Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE Friends of the Gallery (FOG), in partnership with the Festival of Song Zimbabwe, will stage a special presentation of ‘Carmen: A Journey through the Faces of Love’ as part of FOG’s multidisciplinary arts programme.
The production is a reimagining of Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera Carmen, which tells the story of a free-spirited, maverick woman and the turbulent love affair that defines her life.
Alice Mlambo, the Chairperson of the Friends of the Gallery said this interpretation promises a fresh and localised twist, delivered through choral performance by Sound of Joy and the Ruwa Chorale.
“We kick off our activities this year with a second edition of Opera Night, theming it to love as we are holding the event on Valentine’s Day.
“The story of Carmen allows us to explore the many faces of love − passion, freedom, obsession and sacrifice − through music and performance.”
Following the success of the inaugural Opera Night held in October last year, FOG has organised this sophomore edition to build on the growing appetite for opera and classical music experiences in Zimbabwe. This time, the organisers have deliberately themed the event around love and scheduled it on Valentine’s Day, making it both a cultural and romantic offering.
Festival of Song Zimbabwe Director, Joseph Ndlovu, invited members of the public to attend and experience a classic opera presented in a way that resonates with local audiences.
“We are excited to bring a work as timeless as Carmen to the National Gallery in a form that speaks to our own context. This is an opportunity for audiences to enjoy opera not as something distant, but as a living, breathing art form.”
‘Carmen: A Journey through the Faces of Love’ will take place at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in Harare on February14.
The event forms part of ongoing efforts by Friends of the Gallery to create platforms that bring together music, visual arts and performance, while broadening access to diverse artistic expressions.
Festival of Song Zimbabwe is a premier choral music festival that brings together the country’s most inspiring community, church, and institutional choirs on one grand stage. Established in 2018 and rooted in cultural pride, artistic excellence, and social harmony, the festival is an annual celebration of African musical traditions with a contemporary and inclusive twist.
The Friends of the Gallery is a group of individuals and corporations who voluntarily support the museum by raising funds, promoting its exhibitions, advocating for its collections, and often organising special events or educational programs to engage the community with art, essentially acting as a dedicated support network for the gallery’s operations and development.
