This summer, Pretty Yende returns to Opéra Bastille in Paris to star in a fresh rendition of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with direction by the innovative mind of Thomas Jolly. Ms. Yende’s previous portrayal of the young lover at The Metropolitan Opera during the 2016-17 season earned her high praise from Operawire, describing her as “the perfect Juliette” with “incredible coloratura roulades.” Francesco Demuro takes on {…}
This spring, Pretty Yende stars as the four heroines in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann at Staatsoper Hamburg. Daniele Finzi Pasca’s production, which opened Hamburg’s 2021-22 season, was lauded by Gramophone as “as handsomely staged a Hoffmann as you’re likely to see, painted in rich shadows and glowing golds, and adorned with period costumes (broadly belle époque in style) and countless touches of gracefully handled stage magic.” Ms. {…}
Pretty Yende has the esteemed honor of performing at the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6. Ms. Yende will sing Sacred Fire, a new piece written by British composer Sarah Class for the occasion. Ms. Yende is the first African to sing solo at a British coronation. Having grown up in a small town in eastern South Africa, 8,000 miles from where she will sing at the coronation, Ms. Yende said to The Guardian: “Generations {…}
This spring, Pretty Yende returns to the Wiener Staatsoper for performances of Manon as well as a thoughtfully curated recital of art song. Ms. Yende has recently appeared with the company in leading roles that include Marie in La Fille du Régiment, Elvira in I Puritani, and Violetta in La Traviata. On April 30, May 4, 7, 10, and 13, Yende stars as Jules Massenet’s Manon under the baton of Bertrand de Billy. Performing alongside Ms. Yende in Andrei {…}
On April 6, Pretty Yende will join pianist Michele D’Elia for a recital at Teatro di San Carlo featuring repertoire by Mozart, Debussy, Donizetti, and more. See below for the full program details: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Exsultate, jubilate”, motet, K. 165 Gioachino Rossini “Beltà crudele” Soirées musicales, “Lʼinvito”, “La pastorella delle Alpi” Semiramide, “Bel raggio lusinghier” Claude Debussy “Beau soir” “Fleur des {…}
On March 28, Pretty Yende will join L’Orchestre de chambre de Genève in celebrated arias by Mozart and Handel. Taking place at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva, this special performance will also feature Serbian violinist Gordan Nikolić, the former concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra. See below for the full program: JOSEPH HAYDN Symphonie concertante pour hautbois, basson, violon et violoncelle en si bémol majeur HOB. I {…}
This March, Pretty Yende makes her highly anticipated debut as Gilda in Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at Hamburg State Opera. Alongside Yende, the production boasts an impressive cast, including George Gagnidze as Rigoletto, Matthew Polenzani as Duke of Mantua, Tigran Martirossian as Sparafucile, Marta Świderska as Maddalena, and Blake Denson as Monterone. Under the baton of conductor Stefano Ranzani, Andreas Homoki’s colorful production, which {…}