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.”
This story is from the 20 April 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 20 April 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BALLON IN THE BAG
Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football
IT WAS ALL A LIE
A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country
AGREE TO DISAGREE
Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book
PAUSE THE CLOCK
Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down
MPOOMY ON TOP
We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court
MATT THE RECLUSE
A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight
A LEAP OF FAITH
After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it
