THE BLACK TIE ENSEMBLE
AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE

It is a fact of life in South Africa that the opportunities for young singers who aspire towards attaining any heights in the field of opera no longer exist to the extent they once did. This reality is one that confronts virtually every young person who chooses to enter the world of the performing arts, in whatever metier. Artists have been forced to create their own work and to adopt a truly entrepreneurial spirit, much in the manner of the touring theatrical companies of old, and new opportunities are being created every day.

It was in this spirit of entrepreneurship and with a determination to preserve the traditions of opera performance in this country, not to mention the creation of a pathway for gifted young singers to attain their goals, that South Africa's diva, Mimi Coertse, and celebrated opera director and costume designer, Neels Hansen, decided to create the Black Tie Ensemble.

The Ensemble has during the last two years developed into one of the most exciting classical music and singing projects in Gauteng. Proudly sponsored by Nedcor Investment Bank until 2002, with additional support given by BASA and Nedcor Foundation, the Black Tie Ensemble consists of a multicultural group of classically trained and talented young opera singers from diverse cultural groups in South Africa, and they aspire towards bringing opera and quality singing to a wider audience, mainly by way of performing at CORPORATE GATHERINGS and INDUSTRIAL EDUTAINMENT, to schools and to outlying areas. They have also performed at various Arts Festivals in South Africa and Namibia.

This initiative enables them to earn an income while gaining experience and realising their dreams with their glorious voices. The experience gained since the formation of the company in March 1999, has let to its now being in a position to embrace more challenging projects, and they staged their first opera, RIGOLETTO, during May 2001 to rave reviews. Their second opera, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, was staged in the Spoornet State Theatre, the new "home" of the Black Tie Ensemble since August 2001. The Ensemble was very honoured to have Mrs Zanele Mbeki attend the opening night. The Black Tie Ensemble elicits standing ovations at virtually all their performances. The media have been extremely impressed with the project particularly because the standard has been consistently high.

"Triumphant staging of Verdi's RIGOLETTO" - Riek van Rensburg Pretoria News
"The Black Tie se RIGOLETTO `n puik toekomsbelegging" - Thys Odendaal Beeld
"Black Ties se RIGOLETTO prysenswaardig" - Beeld
"Drie van Black Tie genooi om in Beijing te sing" - Thys Odendaal Beeld
"Grense is só in Bloemfontein oorgesteek" - Marina Griebenow Volksblad
"Black Ties sit finale stempel van welslae op fees" - Volksblad
"A Magical Butterfly" - Riek van Rensburg Pretoria News
"Prime accolade in this production goes to Zodumo Mboniswa" - Riek van Rensburg Pretoria News
"This multi-racial production of Puccini's immortal MADAMA BUTTERFLY is a triumph for the Black Tie Ensemble" - Michael Traub The Citizen
"A production not to be missed, one that South Africa can be proud of" - Michael Traub The Citizen

The Black Tie Ensemble has since its launch in March 1999 made appearances at functions for auspicious audiences such as:

