It was sheer pleasure for me to be involved in this production. Working with such magnificent voices is sheer pleasure. Rethinking a masterpiece is a risk, but also an exhilarating creative project. When the audiences and critics approve, and the gamble pays off, it is sheer delight.
From the Japan Times to the Cape Times and many in between, Isango Portobello’s "Magic Flute" has drawn critical and popular acclaim. Winning the Globes de Cristal at the Théâtre de Châtelet in France is only the latest in a series of awards.
The public face of the calm and poised diva belies the difficult circumstances in which such a performance is created. Albert Combrink reflects on being Pauline Malefane's vocal coach during the run-up to her debut as both Mozart's Queen of the Night in the UK, and Gershwin's Bess with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Sir Simon Rattle.
