(Image credit: Allegra Bernacchioni)

Cape Town Opera has announced “SHORTS: A Festival of Pocket Operas” is set to take place at the Artscape Arena April 11-21.

The series of concise operas is a celebration of operatic innovation and storytelling features the world premiere of Conrad Asman’s “Trial by Media,” Francis Poulenc’s “La voix humaine,” and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Impresario.” The creative team includes Allegra Bernacchioni, Kobus Rossouw, and Marcel Meyer.

The new South African opera “Trial by Media” explores the media’s perceptions of the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. The opera stars Cape Town Opera House Soloist soprano Brittany Smith, fresh from her acclaimed role as Maria in The Sound of Music for which she won a Fleur du Cap theatre Award for the role. The cast also includes baritones Conroy Scott and Van Wyk Venter, and tenor Tylor Lamani. “Trial by Media” is directed by Fred Abrahamse. José Dias is the musical director. Single performance take place April 11 and 18.

In “La voix humaine” mezzo-soprano Janelle Visagie performs the role of The Woman, a role that earned her the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Female Opera Singer in 2018. Magdalene Minnaar directs the one-woman masterpiece by Poulenc.

Mozart’s “The Impresario” is presented in English by soprano Alida Scheepers, and the Judith Neilson Young Artists Dineo Bokala, Mongezi Mosoaka, and Lonwabo Mose, with actor Dean de Klerk. Musical direction is by pianist and vocal coach Robin Phillips. Elisabeth Manduell directs.

Double bill performances featuring “La voix humaine” and “The Impresario” take place April 12 and 19. Programs featuring all three operas take place on April 13 (two performances,) 20, and 21.