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Pretty YendeOpera singer from South Africa, soprano.
Country:
 South Africa |
Content:
- Biography of Pretty Yende
- Achievements
- Competition Success
- Outstanding Victory
- Memorable Roles
- Future Opportunities
- Recognition
- Operalia
Biography of Pretty Yende
Pretty Yende is an operatic soprano from South Africa. She rose to prominence in 2011 when she became one of the 40 participants in the vocal competition 'Operalia', held under the auspices of Plácido Domingo.
Achievements
One of Yende's most notable achievements was her brilliant performance at the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. This competition is considered one of the most famous and prestigious vocal competitions in the world, providing young talents with a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and secure a promising future. The jury of the competition consists of renowned opera managers, talent agents, and journalists from around the world.
Competition Success
Yende participated in the competition alongside two other students from the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town: Given Nkosi, Runette Botha, and Thabang Senekal from Pretoria. Out of approximately 3000 young performers who participated in the competition, only 159 were selected for the final stage in Vienna. Yende, Nkosi, Botha, and Senekal represented South Africa as the best vocalists, impressing the jury, fellow competitors, and potential future employers.
Outstanding Victory
Yende's performance captivated the audience and judges, leading her to win first prizes in the 'Opera and Operetta', 'Audience Prize', and 'International Press Prize' categories. She became the first participant in the history of the competition to win all three top prizes. However, Yende's career did not stop there. At the age of 24, she had already performed in opera houses in Geneva, Malmö, Berlin, Oslo, and Riga.
Memorable Roles
Among Yende's most memorable roles are Elena in Benjamin Britten's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Magda in Giacomo Puccini's 'La rondine', Fiordiligi in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 'Cosi fan tutte', the Countess in Mozart's 'Le nozze di Figaro ossia la folle giornata', and Manon in Jules Massenet's 'Manon'. In addition to operas, Yende has also performed solo parts in various oratorios and requiems.
Future Opportunities
Yende's victory in Vienna, along with seven special awards, brought her numerous exciting offers. She received invitations to perform at renowned venues such as La Scala in Milan, Opéra de Paris, Graz Opera, and Düsseldorf Opera. It is evident that these invitations are just the beginning, and Yende's talent has opened doors to opera houses worldwide.
Recognition
Yende first gained attention after winning a singing competition in the Netherlands. Her mesmerizing performance impressed a staff member of the Latvian National Opera, who immediately invited her to participate in a New Year's concert. Interestingly, before her triumphant performance in Vienna, Yende returned to Riga to sing the role of Micaëla in Georges Bizet's 'Carmen' at the Latvian National Opera.
Operalia
In 2011, Yende was selected as one of the 40 participants in the Operalia vocal competition, which is held under the patronage of Plácido Domingo.
