M. CHILD Opera singer Lwazi shines in SA
”An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves.” -
MBABANE - Hoisting the country’s flag.
Eswatini-born internationally acclaimed opera singer Lwazi Dlamini has graced one of the biggest opera stages in South Africa.
Dlamini was featured on a show dubbed ‘Handel’s Messiah’.
Confirming the above was the talented bass singer Lwazi Dlamini.
He said Cape Town Opera and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, two cultural pillars of South Africa, joined forces to present Handel’s Messiah at Paarl’s historic Toringkerk.
He went on to share that the production was under the baton of Maestro Brandon Phillips.
“It featured Cape Town Opera soloists, young artists and choirs. The Toringkerk’s extraordinary Norman and Beards organ, manufactured in 1906 in Norwich, England, was played by Mario Nell,” he explained.
Dlamini went on to share his excitement as he also worked with Ané Pretorius, Nonhlanhla Yende and Siphesihle Mdena to mention a few. “Working with talented people has been amazing as I learnt a lot from them. I was able to represent my country and the experience was mind blowing,” he said.
He also encouraged other upcoming opera singers to focus on growing their craft and be open to any opportunity.
“My plan is to keep on studying music, performing and learning from the best. I would also like to come back home after my search for knowledge and happiness and give back to my community, which is my end goal,” he added.
Moreover, Dlamini has also worked with Cape Town Opera, which is a company that helps enhance young artists to be ready for the professional world, providing them with more performing experience and sharpening their skills into perfection. It also provides international tours, productions, concerts as well as coaching.
He has been part of Berlin Opera Academy, which is the premier European opera training programme providing practical professional instruction to emerging artists in the most operatically important city in the world.
Dlamini is not the first liSwati to hoist the country’s flag in opera music. Talented Thando Zwane has taken home a number of titles, including the best Audience Prize at Les Azuriales Opera International 2019 Opera Singing Competition
in France. He has also graced a number of stages in Itally.
He will soon be representing the country in Latvia. Latvia is situated in north-eastern Europe with a coastline along the Baltic Sea and has borders with Estonia, Belarus and Russia.
Eswatini National Choral Music Association (ENCMA) Chairperson Sihle Gumbi said these news were great for the whole of Eswatini.
“The choral music fraternity is very proud of Lwazi. Solo participants always shine and I can confidently say that as an association, we are working on doing something for singers. To be honest, the current pandemic has affected the entertainmnet scenes, but we are proud and excited to receive such positive news. This attests to the fact that Eswatini is a home of true talent,” said Gumbi.