Image courtesy of Cape Town Opera

Bel canto, or “beautiful singing”, is a sophisticated model of singing that evolved among practitioners of operatic and sacred music in late 17th-century Italy.

Bel canto saw its first widespread use during the heyday of opera seria, da capo aria, and the castrato voice in the 18th century. Although it wouldn’t be employed as an operatic term to distinguish the traditional Italian vocal model from more forceful, less ingratiating styles of singing until the mid-19th century.

Demanding formidable technique and wide ranges from singers, bel canto is characterised by lyricism, legato phrasing and a beautiful tone. It inspired the greatest exponents of the style to write virtuosic display arias for their leading sopranos and tenors.

It is with great pleasure that Cape Town Opera will be presenting a Bel Canto Gala Concert with American tenor Lawrence Brownlee making his Cape Town debut with South African-born soprano Sally Silver and mezzo-soprano Violina Anguelov. Jeremy Silver will conduct the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra in a spectacular gala concert of bel canto showpieces.

Lawrence Brownlee has been described as the finest bel canto tenor of our time by the Washington Times and is best known for his performances in operas by Rossini and Donizetti, including Il barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola and La fille du régiment.

The Bel Canto Gala Concert will be taking place on 13 May 2012 at 18h00 in the opera house at the Artscape. There is also a ticket special where patrons can see both La Bohème on Friday 11 May and the Bel Canto Gala Concert on 13 May and enjoy a R100 discount on the purchase of the two tickets. Contact sales@capetownopera.co.za for more details.

Taj Cape Town provides luxury accommodation in the heart of the Mother City and is close to the Artscape Opera House and many other unique Cape Town attractions.

Afternoon tea came about as a result of the 19th century English dining practice of large, meaty breakfasts with only a light picnic luncheon standing in the way of hunger until dinner was served at 8pm. It was Anna, Duchess of Bedford, who is accredited with “inventing” afternoon tea in 1840 as “a way to quell the inevitable hunger pangs between lunch and dinner”.

The practice is often confused with the English ”high tea” which was a hearty rural working class supper consisting of hot meat, cheese and egg dishes served around 6 pm. High tea itself was designed to refuel the body after long periods of labour in less-than-agreeable environments.

Traditionally, a formal afternoon tea is performed according to certain rules of etiquette of which perhaps the most famous is the raised pinkie.

The tradition of the raised pinkie is thought to be primarily due to all porcelain teacups having come from China at the time and having no handles. To prevent spilling, these cups were held by placing one’s thumb at the six o’clock position and one’s index and middle fingers at the twelve o’clock position, while gently raising one’s pinkie up for balance.

When the Meissen Porcelain Company introduced the handled tea cup in 1710, the tradition continued in its new form by pinching the handle – placing one’s fingers to the front and back of the handle with one’s pinkie again extended for balance.

Taj Cape Town currently has its own take on afternoon tea with a Chocolate Tea offer until the end of June 2012 in the Lobby Lounge from 11h00 – 18h00 daily.  Presented from a 3–tiered stand, the Chocolate Tea offering includes Chilli-Hot Chocolate, Eclairs, Choc–chip scones, Chocolate truffles and chocolate cake, all at R95 per person.

Taj Cape Town provides luxury accommodation in the heart of the Mother City and hosts a number of fine dining events in its highly acclaimed restaurants and venues.