Who would have thought that something as far removed from Africa as Italian, French and German opera could be interpreted and elevated to world-class standards by a group of unassuming, but hugely gifted men passionate about performance? “We all share a great love for the theatre,” Agos confirms, adding “commercial opera in a South African context is literally non-existent, but all of that has now changed”.
Comprising Given Mabena, Lucky Sibande and Agos Moahi, Afro Tenors (or AfroTenor, depending on the day!) have been performing for audiences throughout Southern Africa and as far afield as Hong Kong, Rome and New York for the past nine years.
Having first met up whilst two thirds of what is today Afro Tenors were studying at Tshwane University of Technology, the three friends have recently recorded their first CD. “We have been working towards this moment for a long time,” Agos says. Rather than simply replicate some of their most memorable arias, the three decided to dive into African classics - the likes of “Pata, Pata”, “Meadowlands” and “Malaika”- breathing classical and very powerful operatic life into songs that are solidly part of South Africa’s history.
“It’s important to us that we are successful in our own country before we travel back overseas and share this album with the rest of the world,” Agos reveals. “There are so many places and people that have no idea of who we are and, more critically, little knowledge of our style of music. If we are able to make people happy with our album and also encourage them to love opera as an art, then we’ll all be more than happy.”
For many, listening to Afro Tenors will be a first-time introduction into the operatic world; for others listening to the album will present a refreshing arrangement of classic songs delivered by three of South Africa’s finest vocalists. With each group member boasting extensive CVs that include leading roles in the likes of La Bohème and the operatic rendition of Cry The Beloved Country, Lost In The Stars, these young men have crossed language, culture and perception barriers to arrive more qualified than many of their international peers.