NICRO hosts their annual fundraiser at the Opera with the cutting edge Dead Man Walking
The Opera Gala ticket includes wines on arrival at 18h00 at the pre-opera cocktail with indulgent snacks and wines followed by a top drawer Night at the Opera at 19h30.
A prime feature of this fundraiser will be an exhibition of “Cell” Art which will represent a choice selection of fine art created by prison inmates of the Western Cape.
NICRO is an avid supporter of the cultivation of the fine arts for their clients. Fine art created within the prison walls of correctional facilities in the Western Cape will present the hidden talent and potential of individuals to be creative even in dire circumstances.
Examples of Cell Art through the years
Come and enjoy this Elegant Red Carpet Evening of entertainment, eats and drinks and a complimentary souvenir programme.
Tickets to the NICRO Opera Night fundraiser are R350 per person. Limited seating, so book your ticket online by clicking here now!
Or call Karin Blumer or Karen Rademeyer at NICRO
Tel: 021 462 0017 • Fax: 021 462 2447 • Cell: 082 410 5497 •
For catering purposes, please RSVP via e-mail to karin@nicro.co.za by 30 September 2009
If you prefer making a direct Electronic Funds Transfer, please use the details below:
Banking details:
Account name: NICRO
First National Bank, Adderley Street branch
Account number: 502 600 21114
Branch code: 201409
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ409
Reference: CTO and your initials and surname
ABOUT THE OPERA
Since its premiere in 2000, Dead Man Walking, the first opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Terrence McNally, has become one of the opera world’s most performed new works. In 2007 alone, the opera was performed more than 50 times internationally, including new productions in Sweden, Germany, Ireland and Australia.
Originally commissioned by the San Francisco Opera, it is based on the best-selling novel by Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, the spiritual advisor to the convicted murderer of a teenage couple. Dead Man Walking is her moving account of their incredible emotional journey while preparing for his execution in Louisiana, USA. As a prize-winning book, Dead Man Walking remained at number one in the New York Times Best Seller List for 31 weeks and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. As a film, starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, it won an Oscar and earned several other nominations. The opera version of Sister Helen Prejean’s tale has enjoyed equal success, becoming an overnight sensation when it first opened in the US - the fastest selling opera production in recent history.
Drawing on classical, rock, jazz and Afro-American spirituals, Dead Man Walking 
wrenches our emotions and intellect, exploring the limits of human compassion in a compelling way. The opera is both epic and deeply personal, telling an extraordinary true story that is extremely relevant to contemporary South Africa, where public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of a re-instatement of the death penalty. Frustrated with what they see as increasing lawlessness in South Africa, 72% of respondents in a recent national audit performed by Research Surveys, believe the government should bring back the death penalty… yet is the death penalty not premeditated murder.
Instead of making any statements, however, Dead Man Walking begs the questions - is there a moral difference when the state kills as opposed to an individual and should justice be determined by the notion of an “eye for an eye?” The opera therefore offers much more than a debate about the rights and wrongs of the death penalty. Virtually every scene develops into an exchange of views about love, faith, grief, justice vengeance and the possibility of redemption.
The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the performances. Free pre-performance talks to the public will be given by the director.
“Dead Man Walking makes for a riveting ride... [it] had me glued to the stage like few other operas have.”
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, Andrew Druckenbrod
“A thrilling opera… One can’t imagine this opera to be more intense or modern. 100% guarantee for goose bumps.” ADREM, Andreas Herrmann.
Three injections later - a numbing anaesthetic, a thorough paralytic and a lethal heart stopper - and it's done. But does it offer closure? Prejean thinks not. But when Prejean sat across from Sonnier and looked into his eyes, after she got past the horror and outrage of his crimes, and even after hearing the suffering of his victims' parents, she realized both sides deserve dignity.
“When you look at a human being, people are worth more than the worst act of their life,” said Prejean. “You can't freeze-frame somebody in that act and make them evil. There's transcendence in a human person that's connected to their dignity.” – Sister Helen Prejean.
SUPPORT THE NICRO CHANCE TO CHANGE BY PURCHASING A TICKET TO THIS FUNDRAISER!
