Figaro’s aria “Se vuol ballare, Signor Contino” Act 1 “Le Nozze di Figaro” / “The Marriage of Figaro” KV 492

Thesele Kemane (Baritone): Figaro / Albert Combrink (Piano/keyboard)

Ammateur Live Video Footage

Thesele Kemane features in the film “I Live To Sing (Ndiphilela Ukucula)” by Julie Cohen – http://www.thirteen.org/13pressroom/press-release/ndiphilela-ukucula-i-live-to-sing/

Born in Kimberley, Thesele sang in his first solo in Std.2, ending school as the winner of the Northern Cape Provincial region of the Tirisano National Choir Competition in 2004. As member of the National Youth Choir, he took part in the World Choir Olympics in Bremen. In 2006 he joined the UCT Opera School where he is a student of Prof. Virginia Davids. He has taken part in productions by Cape Town Opera and the UCT Opera School.

Operatic roles include: the Forester in Janacek’s “Cunning Little Vixen” directed by Joshua Major, Don Prudenzio in Rossini’s “Il Viaggio a Reims” directed by Matthew Wild, Figaro in UCT Opera School’s production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro”, Colline in Puccini’s “La Boheme”, directed by Prof Angelo Gobbato and the role of Nick Shadow from Stravinski’s “The Rakes Progress.” Recitals include the Songmaker’s Guild and the South African Wagner Society and Oratorios such as John Stainer’s Crucifiction.

He also made a tremendous impact when he sang — for the second year — the very demanding music for the Jewish High Holidays Yom Kipur and Kol Nidrei at Temple Israel Synagogue in Greenpoint, where his musicality and superb handling of Hebrew was complimented by all. He was also part of the Oude Libertas cast of Jaco Bouwer’s award-winning stage-production ” ‘n Ander Tongval”, with music by Braam du Toit, based on the book by Antjie Krog which explores South Africa’s Apartheid past and transition to Democracy, especially with material related to the “Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”

In 2012 Thesele traveled to the USA to take part in the Glimmerglass festival as a young artist, doing the cover roles of Hidraot in “Armide”, the King in “Aida” and Johannes Phafuri in Weil’s “Lost in the stars” and later in the year in the Opera “Tales of Hoffman” he played Lindorf and Dr Miracle. In 2013 he took part in productions of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and Rossini’s Ïl Barbiere di Siviglia”.

Figaro’s aria “Se vuol ballare, Signor Contino” Act 1 “Le Nozze di Figaro” / “The Marriage of Figaro”: Text by Lorenzo da Ponte in Italian, and English Translation

FIGARO:                             FIGARO:
Bravo,signor padrone! Ora incomincio Bravo, my lord!  Now I begin
a capir il mistero ...              To understand the mystery ...  
e a veder schietto                  and to see 
tutto il vostro progetto:           all of your plan clearly: 
a Londra, è vero?                   so we're going to London?
Voi ministro, io corriero,          You as the minister, I the courier, 
e la Susanna ...                    and Susanna ... 
secreta ambasciatrice.              secret ambassadress ...
Non sarà, non sarà. Figaro il dice. No, it will not be!  Figaro swears it!

N. 3 Cavatina                       No.  3 Cavatina

Se vuol ballare, Signor Contino,    If you want to dance, my dear little Count,
il chitarrino le suonerò.           I'll play the tune for you on my guitar.
Se vuol venire nella mia scuola     If you want to attend my school
la capriola le insegnerò.           I'll teach you all the moves.
Saprò ... ma piano,                 I'll know how ... but gently!
meglio ogni arcano                  best to hide secrets:
dissimulando                        by dissembling
scoprir potrò!                      I can discover it all.
L'arte schermendo, l'arte adoprando, The art of fencing, the arts I'll adopt
di qua pungendo, di là scherzando,  Stinging here, joking there,
tutte le macchine rovescerò.        All your plots I'll overthrow!
Se vuol ballare, Signor Contino,    If you want to dance, my dear little Count
il chitarrino le suonerò.           I'll play the tune for you on my guitar.