A University of Cape Town (UCT) alumnus has been chosen to sing a solo at the royal coronation of Charles and his wife, Camilla, in Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
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‘It’s hard to put into words how honoured and blessed I feel to receive an invitation to perform at the coronation,’ says Pretty Yende, the UCT-trained soprano.
UCT first learned of Yende in 2003, when she was barely 16 years old. ‘When Yende came to Cape Town to audition for the UCT Opera Studio, the head of vocal studies Virginia Davids* was also on the audition committee,’ says Emeritus professor Angelo Gobbato. ‘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. We immediately offered her a place in the UCT Opera School.’
In 2009, she was awarded a bursary for the opera school at La Scala in Milan. There, she appeared as Norina in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale and Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Then, in 2013, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. ‘While fulfilling a concert obligation in Russia (part of the prize won at the Belvedere Competition) Pretty received an emergency call from the Metropolitan to replace the leading soprano in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory,’ says Gobbato. ‘She has also received several official honours, such as the Stella d’Italia, only awarded to those who are at least 35 years old, but awarded to her when she was still 34 years old (by special dispensation).’
Yende was recently awarded the Ceremonial Badge of Honour, which recognises her contribution to the arts in France and across the globe. Associate Professor Shose Kessi, the dean of UCT’s Faculty of Humanities, says Yende is a credit to herself and Opera UCT, where she refined her art and launched her career. ‘To be chosen to represent oneself on a stage as big as this, from among thousands of talented performers, is testament to her world-class talent and mesmerising voice.’
Professor Andrew Lilley, New South African College of Music director, says it is fantastic to see Yende representing South Africa and being recognised with high honours. ‘ 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.’
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Picture: @PrettyYende / Twitter