It has already raised eyebrows for its portrayal of Africans subjected to brutality by fascist troops. Critics questioned the taste of including scenes of rape and racial abuse by Mussolini's soldiers during Italy's 1930s subjugation of Eritrea in a much-loved 18th-century opera.But the South African production of Mozart's masterpiece Cosi Fan Tutte ran into further trouble when the opera went to France and 12 black singers employed by Cape Town Opera learned that they were being paid significantly less than their French counterparts.The disagreement came about after an elaborate arrangement to circumvent French rules on pay.Cape Town Opera told the singers to ignore local laws requiring individual performers to sign contracts with the festival organisers, which would guarantee them the French minimum wage.But the artists began dealing directly with the festival organisers to score a pay rise. They said that, as a result, they were sacked by the company and told to return to South Africa.A representative of the singers said: "The contracts [for the French production] were made out to each of us guaranteeing us the minimum wage."But, the day after we signed, we received e-mails saying we had breached our contract [with] Cape Town Opera and that there would be repercussions."The episode has dented the image and finances of South Africa's flagship opera company and put the careers of its former stars in jeopardy. ..