Neels Hansen

Dear friends, it is with great sadness that we inform you of Neels Hansen’s passing Monday morning. He has been a founder and father of Gauteng Opera (The Black Tie Ensemble). He had been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago and succumbed to it very unexpectedly.

We at Gauteng Opera have been very blessed to have Mr Hansen as a guide and mentor and we will miss his presence and warmth. Neels Hansen has always been a pillar of strength and support for all our operatic endeavours and it feels very fitting that we as a company celebrate him in the way we know best.

As per Neels’ wishes, there will be no funeral, but we at Gauteng Opera with friends of his, arranged a Memorial Service for him that will take place at his requested final place of rest: Foxwood House, 13 5th St, Johannesburg, 2198 (Phone:011 486 0935). It will take place on Saturday, 06 December 2025 at 11:00. Everybody is welcome. Enquiries: Magda Beukes (012 991 2938) / Arnold Cloete (012 322 7944) or [email protected]