Classic award for Yende
ACCLAIMED South African opera singer Pretty Yende has added to her international fame with yet another prestigious award, winning a 2017 Echo Klassik gong in Germany.
Yende scooped the Newcomer of the Year prize last week, ahead of the glitzy hand-over ceremony to be held at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie in October.
The Echo Klassik is one of the most renowned classical music award shows in the world‚ with some of the biggest names in the genre being honoured each year.
The South African songbird said the win was a dream come true and told her social media fans she was honoured to have her debut album‚ A Journey‚ rated so highly by one of the international authorities on classical music.
“I am beyond honoured to receive the award from Echo Klassik,” Yende said.
“I am thrilled that my debut album has afforded me the thrilling luxury to be recognised by Echo Klassik.”
The award comes two months after Yende was honoured with a 2017 International Opera Award for the Best Recording Solo Recital for the album.
Yende has appeared in a number of theatre productions this year‚ including at the Metropolitan Opera as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia‚ as Juliette in Romeo et Juliette and as Elvira in I Puritani.
She was in US TV programmes The Late Show with Steven Colbert‚ The Wendy Williams Show and Good Morning America.
Reflecting on the success of A Journey, Yende said it had given her the courage to push forward with her dreams to conquer the theatre world.
“I receive it as a deep encouragement to pursue my journey‚ joyously sharing this precious gift I have been entrusted with.
“I am grateful to all my fans.”