A former star footballer's murder trial is turned into a “bite-sized” opera while Oscar Pistorius does his chores at church.
of Media trial The opera, currently captivating audiences at the Artsscape Arena Theatre, focuses on the murder trial of disgraced Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, who was released on parole from Pretoria's Atteridgeville Correctional Center in January this year.
These are bite-sized operas that form part of Cape Town Opera's season. Shorts – Opera Festival, ' had its world premiere last week and will run until April 21st.
Oscar Pistorius: 'Too toxic to work with'
During this time, media reported that Pistorius was officially cleaning the church floor as part of his parole “penance.”
exclusively, new york post The former sports icon revealed that after his release, he contacted at least two members of the International Paralympic Committee to see if they could help in some way.
He was reportedly rejected, one member said. post The 37-year-old double amputee is “too toxic to work with right now,” he said, adding: “There's nothing here suitable for him.”
Convicted of Valentine's Day shooting murder
Pistorius attacked 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp four times with a licensed 9mm Parabellum pistol through a locked toilet door at his home in Silver Woods Country Estate, Pretoria, on Valentine's Day 2013. He was convicted of firing the shots.
Throughout his grueling six-month murder trial, Pistorius claimed he had mistaken his girlfriend, a model and law graduate, for an intruder.
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The athlete served nearly nine years of a 13-year, five-month sentence before being released into the custody of his uncle Arnold Pistorius under strict parole conditions.
Pistorius, nicknamed “Blade Runner” because of his carbon fiber running blade, will reportedly be given a choice in how he performs his community service as part of his parole agreement.
citizen Previous reports said Pistorius had told parole officials that he wanted to help out at Waterkloof, a Dutch Reformed church a stone's throw from his uncle's luxury mansion in the upscale suburb of Pretoria.
Related article: Oscar Pistorius walks: Blade Runner's R47 meter armored fortress, 'Snatch' and lots of lasagna
Pistorius “A vestige of the past”
The former six-time Paralympic gold medalist now works as a light maintenance and janitor at the church and “quietly attends services,” according to the Post.
A member of the NG Church Waterkloof told the magazine that Pistorius was “a shadow of his former self”.
“He's not friendly, he's not sociable,” the church member said. “I don't know if I've ever even seen him smile. He's just a shadow of what he used to be.”
Ida Govender, who spotted him at church during a visit with relatives in March, said she didn't realize he was a former champion athlete at first.
“You'd never realize he was an athlete. He's just not the same.”
“Trial by media”
Score by London-based South African composer Konrad Assmann Media trial The work was four years in the making and was finally completed in November 2023, just days after Pistorius' parole application was approved.
The opera is a musical masterpiece that captures the complexity of Pistorius' murder trial, the public and media reaction to it, and Steenkamp's memory.
Media trial Award-winning soprano Brittany Smith, a soloist with Cape Town Opera, will star as Steenkamp, and Van Wyk Venter will be making his starring debut as Pistorius.
The supporting cast includes Conroy Scott as the defense attorney, Tyler Ramani as the prosecutor, Rusibarwetu Sesanti as the judge, and members of the Cape Town Opera chorus.
The opera is co-directed by Fred Abrahams and costume designer Marcel Mayer. The set design for all three short operas is by Allegra Bernacchioni.
- apart from Media trial, Short story: Pocket Opera Festival Also includes works by Francis Poulenc. La Voix Humaine and Mozart's comedy Showman (Der Schauspieldirektor). The festival will run until April 21st and tickets can be purchased via webtickets.