Photo: Jan Windszus Photography

Photo: Jan Windszus Photography

Photo: Jan Windszus Photography

Photo: Jan Windszus Photography

Photo: Jan Windszus Photography

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Jan Windszus Photography

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Jan Windszus Photography

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Jan Windszus Photography

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Jan Windszus Photography

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Jan Windszus Photography

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Jan Windszus Photography

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Spring is the passage all beauty has to overcome

Selemo

S'busiso Shozi, Nhlanhla Mahlangu
Centre for the Less Good Idea

Last Chance

Tickets

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Jan Windszus Photography

Back into the light, back to beauty and back to life! Spring represents the power of transformation, rebirth and an ancient promise of prosperity. What can this fantasy of abundance mean for us culturally, spiritually and sonically, across geographical boundaries? South African composers and performers S'busiso Shozi and Nhlanhla Mahlangu from the Johannesburg Centre for the Less Good Idea take a fresh approach to the concept of spring through body, sound and voice in their chamber opera Selemo.

Together with orchestra musicians from the Komische Oper Berlin, they engage in a musical conversation about returning to a deeply rooted understanding of nature beyond the colonial calendar system. African rites of passage meet baroque splendour, Vivaldi's violin concerto La primavera meets Amahubo, the ritual music of the Zulu. The world premiere of Selemo, co-produced with the Neuköllner Oper, is all about new beginnings, exchange and celebration together.

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A springtime opera [2026]
S'busiso Shozi, Nhlanhla Mahlangu
Centre for the Less Good Idea

Premiere on February 12, 2026

Co-production with the Neuköllner Oper

Cast

Trailer

Program Booklet

Audio Introduction

isiZulu, Sesotho, English, German, French, Tshivenda

1hr 15min

Any remaining tickets for sold-out dates are available through the Neuköllner Oper.

Co-Komponist, Musikalische Leitung, Performer

Co-Komponist, Regie

Nhlanhla Mahlangu

Musikalischer Mentor

Producer

Associate Producer

Dimakatso Motholo

Kostüm- und Bühnenbild

Nthabiseng Malaka

Licht

Script Writer

Dramaturgie

Sophie Jira/Dennis Depta

Performer:innen

Hlengiwe Lushaba Madlala/Tshegofatso Khunwane/Gregory “Kekelingo” Mabusela/Vhahangwele Moopo/Pertunia Msani/Alma Sadé

Violine

Viola

Julia Lindner de Azevedo Conte

Flöte

Magdalena Bogner

Bass

Arnulf Ballhorn

Klavier

Sponsored by

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