Misplaced Pages

Stéfan Louw is a South African operatic tenor, regarded as one of South Africa's leading tenors. He has been performing opera since 1995.

Early life and education

Stéfan Louw was born on 22 September 1973. He studied at the University of South Africa from 1988 to 1991 and later at the University of Pretoria from 1993 to 1995. His passion for opera began in his early years and was nurtured through extensive vocal training with renowned instructors such as Nellie du Toit and Emma Renzi.

Career

Louw made his professional operatic debut in 1999 as Beppe in I Pagliacci at the Pretoria State Theatre. The role earned him the FNB Vita Opera Award for Most Promising Newcomer. He remained a member of the chorus until 2001, often performing supporting character roles. In 2000, he became one of the founding members of the Black Tie Ensemble (BTE). When Louw made his leading-role debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca (2003), he decided to quit his full-time job as a sales person at Incredible Connection to focus on his opera career.

Over the years, he built a distinguished career, performing lead tenor roles in productions such as Alfredo in La Traviata, Rodolfo in La Bohème, and Don José in Carmen. His performance as Rodolfo in 2005 was described by The Sunday Times as one delivered by a "national treasure".

Internationally, Louw debuted in 2008 at the Vichy Opera in France as Pollione in Norma. The same year, he portrayed Radames in Aida at the Opéra de Dijon. His versatility has also been showcased in performances of classical oratorios, including Messiah by Handel and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Louw's artistry extended to opera direction with the establishment of Big Wig Opera in 2015, which produced several operas under his leadership, including Madama Butterfly and L’elisir d’amore.

In 2024, Louw ventured into the Crooning era with the release of his third album,The Book of Elvis, an album featuring his renditions of Elvis Presley’s ballads. He released his second album, Lirico- A collection of lyric arias, in 2018.

Notable Productions

Opera entrepreneur

In 2003, Louw started producing small opera concerts at churches in-between professional productions. By 2010, his concert series Aria! Opera for Everyone was so popular that it ran for four seasons at the Roodepoort Theatre (2010–2014). These concerts aimed to bring true opera aficionados a measure of quality, whilst at the same time encouraging new audiences to appreciate true opera.

In March 2011, Louw founded his first opera company in Gauteng – Sempre Opera. In February 2013, he handed the reins to his colleague Linette van der Merwe (mezzo-soprano), who then took over as head of the organisation.

Louw then formed a second opera company in Gauteng – Big Wig Opera. The company successfully produced three full operas – La Bohème, L'elisir d'amore and Madama Butterfly – in its first year of operations (2015) of which Louw performed in one and directed two. After spending a year singing in Greece during the 2017/18 season, Louw returned to South Africa and founded The Little Theatre Company, which is based in the Vaal Triangle.

Vocal coach

In 2019, Louw founded the Stéfan Louw School of Singing in Parys, South Africa, providing vocal training to students from diverse backgrounds. The school has become a cornerstone of the Parys music community, offering lessons in both English and Afrikaans and focusing on a variety of genres, from opera to jazz and gospel.

Opera repertoire

• Alfredo in La traviata
• Calaf in Turandot
• Canio in Pagliacci
• Cavaradossi in Tosca
• Don José in Carmen
• Hoffmann in Les contes d'Hoffmann
• Manrico in Il trovatore
• Otello in Otello
• Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly
• Pollione in Norma
• Radames in Aida
• Rodolfo in La bohème
• The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto
• Tonio in La fille du régiment
• Von Eisenstein'in Die Fledermaus
• Werther in Werther

Oratorio repertoire

• Puccini's Messa di Gloria
• Handel's Messiah
• Rossini's Stabat Mater
• Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
• Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
• Dvorak's Mass in D major
• Rossini's Petite messe solennelle
• Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde
• Verdi's Requiem

Personal life

Louw met his wife, Marisa (Van Aswegen), in June 1996 when they were both members of the State Theatre Opera Chorus in the opera Tosca. They got married in Gordon's Bay on 20 February 1999.

In 2019, during the peak of Marisa's breast cancer treatment, Louw embarked on doing solo performances at private events to raise funds for her treatments. This period marked a turning point in his life, during which he embarked on producing small-scale productions and concerts which included house concerts at his home in Parys.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Louw enjoys playing PC games and recreational angling. Both he and Marisa are passionate animal lovers, sharing their home with Pekingese dogs, a Senegal parrot, an African Grey parrot, Budgerigars (commonly known as Budgies), and two pet mini-pigs.

