Tebogo Monnakgotla

Tebogo Monnakgotla’s short opera Jean-Joseph came about within the context of Short Stories – the Royal Swedish Opera’s initiative for a new chamber opera.

Jean-Joseph appeared as a gem of musical drama and its performance resonated in the Swedish press: “One of the country’s foremost young composers,” wrote Camilla Lundberg of Dagens Nyheter in her review of the performance.

Jean-Joseph is a tight, intense, and illustriously instrumented work that captivates the listener from beginning to end.

Tebogo Monnakgotla has written music for several ensembles including Kammarensemblen, Musica Vitae, Avanti!, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Swedish Radio Choir.

In 2017 she was awarded the Carin Malmlöf-Forssling prize with the following justification: “The intelligence and presence of Tebogo Monnakgotla’s musicality shines through the contemporary tones of voice she uses in her music with a colour palette that is both surprising and effective. With a natural lyrical talent, she adeptly explores the extremes of beauty and ugliness, out of which is born something new and very thoughtful.”