LEADING LADY

SA conductor Ofentse Pitse led a global orchestra in a huge production for Bridgerton spin-off Queen Charlotte

- NOKUTHULA ZWANE-EJIKE

AS SHE stood on stage in London she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. In front of her were 70 of the world’s best musicians as well as superstar Alicia Keys and all their eyes were on her, waiting for her to give the signal so they could swing into action for the music video that would have Bridgerton fans swooning.

Pretoria conductor Ofentse Pitse took a deep breath, raised her arms into the air and pointed her baton and suddenly the magic began – violins started playing followed by cellos and harps and Alicia’s voice reverberated through the studio.

It was an experience Ofentse will never forget and she’s thrilled by the reaction to the video, which was recently released to promote Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton spin-off series, Queen Charlotte.

With every Bridgerton series music is released that ties in with the hit show. This time it’s Alicia’s If I Ain’t Got You and it’s receiving rave reviews.

The new series focuses on Britain’s first black queen, so it was fitting that all 74 of the musicians in the video are women of colour and they’re led by South Africa’s first black female conductor.

Before the video, few of her countrymen had ever heard of Ofentse (30), but now everyone wants to know more about the woman who led the global orchestra with such poise.

As she chats to us at the YOU offices in Randburg, she admits she never expected to be the focus of so much attention. Then she gives a wry chuckle.

“But I guess I’m going to have to rise to this occasion.”

OFENTSE was one of five women in the running for the job of conducting the orchestra Alicia would perform with. She had two Zoom interview calls with the Grammy-winner and from the start she felt there was a connection.