Who is Pretty Yende? The South African opera star who will be performing at Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony

• Here is everything you need to know about opera singer Pretty Yende 

Opera singer Pretty Yende will become the first African solo artist to perform at the coronation of a British monarch.

Yende, 38, has been chosen by King Charles III to perform at his coronation ceremony on Saturday, 6 May, 2023, which will take place inside Westminster Abbey.

A renowned fan of classical music, Charles has made a historic decision by giving South African opera singer Pretty Yende a featuring role in his coronation ceremony. 

So, who is Pretty Yende? What will she sing at the coronation? What music has she featured in?

MailOnline reveals everything you need to know about the South African opera star. 

Pretty Yende (pictured) will become the first African to perform as a solo artist for the coronation of a British monarch.

Yende, 38, became inspired to learn opera after discovering Leo Delibes’s Flower Duet, which appeared on a British Airways advert

Yende will perform ‘Sacred Fire’, a new piece by British composer Sarah Class at the coronation ceremony

Who is Pretty Yende? 

Pretty Yende is a South African soprano singer who was born at the height of apartheid in 1985 in the eastern province of Mpumalanga, South Africa. 

Yende would sing traditional Zulu songs on her way to church, as well as featuring in gospel music with the church choir. 

At the age of 16, she began learning opera, after being inspired by Leo Delibes’s operatic Flower Duet, which appeared on a British Airways advert.

It will mark the first time in history that an African singer has performed as a solo artist for the coronation of a British monarch.

‘I feel very, very honoured because it is something that has never happened before,’ she said, according to The National News.

‘Generations from now they will read about the British monarchs… and they’ll see the name of a girl from the tip of Africa written in there — that she was actually invited by the king himself to sing at Westminster Abbey.’

What will Pretty Yende sing at the coronation? 

Yende will perform ‘Sacred Fire’, a new piece by British composer Sarah Class. Indeed, the 38-year-old has been in demand at the world’s leading opera houses for a decade, with critics praising her charisma and luminous, bel canto timbre.

In fact, King Charles III, an avid classical music fan, has already seen Yende live. The reigning monarch witnessed her perform at Windsor Castle in 2022, when he was still Prince of Wales. 

Yende describes opera as being ‘a gift to humanity’, believing ‘there’s something divine about it too,’ as she expresses her hope for more people to engage with opera after seeing her performance.

‘I am counting the hours now. The preparations are going very well and I can’t wait,’ she says. ‘I know that my life will no longer be the same.’

King Charles III, an avid classical music fan, has already seen Yende live. The reigning monarch witnessed her perform at Windsor Castle in 2022, when he was still Prince of Wales.

Yende rose to global prominence following her her acclaimed Metropolitan Opera debut, which saw her step in as the Countess Adele in Le Comte Ory. 

Following her appearance at the coronation ceremony, Yende will sing at events across Europe, including dates in London, Paris and Vienna.  

What other music has Pretty Yende made? 

In 2016, she released her debut album ‘A Journey’ and subsequently appeared as the musical guest on several television shows including ‘The Late Show’ with Steven Colbert, ‘The Wendy Williams Show,’ and ‘Good Morning America.’ 

Despite the significance of her role in the coronation ceremony, Yende has been  asked to boycott the coronation in protest at Britain’s colonial past by critics.

‘I see each and every opportunity I get as a possibility for my gift to reconcile, to heal, to love, to give joy, to give hope and to give dreams for the future,’ she says.

‘We cannot change the past but each generation… with a small action can give hope for tomorrow.’

Continuing a tradition which has been in place for centuries, the coronation of the reigning monarch will take place inside Westminster Abbey (pictured)

‘It’s a dream come true, because when I found out that I have this incredible gift I wanted to share it with as many people as possible,’ Yende says.

Yende released her second album, ‘Dreams’, in 2017. 

Describing the concept behind her second album on her official website, Yende stated: ‘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.’ 

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