References

1. pastorsibita (2 March 2009). "Diversity of choice". The Witness. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
2. "Black Tie Ensemble pay tribute to singing legend Mario Lanza". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
3. "LitNet Argief". argief.litnet.co.za. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
4. "Artslink.co.za – Tosca". Artslink. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
5. Scheepers, Liezl (14 February 2018). "Second album release for tenor Stéfan Louw". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
6. Opperman, A. J. "Opera Carmen in Joburgteater". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
7. Britz, Elretha. "'Uitbundige' Rossini-mis in Sasolburg, Bfn uitgevoer". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
8. "Artslink.co.za – Aria! Opera for Everyone". Artslink. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
9. "Opera vir almal!". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
10. "Stéfan Louw sluit sy 'Aria!'-reeks af in Roodepoort". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
11. "Sempre Opera sing met Stéfan Louw". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
12. "Laaste arias van jaar". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
13. "Laaste opera vir elkeen in 2013". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
14. "Aria! Opera for Everyone ends in December". Media Update. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
15. "ImagineMag! – a South African arts & culture emagazine providing a voice and information for people interested and involved in arts, culture, heritage and the performing arts". www.imaginemag.co.za. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
16. "Stéfan Louw to introduce young tenors". Roodepoort Record. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
17. "Pro Cantare Choir joins Louw for 2013 opera season". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
18. "Tenor tunes up teens". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
19. "New opera company to present its first concert". Media Update. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
20. "Opera tenor, Stéfan Louw to leave Sempre Opera". Media Update. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
21. "Gauteng kry 'n nuwe operageselskap". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
22. "Big Wig voer Werther-mini-opera op". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
23. AmyAGould. "Big Wig Opera is breaking tradition – IMAGINEMAG!". Retrieved 23 January 2022.
24. "Opera throws out tuxedos for jeans". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
25. Boekkooi, Paul. "Verdienstelike poging om operadroogte te beveg". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
26. Boekkooi, Paul. "Stéfan Louw beïndruk met regiedebuut in L'elisir d'amore". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
27. Odendaal, Thys. "La Bohème maak hom tuis in Goudstad". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
28. Boekkooi, Paul. "Madama Butterfly: Verdienstelikheid gee die deurslag". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
29. Boekkooi, Paul. "Volle Butterfly in Goudstad te sien". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
30. "Tweede kameropera by Roodepoort-teater". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
31. "Boheemse produksie vir aardse probleme". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
32. "Big Wig Opera to bring Puccini's La Bohème to the stage". Media Update. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
33. Opperman, A. J. "Opwindende operajaar wag op Stéfan Louw". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 21 January 2022.
34. Britz, Elretha. "SA sangers gryp geleentheid in Griekeland". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
35. Britz, Elretha. "Nood én behoefte lei tot stig van operageselskap". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
36. Scheepers, Liezl (9 April 2021). "'n Fees van gewyde Paasmusiek". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
37. Scheepers, Liezl (15 October 2022). "Triomf bederf bejaardes met uitsonderlike musiekuitvoering". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
38. Scheepers, Liezl (19 August 2021). "NG Parys-Suid home to new opera company". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
39. Scheepers, Liezl (17 November 2024). "Sangskool-toekenning vir singende dokter". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
40. Scheepers, Liezl (28 October 2021). "Sangers: Covid-19 sal ons nie stuit nie". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
41. Scheepers, Liezl (19 October 2023). "Parys se singende dokters: "Daar's 'n lied in ons harte"". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
42. Scheepers, Liezl (1 September 2023). "Sang 'n deel van die pad na herstel vir singende wetenskaplike". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
43. Scheepers, Liezl (6 August 2021). "Gwenith se sang en drama-droom bewaarheid". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
44. Scheepers, Liezl (5 November 2024). "Sangstudente deel hul talent met gemeenskap". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
45. Scheepers, Liezl (19 November 2023). "'n Luisterryke aand met Bond". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
46. Scheepers, Liezl (10 November 2021). "Parys se spogtalent". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
47. Jager, Ischke de. "Nou sing Stefan Louw vir sy vrou". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 21 January 2022.
48. "SA tenor Stéfan Louw wants to raise over R500K for wife's breast cancer treatment". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
49. Opperman, A. J. "Stéfan Louw sing ten bate van sy vrou". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). Retrieved 22 January 2022.
50. "Opera music for the hearing-impaired | Creative Feel". 21 September 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
51. "SA operatic tenor, Louw performs for the hearing impaired". Rekord East. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
52. Scheepers, Liezl (22 December 2020). "Fees van Kersmusiek saam met bekroonde tenoor Stefan Louw". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
53. ""What's happening now with the pandemic is what happened to opera in the late 90's"". Parys Gazette. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
54. Scheepers, Liezl (11 April 2024). "Musiek van die meesters bekoor by huiskonsert". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
55. Scheepers, Liezl (30 March 2022). "Huiskonserte - 'n belewenis van die kunste op jou drumpel". Parys Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2024.

• Biography
• Opera

• South African opera directors
• Musicians from Pretoria
• South African operatic tenors
• 20th-century South African male opera singers
• 21st-century South African male opera singers
• Living people
• White South African people