World renowned South African born but German-based opera singer, Pumeza Matshikiza will showcase her internationally acclaimed talent as she takes to the Artscape Theatre stage to pay a fitting tribute to South Africa’s first International Opera Star, Wendy Fine.
The South African Opera Sensation, Matshikiza, will work her magic in association with The Cape Town City Ballet, to celebrate Wendy Fine’s 80th birthday.
Sharing the stage with Matshikiza are rising opera stars
- Siphokazi Molteno George (Mezzo),
- Sipho Fubesi (Tenor) and
- Theo Magongoma (Baritone) accompanied by
- Juan Burgers as pianist.
Add Ballet dancers Xola Putye, Cleo Ames, Megan Henegan and Stephen Underwood who will undoubtedly thrill audiences en pointe to the tunes of Swing, and a perfect evening of entertainment is guaranteed.
Wendy Fine’s 80th birthday
Says Matshikiza: “It is my honour to perform in Cape Town, in celebration of Wendy Fine’s 80th birthday. She is an operatic icon who enjoyed an international career for many years. In addition, she nurtured and developed some of South Africa’s great voices. A real cause for celebration! I’m thrilled to join this celebration with all the other performers in making this a special and a memorable day for Wendy!”
Wendy Fine with lifetime achievement award
In her response, Fine enthused: “I am deeply honoured that a singer of Pumeza’s international stature has come to sing in tribute to me at my 80th birthday concert. Pumeza is my favourite singer in the world. It is the greatest blessing I could have wished for. She is bringing joy not only to audiences around the world but has proved inspiring to a new generation of singers on the global opera stage of today. I am immensely touched that she wanted to sing in my honour.”
Fine performed leading roles in many of the most distinguished opera houses with some of the greatest singers and conductors in the world, paving the way for generations to come of proudly South African opera singers now setting the global opera stages alight. This Birthday Tribute Concert at Artscape celebrates the life of this significant musical icon whose exceptional talents not only enabled her to perform to the highest acclaim at the greatest opera houses of our time, but to acknowledge her commitment afterwards to inspiring and nurturing South African singers, finding talent in our communities and taking them to the world. Wendy Fine received a lifetime achievement award from the provincial government for her contribution to the arts
WHERE: Artscape Theatre Centre, Hertzog Boulevard, Foreshore, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: January 3, 2019 at 7.30pm
TICKETS: R150 and R100 obtainable at any Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-seat on 021 421 7695.
INFO: T 021 410 9800 or 021 410 9812 or 073 207 1558. E simoneh@artscape.co.za
About Pumeza Matshikiza
Pumeza Matshikiza was born in Lady Frere. A graduate of the Royal College of Music and a member of the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme from 2007 to 2009, she made her début as a flower maiden in Parsifal and has gone on to sing leading soprano roles. She graduated Cum Laude in 2004 from the University of Cape Town’s College of Music. In the same year, she won a scholarship for a 3 year post graduate degree at the Royal College of Music in London, graduating Cum Laude in Advanced Opera Studies, in 2007. She has since performed across the world including at the Royal Opera House in London, The Classical Opera Company; Wexford Opera Festival in Ireland and Opera Houses around Europe including La Scala Opera House in Milan, Klagfurt, Dresden, Wiesbaden and Stuttgart etc. others.
Her concert and recital work are much acclaimed. At the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which was viewed by one billion people worldwide, she performed a rendition of “Freedom Come-All-Ye.. The song refers to Nyanga, one of the oldest black townships in Cape Town, which is also one of the places where Pumeza grew up as a child. Speaking about the song afterwards, she said: “The song […] is not one I was even aware of until I was given it to rehearse but it is so beautiful. I love what the song stands for – freedom for everyone regardless of race or social standing or nationality.
She released her debut studio album, Voice of Hope in 2014 on Decca Records and containing four classical arias from Puccini and Mozart. Her second album, Arias was released in 2015.
