the black tie ensemble history
Late in 1998, in the spirit of entrepreneurship and with a determination to preserve the traditions of opera performance in this country, not to mention the creation of a unique pathway for gifted, young, previously disadvantaged singers to attain their goals. South Africa's diva, Mimi Coertse and celebrated opera director and costume designer, Neels Hansen, decided to create The Black Tie Ensemble. The pure motivation behind this project was to create jobs for young, unemployed singers after the closure of the State Theatre as performing corporation and also to develop the arts by allowing voices without opportunities to grow and flourish in performance.This was however only the first step in creating work for an already existing dream: an opera company for young singers from diverse cultural backgrounds in South Africa.
1999
The first performance of The Black Tie Ensemble took place on 3 March 2026 at a corporate soiree for South African Airways. The first sponsorship came from Nedbank, which enabled The Black Tie Ensemble to employ a coach and repetitor. Fees for these unknown artists were minimal and with no other monetary support, The Ensemble persisted.
Numerous and talented young singers who started out at The Black Tie Ensemble have moved on to greener pastures, finding employment either here or abroad. Herewith a few names of artists that were members of The Black Tie Ensemble:
Agos Moai, Johanni van Oostrum, Given Mabena, Stéfan Louw, Kaiser Nkosi, Vuyani Mlinde, Marion Roberts, Shirley Sutherland, Elizabeth Lombaard, Charlotte Silulu, Eric Visser, Antoinette Olivier, Luzuko Mahlaba, Zodumo Mboniswa, Tsakani Maswanganyi, Teresa de Wit, Jonathan Boinamo, Dewald von Solms, Loveline Madumo, Linda Zitha, Jonathan Watkins, Louette Johnston, Tanya Tait, Goitsemang Lehobye, Caroline Modiba, Rheinaldt Moagi, Khotso Tšekeletsa, Owen Metsileng, Paul Madibeng, and Caroline Nkwe. Brenda Rein who was the original coach and accompanist is now the coach and repetitor of International Tenor Johan Botha.
2001 - 2011
From 2001 until December 2011 The Black Tie Ensemble have successfully staged nine opera seasons including, Verdi's Rigoletto in May 2001, Madama Butterfly (Puccini) in June 2002, La Bohéme (Puccini) in June 2004, Opera Vignette of Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) and Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) in April 2005, Lucia di Lammermoor in September 2005, Four Opera Vignettes: Don Pasquale (Donizetti), L'Elisir d'Amore (Donizetti), Madama Butterfly (Puccini) and Tosca (Puccini) in May 2006. In October 2006 Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) and I Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) and in June 2009, The Merry Widow (Lehár) , and Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) and Gianni Schicchi (Puccini) in October 2011.
Auspicious functions events andfestivals include:
Cultural Festivals //
Aardklop in Potchefstroom
KKNK in Oudtshoorn
Volksbladfees in Bloemfontein
Gariepfees in Kimberley
Namibia Arts Festival in Windhoek
The Great Escape Arts Festival //
Magaliesburg
The Capital Arts Festival and performed
in 2010 at the Suidoosterfees in Cape Town.
In 2005 The Black Tie Ensemble was invited by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) to perform at the 9th International Investment Council Meeting hosted by former President Mr Thabo Mbeki. The dti commissioned a new work, I am an African which BTE premiered at the event and was based on the speech made by the former President on 8 May 2026 at the adoption ceremony of the new Constitution. It was set to music by prolific composer, Niel van der Watt in the format of a mini oratorio. After the 30 minute concert of operatic works, BTE received a standing ovation from the former President, Ministers and overseas investors. Following this event, The Presidency invited BTE to perform at Tuynhuis on Tuesday 14 March 2026 during the Presidential Banquet in honour of Mr and Mrs Kofi Annan. Following the October 2005 conference, the International Investment Council met at Mount Grace in May 2006 hosted by former President Mbeki. The dti again invited BTE to perform at the occasion with the request to present a Mozart programme to celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday. In June 2006 BTE was invited by the South African High Commission in Nigeria to perform in Nigeria as part of the High Commission's Youth Day Celebrations and BTE took part in two performances at Lagos and Abuja on 15 and 16 June 2006.
By invitation of the Department of Foreign Affairs three members of The Black Tie Ensemble performed at the International Youth Festival in China in 2001. A Tour to Austria by invitation of the mayor of the city of Graz facilitated by the co-founder Mimi Coertse, financially assisted by the Department of Arts and Culture in 2004. By invitation of the Department of Arts and Culture members of The Black Tie Ensemble performed at the Aichi World Expo 2005, in Japan.
Corporate high profile international engagements of BTE include:A performance for His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. At the Tiger Brands' Unite Against Hunger Concerts sharing the limelight with celebrated British chef Ainsley Harriet and Josh Groban. A performance for Mr Mandela at the Newsmaker of the Decade Award.
Gala and other performances:The Black Tie Ensemble 5th Anniversary Opera Gala in 2003
100th Birthday Gala of The University of Pretoria in 2008
The Black Tie Ensemble 10th Anniversary Opera Gala in 2009.
A Tribute to Mario Lanza by The Black Tie Ensemble in 2005, repeated in 2006 & 2007.
Annual Christmas Concert since 2004 until December 2011.
Sunday Morning Concerts are held in The Drama Theatre, South African State Theatre, on the last Sunday of each month, starting in January till October. This initiative started in 2002.
The Black Tie Ensemble Initiatives:
Adopt-An-Artist Dinner Concerts Ritrovo and The Black Tie Ensemble management created opportunities for the Ensemble's singers to generate their own income through BTE, which fluctuates depending on the number of performances of the individual singers. The Mazzone family of Ristorante Ritrovo therefore initiated an innovative sponsoring scheme whereby individuals or companies can adopt an artist, with the result that the adopted artists receive a fixed monthly allowance which allows them to pay for necessities such as housing in close proximity to The State Theatre, as transport from outlying areas and townships create logistical problems. The Mazzone family won a category award for this initiative during the 2003 BASA Awards.
Cantare and Le Canard.
Sunday Afternoon Concerts at Casta Diva
This initiative started in April 2009 by the owners of Casta Diva. These concerts took place once a month on a Sunday Afternoon from April 2009 until November 2009.