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A select group of South African talents are vying for top honors at the renowned Operalia opera competition, shedding light on their transformative journeys from humble beginnings to the international operatic stage.
Luvo Maranti, once an HR professional with no formal music education, is among the hopefuls. The 29-year-old once only knew of Luciano Pavarotti and jestingly mimicked him with friends. But now, he stands among 34 participants, chosen from an initial 800, performing at this esteemed annual contest in Cape Town, founded three decades ago by Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo.
Maranti’s passion led him to abandon his steady job and embark on a rigorous and often tumultuous pursuit of opera. Despite challenges, including bouts of financial hardship, he remains steadfast. “Opera is an entirely different realm. I had to learn how to decipher a Western score,” Maranti commented to AFP, reflecting on his nascent experiences and the stark contrast to his previous choir endeavors.
Photo by Marco Longari/AFP
Sakhiwe Mkosana’s trajectory bears similarities. The baritone, now training in Frankfurt, Germany, transitioned from dreaming of law to embracing the world of opera, thanks to a high school teacher’s astute observation of his vocal prowess. Mkosana, like many South African talents, often faced skepticism in his choice to deviate from traditionally favored professions in the black community, such as medicine or law. However, Mkosana believes in the universal allure of opera. “If I can persuade anyone to attend an opera, I’ve fulfilled my role,” he asserted.
The Operalia competition is not just a contest but a potential career launchpad. Nombulelo Yende, an established soprano and sibling to acclaimed soprano Pretty Yende, regards it as a gateway to broader opportunities. As she fine-tunes Mozart and Wagner pieces in a Cape Town opera house studio, her powerful vibrato encapsulates her sentiment, “Opera is liberating. I adore embodying diverse roles, eliciting varied emotions.”
A feeling shared by New York-based Siphokazi Molteno, another contestant. The 31-year-old mezzo hailing from Gqeberha recounted her formative experience with a Mozart aria. “I was instantly emotionally captivated by it. I realized the profound richness of opera,” she mused.
This year’s Operalia not only celebrates the world’s promising opera talents but also illuminates the transformative power of mentorship, unearthing hidden gems and redirecting their paths to the grandeur of the operatic world.
With AFP
