A DATE WITH THE KING

SA opera superstar Pretty Yende is gearing up for her gig at Charles' coronation

- NICI DE WET

SHE’S South Africa’s biggest opera export, a woman whose startling voice has seen her rise to the top of the opera world – and now the celebrated soprano will be bringing her special brand of magic to the biggest royal event of the year.

King Charles is such a fan of Pretty Yende he handpicked her to perform at his coronation. And now, with less than a month to go to the 6 May event, she’s putting the finishing touches to the piece she’ll perform in London’s Westminster Abbey.

“I can’t tell you what I’ll be singing yet,” the 38-year-old tells YOU when we chat over Zoom. “All will be revealed on the day. But I can assure you it will be Pretty being Pretty, nothing different, just her being herself through the gift of her voice.”

Charles saw Pretty in the lead role of Violetta in La Traviata at Covent Garden in London in early 2022 and was so blown away he invited her to Windsor Castle to sing at a gala evening celebrating The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 75th anniversary.

“I got to shake his hand and speak to him. I was so nervous and excited, but he was wonderful, so gracious and charming and so appreciative of my performance. He asked me how many shows I still had left and that I must let him know when I return to London for more.”

Fast-forward to a day in December in Vienna when she received an email from the master of the king’s household inviting her to perform at the coronation.

“It was surreal,” she recalls. “I couldn’t believe the king wanted this girl from Piet Retief, from the tip of Africa, to sing at his coronation.”