ABOUT
Opera UCT brings a 17th-century masterpiece to life — literally. Housed in the historic Old Town House as part of the Michaelis Collection, "Concert of the Birds" a 16th-century painting by Frans Snyders, has captivated viewers for over a century with its quiet mystery. It is now on exhibition as part of the Reflections exhibition. Now, Opera UCT — the oldest opera training institution in the country — transforms this enigmatic painting into a living, breathing performance, staged in the very halls where the artwork resides.
Watch history sing. Watch art take flight.
Opera UCT is the oldest performing and training institution for opera in the country, and the harbour and source for some of the most respected and successful operatic performers in the world today. Their activities provide Cape Town’s arts scene with world-class operatic performances, while our performers go on to grace the most illustrious stages of Europe and the USA.