Siyabulela Ntlale
Siya Ntlale, a distinguished baritone, embodies the power of dedication and talent in the world of opera. Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Siya's musical journey began in the local choral choir, the Matthews Singers, under the guidance of Mzwandile Christopher Matthews. This early exposure to music laid the foundation for a remarkable career that captivates audiences worldwide.
In 2014, Mr. Ntlale was awarded the 2nd prize at the renowned 33rd International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. This achievement was complemented by the honor of being the third recipient of the prestigious Rialto/Olitalia bursary, a testament to his outstanding talent and dedication. Already in 2013, Mr. Ntlale was recognized as the first laureate of the esteemed Gobbato-Qavane Operatic Award for outstanding performances in advanced studies.
Mr. Ntlale’s academic journey culminated in a postgraduate degree in Performance with Distinction on the Dean's Merit List (2015) from the South African College of Music (SACM) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Under the tutelage of Professor Kamal Khan and Angelo Gobbato, Mr. Ntlale honed his craft and solidified his foundation in the operatic arts. His education at UCT commenced in 2009 under the guidance of Patrick Tikolo and continued later with George Stevens.
From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Ntlale collaborated with Albert Horne, the esteemed chorus master and conductor at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden from 2014, at Cape Town Opera and its Vocal Ensemble. This formative experience enriched Mr. Ntlale's musical repertoire and paved the way for his professional ambitions.
Mr. Ntlale's professional career encompasses a diverse array of performances with UCT-SACM and the Cape Town Opera (CTO), showcasing his versatility and artistic prowess. Among his notable roles are Barone di Trombonock in Rossini's "Il Viaggio A Reims," Schaunard in Puccini's "La Bohème," Leporello in Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Dapertutto in Offenbach's "Les Contes d’Hoffmann," and Don Bartolo in Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" and Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro." He also delighted audiences as a Sailor in Stravinsky's "The Rake's Progress," 1st Prison Guard in Heggie's "Dead Man Walking," Paolo in scenes from Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra," and Mamma Agata in Donizetti's "Le Convenienze ed Inconvenienze Teatrali," among others.
Mr. Ntlale's international breakthrough marked a significant milestone in his career when he joined Theater Erfurt as a Baritone Soloist. His debut in the role of Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart during the 2015/2016 season captivated audiences with his distinctive presence and extraordinary vocal abilities. His portrayal of Rigoletto in Giuseppe Verdi's opera not only garnered critical acclaim but also earned an Audience Prize for the best production in the 2014/2015 season at Theater Erfurt. He continued his success by impressing audiences with outstanding performances, including the title role in "Rigoletto" at Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf during the 2016/2017 season.
Since the 2016/2017 season, Mr. Ntlale has been a prominent figure at Theater Erfurt, captivating audiences with his nuanced interpretations and powerful vocal performances. Among his recent Nabucco in Verdi's "Nabucco," Miller in Verdi's "Luisa Miller," and Giorgio Germont in Verdi's "La Traviata." Additionally, he portrayed Amonasro in Verdi's "Aida," Lionel in Tchaikovsky’ “ Die Jungfrau von Orleans”, Lescaut in Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut”, Mercutio in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”, Hermann Ortel in Wagner’s “ Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg “, Heerrufer in Wagner’s “Lohengrin “ Peter in Humperdinck’s “ Hänsel und Gretel “, Captain Balstrode in Britten’s “ Peter Grimes “, Conte Almaviva in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro," and Sprecher in Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte," also Bariton Soloist in Carl Orff’s “ Carmina Burana “among many others. Mr. Ntlale will soon be portraying his debut title role of Verdi's "Falstaff" at Mainfranken Theater Würzburg.