“I’m too excited to be nervous,” the soprano told Reuters ahead of tomorrow’s performance at the coronation of King Charles who will be crowned King Charles III.
“It’s an incredible time of my life as a young girl, as a South African, as an artist, only joy floods my heart.”
Joy fills not only her heart but those of many South Africans grateful to the talented singer for flying the SA flag high.
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“As a graduate of the UCT Opera School, Pretty is a shining example of the level of excellence that the music college strives to achieve,” New South African College of Music director, Professor Andrew Lilley, told UCT News.
“It’s fantastic to see her (Yende) representing South Africa and being recognised with such high honours, including the Order of Ikhamanga. Her upcoming performances in leading roles at the Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Hamburg and Paris Opera are a testament to her continued success and talent.”
Mpumalanga-born Pretty was a teen when she mesmerised an admittedly tough crowd with her angelic voice.
“When Yende came to Cape Town to audition for the UCT Opera Studio, the head of vocal studies was also on the audition committee. When Pretty began to sing, we both knew that she was singing for a place in the wrong organisation – the Opera Studio only admitted singers who already possessed a voice degree – but we also realised that we were listening to an exceptional voice,” recalls Emeritus Professor Angelo Gobbato, the former director of Opera UCT.
“We immediately offered her a place in the UCT Opera School.”
Soon after, Prof Gobbato directed the UCT Opera Studio production of Smetana’s comic opera The Bartered Bride. “It was in this production that we first came across the name of a brilliant young student (barely 16 at the time) called Pretty Yende.
“We also realised that we were listening to an exceptional voice.”
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Pretty first discovered opera from a TV ad, reports Classic FM, the premiere classic music station in SA.
“Perhaps her most historic performance invitation to date will take place on 6 May, when she performs in Westminster Abbey as part of the coronation ceremony for King Charles III, at the invitation of the King himself.
“The performance is thought to make Yende the first African solo performer at a British coronation, but were it not for a chance encounter with opera on a TV advert, she may never have discovered her talent.”
“At the coronation, Yende will perform Sacred Fire, a piece written by composer Sarah Class for the occasion,” adds Reuters.
“For me, it’s a soul’s business,” Pretty told the news agency.
“Whether you’re a king, a princess or just a girl from the tip of Africa singing for the coronation of the king.”
