Prof. Barbara Hill Moore presents Wading Home as part of the Endler Concert Series in Stellenbosch on Sunday 3 June at 3pm. Wading Home is a short (split one act) opera about the story of one New Orleans family’s struggle to reunite both spiritually and physically after Hurricane Katrina. It is based on a novel by Dallas-based writer Rosalyn Story. Her novel, called “Wading Home, a Novel of New Orleans,” was published in September 2010, and grew — in part — from her personal experience as a musician and her time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans after Katrina.

Prof Barbara Hill Moore, a distinguished professor of music and voice at Southern Methodist University, is the producer and music director and had this to say about the opera, “Almost three years ago, we premiered this new opera, Wading Home, with performances in New Orleans and Dallas, commemorating the survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to wide critical acclaim.  Considering all the very sad issues with water throughout South Africa, I decided this would be the ideal time for the Wading Home theme of overcoming the wrath of nature through community spirit, determination, working together and faith. We have so much in common with our struggles with the damage and death involved with dealing with too much water and yours of dealing with not enough water.”

This production will form the start of an ongoing collaboration between the students of Stellenbosch University Singing Division and the Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas. Principal roles include international artists, baritone Donnie Ray Albert, soprano Bronwen Forbay, baritone Nathan Myers, mezzo soprano Moretta Irchirl (and Arielle Collier), and baritone Paul André Doucet.

Entrance for this production in the Endler Hall, Konservatorium is FREE. Free-will donations benefit the Children’s Chorus, Christine Bam Director and the Bruce Foote Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. assisting South Africans in study at Southern Methodist University.

To reserve your free seat, please CLICK HERE!