Announced early this week ahead of the March 17 gala event, the Italian-born South African bass-baritone opera icon, Professor Angelo Gobbato is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, all thanks for his enormous impact on the South African opera extended over many decades.
While arguably, opera has undergone the most significant changes with the dawn of democracy, given that the apartheid government was deeply vested in advancing the success of Western European art and maintaining cultural divisions as it (opera) was only performed and consumed by whites, one cannot deny the impactful role Professor Gobbato has played in ensuring that it’s not only viewed as an elite Western art form, but an inclusive commodity for all South Africans – even on a global level.
Professor Gobbato has set new standard as a singer, director, educator and mentor to exceptional local operatic talent the same way he has enabled those coming after him to not only thrive, but achieve world-class performance excellence.
Professor Angelo Gobbato’s stellar opera career track record
Professor Gobbato has a distinguished career as an opera director, head of the UCT Opera School and Artistic Director of the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB).
From as young as three, Gobbato already showed his passion for music and singing. He was born in Italy but moved to South Africa together with his mother to join his father who came here looking for better opportunities.
He studied the piano and singing privately while reading science at the UCT and later graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He made his debut as Kecal in ‘The Bartered Bride‘ in Cape Town in 1965.
As a baritone, Professor Gobbato is best known for buffo roles such as Dr Bartolo in ‘The Barber of Seville‘, Don Pasquale and Figaro. He was awarded the first Nederburg Prize for opera in 1971 for his portrayal of “Papageno”.
Notably, Professor Gobbato is widely acknowledged as having helped opera to flourish in South Africa and garner international interest and recognition.
As the director of the UCT Opera School (from 1982 to 2008), Professor Gobbato spearheaded the transformation of opera, turning CAPAB’s opera department into Cape Town Opera, the first independent professional opera company in Southern Africa.
Among many of his stellar achievements, he’s credited with developing an international reputation for the school, resulting in milestone collaborations with the likes of Den Norske Opera (Oslo) in a production of Fidelio on Robben Island to celebrate 10 years of South African Democracy. The school also collaborated with Nürnberg Opera and Den Norske Opera in a touring production of Show Boat; with Norrlands Opera (Sweden) in a production of Rusalka and of Porgy and Bess.
As CEO of Cape Town Opera, Professor Gobbato developed an international reputation for the company, collaborating with Den Norske Opera (Oslo) in a production of Fidelio on Robben Island to celebrate 10 years of South African Democracy; with Nürnberg Opera and Den Norske Opera in a touring production of Show Boat; with Norrlands Opera (Sweden) in a production of Rusalka and of Porgy and Bess.
He has received many prestigious rewards both locally and internationally, with his first ever award being the Nederburg Prize for opera in 1971 for his portrayal of “Papageno”.
He was awarded the title “Cavaliere nell’ordine al merito della Repubblica Italiana” by the Italian government.
Locally, Gobbato received the Western Cape Premier’s Award in 1999 in recognition of his outstanding achievement in and contribution to the performing Arts.
In 2020, Professor Gobbato released his book ‘A Passion For Opera‘ to coincide with his 75th birthday in July. The book a memoir of Angelo his life-long involvement and engagement in opera.
About Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards
Marking 59 years of excellence in theatre in 2024, the awards – slated for March – honours outstanding contributions to local theatre across 23 categories, the highest numbers of recognition for theatre award conventions in the country.
The nominees range from performing to directing, scriptwriting, composing and puppetry, as well as exceptional stage, sound, lighting and costume design.
A total of 66 plays, musicals and music theatre productions were assessed by the judges this year. There were also 10 productions for children and young adults, as well as six operas, all mounted between January and December 2023. In addition, 140 students from eight institutions in 54 productions were considered for the Best Student category.
In addition to the category winners and subsequently the ‘ recognition bestowed upon Professor Gobbato, who’s admired for his dramatic integrity, always underscoring that ‘opera is not only a specialised brand of vocal music, but also one of theatrical performance’ as he likes to say, two more theatre icons were honoured this year.
The recipient of the Encore Award is none other than Gregory Vuyani Maqoma, awarded for his contribution to theatre exemplified in his production of ‘Exit/Exist‘. The panel lauded him for the skilful way he embodied his ancestor Chief Jongumsobomvu Maqoma.
The Rainbow Arts Organisation, an NPO that uses art as an vehicle to develop alternative options for the youth, was awarded the Innovation in Theatre Award for its impact on youth development. The panel called it a “a shining light in Delft, Cape Town”.