* South African Airways' Executives and Lifetime Platinum cardholders
* Soirees for Vodacom, Altron, Classic FM
* The Cultural Festival "Aardklop" in Potchefstroom
* The "Namibië Kunstefees" in Windhoek
* A performance for a delegation of cultural advisors from Germany
* A soiree for Hospice in Port Elizabeth
* A soiree for The Airports Company of South Africa
* The Lipizzaners Viennese Ball
* The Garden World Concert
* Several regular concerts and Soirees for Rapport and City Press
* Edutainment programme: The Mountain to Mohammed Project at the Highveld Steel factory near Witbank
* One of the ensemble members, Linda Zitha, sang on 14 November 2000 at the Earth Gallery, National History Museum London, and had a great personal success. He repeated this performance at the Frankfurt Opera House in January 2001. This spectacular event was arranged by Ogilvy One Worldwide for South African Tourism.
* Several VIP soirees and concerts for Nedcor Investment Bank
* A recording for Kyknet's Draadloos - this was aired on 22 December 2000
* Eight Christmas concerts with the Lipizzaner horses at the Lipizzaner Centre during December 2000
* A Christmas Eve street concert at Montecasino Fourways
* During February 2001 the Ensemble performed for the Directors and Editors of all the newspapers and magazines belonging to the Naspers Group.
* Four Ensemble members sang their first Edwardian Soiree at the Sammy Marks Museum outside Pretoria on 27 March 2001 for a selected audience.
* During May 2001 the Black Tie Ensemble completed their first full-length opera RIGOLETTO (Verdi) at the Aula, Pretoria and received excellent reviews from the Press.
* During 2001, the Black Tie Ensemble performed regularly at the Kloppenheim Country Estate in the Machadodorp area.
* The South African Department of Foreign Affairs in Beijing invited members of The Black Tie Ensemble, as part of the Youth Day Celebrations, to perform at concerts in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai
* The Ensemble has staged their first true corporate opera for their main sponsor, Nedcor Investment Bank with Opera in Miniature: La Traviata (Verdi). This 70-minute performance was staged in the Agfa Theatre on the Square, Sandton. This performance was repeated at the Kloppenheim Country Estate.
* A performance in the open air at the Royal Livingston Hotel, Zambia - a corporate function
v Invited to sing for Mr Mandela at the Newsmaker of the Decade Award.
* During April 2002 the Black Tie Ensemble completed their second full-length opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Puccini) at the Spoornet State Theatre, Pretoria and received excellent reviews from the Press. For the first time, the opera was accompanied by the 35-piece Chamber Orchestra of South Africa.
* The Black Tie Ensemble was honoured to perform for the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology at a dinner held in honour of the Finnish Delegates.
v The Black Tie Ensemble performed for the third time at the annual Pretoria News: A Night at the Proms
* At the end of October, the Black Tie Ensemble did a short season of the acclaimed Madama Butterfly at the Sand du Plessis theatre in Bloemfontein to critical acclaim.
v A Christmas concert for Classic FM and a Christmas Gala in the Drama, Spoornet StateTheatre during December.
* The Black Tie Ensemble has recently collaborated with the South African Ballet Theatre to stage Valentine Enchantment in the Opera, State Theatre Pretoria.
FUTURE ENGAGEMENTS INCLUDE:
The monthly concerts at the Ristorante Ritrovo continue in support of the Adopt-an-Artist Scheme. Already eleven members of the Black Tie Ensemble have been adopted.
The Ensemble will also continue with their outreach work at schools and factories into the new year.
The Ensemble is planning to do Puccini's La Bohème during May 2003 in Pretoria at the Spoornet State Theatre.


The Ensemble can be divided into groups of 2 artists, up to the full Ensemble, depending on the client's needs, but we have found in the past that with a minimum of four singers, we can compile a suitable programme. The programme can then include arias, duets, trios and quartets. The first half of the programme usually includes well-known opera-arias, duets and ensembles. The second half includes operetta-excerpts, Italian songs and excerpts from the classical musicals.

The Black Tie Ensemble also performs Opera in Miniature, a concept that has become very popular with the Corporates. The most well known arias and ensemble work from an opera are combined with narration into a 75 - 90 minute programme. This is a short staged version with costumes and props of the original work.

The latest development for the Black Tie Ensemble is the Adopt-an-Artist scheme. Companies, families and individuals can adopt an artist for a year to secure these artists' income so that they can focus on their art form and artistic development.

The Black Tie Ensemble for 2003:
Louette Johnston coloratura
Shirley Sutherland coloratura (presently in Cape Town for further studies)
Loveline Madumo soprano
Bongi Madlala soprano
Charlotte Silulu mezzo
Veramarie Meyer mezzo
Nobuhle Gqweta mezzo
Jannie Moolman tenor (guest artist)
Dewald von Solms tenor
Khotso Tšekeletsa tenor
Given Mabena tenor
Jonathan Boinamo baritone
Linda Zitha baritone
Vuyani Mlinde bass (leaving for Australia in March 2003)
Paul Madibeng bass

Accompanist & Coach: Susan Steenkamp-Swanepoel