Image: Decca / Simon Fowler

This week, Johannesburg audiences will be treated to a rare South African appearance by Stuttgart-based opera star Pumeza Matshikiza.

The opera gala concert , sponsored by Motseng Investment Holdings and produced by Web Maestro, takes place on Thursday 16th March at the Linder Auditorium.

Last year saw the launch of Matshikiza’s second album, entitled Arias. It is a snapshot of the opera roles she has sung from Purcell to Puccini with some European art songs like Aprés un rêve (Faure) and À Chloris (Hahn).

Her debut album Voices of Hope was a mixture of opera and South African songs. Clearly, coming home is dear to her heart, as she explains: "For an artist based abroad, it is always a great pleasure to come home to perform, and I am especially excited about performing in Johannesburg where I have never had a concert before. I am looking forward to winning Johannesburg over and hope to perform there for many years to come."

Ipeleng Mkhari, CEO of concert sponsors Motseng, says the story of excellent artists such as Pumeza Matshikiza is, in a way, the story of many black South African women. “Music is indeed a global language understood by all. We at Motseng are once again delighted to host Pumeza Matshikiza, a classic songstress in March 2017. As a pioneering black woman-owned and led organization, we believe that South African black women in this musical genre have been somewhat overlooked and ours is to celebrate their globally recognized excellence, passion and talent” said Mkhari.

The concert will also introduce emerging soprano Noluvuyiso Mpofu who, like Ms Matshikiza, was born in the Eastern Cape and is also a graduate of the University of Cape Town’s Opera School. Ms Mpofu was the second runner-up in the 2015 Operalia Competition and first runner-up in the 2016 Hans Gabor Belvedere International Singing Competition. In South Africa she won the 2015 ATKV Muziqanto Competition and the Schock Foundation Singing Competition in the same year.

Kutlwano Masote will conduct the Chamber Orchestra of Johannesburg.


Bookings through computicket, enquiries to Ma-Setlogelo Masote on 083 309 4648 or setlogelo@webmaestro.co.za.

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