Among the invited artists at King Charles III's coronation was South African soprano Pretty Yende. What made the moment special was not just singing but the rareness of the occasion. | News24Arts
. Coronations are not events that take place often. What made the moment special was not just singing for a new king but the rareness of the occasion. After millions of global television viewers experienced her soaring high notes, stage presence, musicality and star quality, audiences were no doubt asking,"Who is she? Where does she come from?"
As a scholar of African opera with a particular research interest in various South African singers, including Pretty Yende – and what is sometimes called Black vocality – I would like to present a slightly different history of her than most writers do. My interest here is showing Yende as a product of global histories and processes across time and space. That her singing is in fact embedded in the globalisation of the 1800s and its continuity to the 2000s.
My interest is to excavate Yende’s vocal memory by looking at history and the community. Opera stardom did not surreptitiously land in her lap. Instead, home, church and school singing was foundational. For someone with no foundational classical education, to go on to sing in French, Italian and German reveals how she has triumphed against the limitations of both empire and the legacy of
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
WATCH: Pretty Yende’s moving performance at King Charles’ coronation | The CitizenOpera singer Pretty Yende was the toast of South Africa at this past weekend’s Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. She became the first African singer to perform solo for the coronation of a British monarch.
Read more »
Social media apps are getting paid plans — South African prices and features comparedSocial media subscriptions can remove ads or provide additional features to make your time spent on a particular platform more enjoyable.
Read more »
Big lie about Elon Musk’s South African childhoodElon Musk has reiterated his status as a self-made billionaire, denying he ever received money from his father who has repeatedly claimed that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO built his tech empire on money made from an emerald mine in Zambia.
Read more »
IAN MACLEOD: Low-hanging fruit and ‘vleis’ for South African agricultureSouth Africa’s export farmers could take advantage of new demand from China on the back of increased household savings. But they’ll need to be quick off the mark.
Read more »
Spelling error flagged on new South African banknotesSome South Africans are upset with apparent spelling errors on new banknotes.
Read more »
Age doesn’t catch up to Sheila Joseph, the fastest South African woman older than 80The Capetonian was crowned the top woman athlete in the country in the 80+ age group on a 5km track.
Read more »