Cape Town audiences were treated to a sumptuous afternoon of Baroque vocal and instrumental music presented by the KT Wong Foundation in its first partnership with Cape Town Opera
On Sunday, 17 February 2019, a singular treat awaited Cape Town’s lovers of Baroque opera in the rarefied atmosphere of the Centre for the Book. Thanks to an extremely successful collaboration between the KT Wong Foundation, Camerata Tinta Barocca and Cape Town Opera, a sumptious international recital of Handel arias and duets by renowned counter-tenor Lawrence Zazzo from the United States was presented, our own sopranos Lynelle Kenned and Brittany Smith joining him in “Caro! Bella! Più amabile beltà” and “V’adoro pupille” respectively. The music allowed Kenned and Smith to show off their pristine top registers and they also revelled in the opportunity to display their agility and brilliance in the various embellishments. Zazzo, on the other hand, completely captivated and charmed the audience with his intelligent, energetic and technically superb performance of arias such as “Vivi tiranno”, “Se in fiorito ameno prato” from Giulio Cesare in Egittoand “Pompe vane di morte – Dove sei” from Rodelinda, all delivered with the required dramatic flair. Of course none of this would have been possible without the support of the Camerata Tinta Barocca orchestra under the able leadership of Erik Dippenaar. The highly memorable concert, two hours of sublime music, left one hankering after many more such quality recitals in the future.