“Dio, che nell’ alma in fondere” from “Don Carlo” (Verdi)

Khanyiso Gwenxane (Tenor) & Riaan Hunter (Baritone)

Albert Combrink (Piano) & Stellenbosch Camerata, arr. Albert Combrink

Amateur Video Footage from “Opera in a Convent Garden’ 2.2.2014

Riaan Hunter (Baritone) & Khanyiso Gwenxane (Tenor)

Riaan Hunter (Baritone) & Khanyiso Gwenxane (Tenor)

Read more about Khanyiso Gwenxane Here: https://www.albertcombrink.com/2013/12/16/khanyisogwenxane/

Read more about Riaan Hunter Here: http://www.focto.org/riaan-hunter.php

Read more about “Opera in a Convent Garden” Here: https://www.albertcombrink.com/2014/01/01/ocg2014pressrelease/

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Khanyiso Gwenxane performing at “Opera in a Convent Garden”

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Khanyiso Gwenxane (Tenor)

 

Khanyiso Gwenxane – TENOR

Khanyiso Gwenxane is a 25 year old Tenor who started singing at an early age of 6 years in a school choir, and since then he has never looked back in this art form. He has sung in numerous school competitions and has obtained first position nationally. In 2007 he joined the Isango Portabello Ensemble, touring London’s West End with a production of Mozart’s “Magic Flute” which won the London Theater Critic’s Olivier Award. He then went on to study at the Tshwane University of Technology where he obtained his National Diploma and B-tech degree in Vocal Art Performance (opera) under the vocal guidance of Mr Pierre du Toit.

His roles include that of The First Priest in The Magic Flute under the directorship of Marcus Desando and Don Ottavio from Don Giovanni, under the directorship of Pierre du Toit. His concert repertoire includes The Mozart Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelsohn’s Die Lobgesang  and the Beethoven Choral Symphony.

Khanyiso is now currently furthering his studies at the SACM at UCT doing his second year Post Graduate Diploma in Opera under the vocal guidance of Ms Hanna Van Niekerk. He sang the lead tenor role in this year’s CTO production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

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Riaan Hunter – Baritone

Riaan started his studies at the SA College of Music in 2004. After finishing his first year he went into the commercial music industry where he has been very successful for the last seven years. His debut album Net Hier By Jou reached 19th place on Musica’s Top 20 African Sales. Recently Riaan recorded a tribute to “Ge Korsten” with Jannie Moolman that is a great hit all over South Africa.

He starred in his first musical in 2006 at the age of 20,  going on to star in The King and I, The Gondoliers and HMS Pinafore for the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society.  His performance in The Gondoliers  earned him a special prize at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in England. He was also nominated for a Cape Amateur Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his leading role in HMS Pinafore in 2009.

Riaan returned to the Opera school last year to finish his studies and is currently studying with Prof. Virginia Davids. He sang the role of Guglielmo in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and tDapertutto in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann. Riaan was the winner of the  Schock Singing Ccompetition in 2012. His most recent success was starring in the title role of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”

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