' is an opera in its own right.
The work had been lost for two centuries and censored due to its murderous plot. Set in medieval Syria, 'Dalinda' follows the story of a woman navigating a world of power, love, and politics at the end of the Third Crusade.
As the wife of a Muslim leader, daughter of an assassin-lord, and estranged mother to a Christian knight, Dalinda must use all her cunning to maintain fragile peace while dealing with the consequences of her desires.
The production is directed by Italian director William Costabile Cisco, with Jeremy Silver conducting the Opera UCT cast, chorus, and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance features Molly Dzangare, Luvo Maranti, and Violina Anguelov in leading roles.
This is a thrilling opera that is sure to capture the audiences attention.
