Cape Town twist to Deep South story

Wyre Davies BBC Wales correspondent

Xolela Sixaba (Porgy) and Lisa Daltirus (Bess) in the Cape Town Opera's production of the Gershwin opera Photo: Kiran Ridley

A famous and controversial opera about the American deep South, has been transformed into the reality of township South Africa.

In Cardiff tonight, the Cape Town Opera begins a much anticipated UK tour of Porgy and Bess.

George Gershwin's ground-breaking opera was first performed in 1935 and from the fast, opening fight scene this is a production that quickly gets to grips with his themes of poverty, abuse and addiction.

Originally set in the vibrant, yet inherently racist, American deep-south of the 1920s and 30s, the Cape Town production switches to 1970s South Africa with consummate ease.

A big set with a big cast and some big characters like Miranda Tini, who plays Maria the shopkeeper. She's been with the company since 1994 but says it was hard to make the breakthrough.

Xolela Sixaba (Porgy) and Miranda Tini, who plays Maria

"I used to sing a lot as a girl," says Tini, as she rests after a final rehearsal on the stage at the Wales Millennium Centre.

"But when someone said I should try opera I didn't know where to start. In those days of Apartheid, we weren't even allowed in to some of the theatres."

It tells the story of the beggar Porgy, and his desperate attempts to free Bess from the combined clutches of her violent lover and a drug dealer.

In the 60s and 70s, particularly in America, some criticised the work - for its perceived condescending, racial stereotypes.

For members of the Cape Town repertoire, like bass-baritone Xolela Sixaba, the struggles faced by Gershwin's characters aren't dissimilar to his own.

We have a company of black singers who have embraced opera - it's no longer seen as a white euro-centric art form Michael Williams, general manager of the Cape Town Opera

"I grew up in the Eastern Cape in a family of singers, in church and at school - but going on to become a real singer, an opera singer was hard, very hard," Sixaba told me.

He is now an experienced performer, who has sung many leading operatic roles around the world.

For discerning Welsh audiences, songs from Porgy and Bess may bring back memories of a favourite American basso profundo - Paul Robeson - singing songs like Summertime and It Ain't Necessarily So.

Robeson's lifelong political and cultural links with Wales are the stuff of legend but Fiona Allen, from the Wales Millennium Centre, is confident today's audiences will be similarly inspired because Porgy and Bess is such a unique production.

Allen pointed out: "It can only be done with an all-black cast and the Cape Town Opera brings a real freshness and vibrancy to the work. The vocal quality is absolutely outstanding."

Michael Williams, general manager of the Cape Town Opera, had the logistical and financial headache of putting together this tour of the UK, but is proud of what the company has achieved.

The opera will also be performed in London and Edinburgh

As he oversaw the final rehearsal, Williams said: "We have a company of black singers who have embraced opera - it's no longer seen as a white euro-centric art form.

"Now we're seeing a lot of young, black singers from the townships wanting to sing opera."

Despite their humble beginnings the members of the Cape Town Opera are now experienced and accomplished performers.

For Xolela Sixaba the lead role of the disabled character Porgy is still a demanding one, having to spend the entire performance on his knees.

Taking a well-deserved rest, before Wednesday's first performance in Cardiff, Sixaba said: "It's not easy to find the stamina to sing on your knees. I always warm up by walking on my knees, then running on my knees - It's really hard!"

Five years after it opened this is one of the most important works yet at the Wales Millennium Centre.

The Cape Town Opera's Porgy and Bess runs in Cardiff until 24 October and then onto London (Royal Festival Hall, 26-27 October) and Edinburgh (Festival Theatre, 30-31 October).