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Pretty Yende

Dreams

Sony Classical

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PBS - GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET | Official Trailer: L'Elisir d'Amore
In Song: Pretty Yende (English)
Pretty Yende performs Sacred Fire at the King's Coronation
1 Romeo et Juliette, Act I: Ah! Je veux vivre  
2 Lucia di Lammermoor: Act III: Eccola! Oh, giusto cielo!  
3 Lucia di Lammermoor: Act III: Ohime! Sorge il tremendo fantasma  
4 Lucia di Lammermoor: Act III: S'avanza Enrico!  
5 Lucia di Lammermoor: Act III: Spargi d'amaro pianto  
6 Linda di Chamounix, Act I Scene 3: Ah! Tardai troppo  
7 La Straniera: Act II: Scene 14 - Sono all'ara  
8 La Straniera: Act II: Scene 15 - Vaneggia... Il passo sgombrisi...  
9 La Straniera: Act II: Finale - Chi veggio? La regina!  
10 Le pardon de Ploermel (Dinorah), Act II Scene 3: Dieu, comme cette nuit est lente  
11 La Sonnambula: Act II: Scene 2: Oh, se una volta sola  
12 La Sonnambula: Act II: Scene 2: Ah! Non credea mirarti  
13 La Sonnambula: Act II: Scene 2: Ah! Non giunge uman pensiero  
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Pretty Yende continues her meteoric rise through the world of opera. Her debut album A Journey received the Solo Recital Recording award at the 2017 International Opera Awards and critics were unanimous in showering praise on the beauty of Yende's voice and the intelligence of her singing. ‘Hers is a lyric coloratura voice of real beauty and flexibility' (Gramophone). ‘She displays not only a top-class vocal and dramatic technique but also a high-wire artist's courage and confidence. It's the sheer brilliance of her attack that leaves audiences around the world clamouring for more.' (Daily Mail).

On stage Yende receives outstanding acclaim for her interpretation of some of the greatest roles of the bel canto and coloratura repertoire. When Pretty Yende sang the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor in Berlin and Paris last year, critics and audiences struggled each time to find superlatives to describe the beauty of her singing and the intensity of her acting. Le Figaro wrote that she was now ‘the new queen of bel canto... this is a milestone in the history of the Paris opera,' and Le Monde declared that she had portrayed ‘a cosmic Lucia... she has a radiant voice of irresistible charm.'

The celebrated ‘mad scene' from Lucia, a role which she will also perform in New York next season,was the starting point of her new recording ‘Dreams'. ‘My instinct was to look at mad scenes,' she says. ‘But then I widened my horizons, and thought about characters who have found an escape in their dream lives. All the characters I sing here have a dream: for some it is positive, for others it is a kind of nightmare. They dream of a better life, or a prince charming, or being able to live free from fear. I wanted to explore what dreams and madness mean for each character.'

  • Pretty Yende wins Manetti Shrem Opera Prize / OPERAWIRE
    Posted At: March 29, 2024 12:00 AM
    Born in in the small town of Piet Retief, South African soprano Pretty Yende has risen to the top of the opera world with unparalleled speed...With her magnetic charm, acclaimed operatic and solo performances worldwide, and a critically lauded discography, South African soprano Pretty Yende has quickly become one of the brightest stars of the classical music world.Since making her professional operatic debu...
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  • Pretty Yende set to perform at coronation of King Charles III / CNN Style
    Posted At: March 28, 2023 12:00 AM
    The South African opera star will perform at coronation of King Charles IIICNN Style's Gertrude Kitongo writes…..South African soprano Pretty Yende is set to become the first African to perform at a British coronation. Yende will perform "Sacred Fire," a new composition by classical and film composer Sarah Class at the ceremony on May 6 at Westminster Abbey, London. Buckingham Palace has released details of...
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  • Ahead of SF Opera: La traviata debut, Pretty Yende Q&A's with San Francisco Classical Voice
    Posted At: November 7, 2022 12:00 AM
    Born in in the small town of Piet Retief, South African soprano Pretty Yende has risen to the top of the opera world with unparalleled speed...With her magnetic charm, acclaimed operatic and solo performances worldwide, and a critically lauded discography, South African soprano Pretty Yende has quickly become one of the brightest stars of the classical music world.Since making her professional operatic debu...
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  • Pretty Yende - Dreams is IPR: Featured New Release
    Posted At: January 2, 2018 12:00 AM

    Soprano Pretty Yende grew up in a small town 200 miles from Johannesburg, South Africa. After hearing the famous "Flower Duet" by Leo Delibes in a television commercial, Yende decided to become an opera singer. She took the world by storm, first appearing at the Metropolitan Opera in 2013, when she was 27. Her newest album is called "Dreams." It features arias and ensemble pieces by Donizetti and Bellini...
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  • Pretty Yende - Dreams is KCRW 'Featured new Release'
    Posted At: November 21, 2017 12:00 AM

    This week I'd like to share two new opera releases-one by stunning newcomer Pretty Yende and a second by the renowned veteran Luciano Pavarotti. Both CDs are highly recommended for devotees as well as opera neophytes. Pretty Yende is a young South African singer who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom. She fell in love with opera after hearing the famous "Flower Duet" from Léo Delibes' oper...
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