The Citizen (Gauteng)

Behind the ballsy Speedos

COMEBACK CONCERT: ONE-OFF EVENT IN PRETORIA ON MARCH 21

- Hayden Horner

The versatile tenor sings in 14 different languages, including Zulu, Ndebele, Xhosa and Afrikaans.

Direct from his sellout shows across Europe, legendary Belgian tenor Helmut Lotti is once again set to return to South Africa to perform his highly-acclaimed Comeback Concert.

Lotti, accompanie­d by a full orchestra, will renew his romance with local audiences as he performs many of the songs his fans have come to know and love. Among other great hits included in his line-up are Bridge over Troubled Waters, You’ll Never Walk Alone, The Impossible Dream and Put a Little Love in your Heart.

Born Helmut Barthold Johannes Alma Lotigiers on October 22, 1969, he began his singing career with a visual and singing style that, surprising­ly enough, was an obvious imitation of Elvis Presley – and Lotti quickly became known in Belgian and some European circles described as De Nieuwe Elvis (The New Elvis).

Lotti, who is no stranger to performing in South Africa, released his first albums Vlaamse Nachten (Flemish Nights) in 1990 and Alles Wat Ik Voel (All That I Feel) in 1992, but it was only in 1995, when he changed direction with the first of what became a long series of Helmut Lotti Goes De Nieuwe Elvis.

Classic albums, that he was catapulted to internatio­nal stardom. Clearly a man of many talents, he was a United Nations ambassador, sang against global racism as part of the famous 0110 concerts and sings fluently in 14 different languages, including Zulu, Ndebele, Afrikaans and Xhosa. With an impressive 13 million albums sold worldwide, and having performed duets with likes of internatio­nal superstars such as Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Sir Cliff Richard and Eros Ramazzoti, Lotti will this time around joined by 14-year-old singing sensation, Amira. If you are a fan of this legendary icon, then you’ll want to be at the Sun Arena’s Time Square, in Pretoria on March 21. Tickets are already on sale at Computicke­t and range from R375 to R745. Edited by

Thami Kwazi

010 492-5227

city@citizen.co.za

He began his career with a visual and singing style that, surprising­ly enough, was an obvious imitation of Elvis Presley and he became known as

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