As a well-versed scholar in Classical music, studying in South Africa and abroad, Magdalene founded Biblioteek Productions in 2010, providing a platform for artists and theatre makers to collaborate on Classical music productions. Biblioteek Productions enabled her to successfully commission a large body of new South African works for various ensembles, including several new operas. 

 

Magdalene has been creating innovative musical and theatrical experiences since 2001. Works directed by her include La Bohème (Cape Town Opera, Innibos Festival), Gianni Schicchi (University of Stellenbosch), Die Zauberflöte (Johannesburg International Mozart Festival), L’Orfeo (Cape Town Opera), Bastien und Bastienne (Gauteng Opera), La Voix Humaine (Impac Film Festival) and Calling Us Home (Shy Music).   

 

As Soprano Magdalene has sung over 30 operatic roles, including Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), The Queen of the Night (Die Zauberflöte) and Gilda (Rigoletto). She is a frequent soloist in performances of concerts and oratorios, notably Händel’s Messiah, the vocally challenging Carmina Burana (Orff) and Mozart’s posthumous Requiem.

 

Magdalene is very passionate about early childhood development and has developed a comprehensive new music and movement program for ages 0-7, called Clever Classical Kids. She has also compiled and presented several workshops and lectures about her philosophy “The Art of Being a Cockroach - How Not To be A Starving Artist”. 

 

She currently holds the position of ​​Artistic Director at Cape Town Opera and is also on the board of the Songmakers Guild of South Africa.