South African soprano to be the King’s Dame Kiri

South African soprano to be the King’s Dame Kiri

News

norman lebrecht

February 19, 2023

At the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana spencer in july 1981, the eyes of the world turned on a Kiwi soprano in a canary-yellow outfit, earning Dame Kiri te Kanawa fame beyond words.

At the coronation of King Charles in May 2023, the star soprano will (we learn today) be the brilliant and deserving Pretty Yende.

Arise, Dame Pretty.

Also in the lineup are old Charles favourites John Eliot Gardiner, Bryn Terfel, Antonio Pappano and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Comments

  • Player says:

    Includes a Coronation Anthem by Andrew Lloyd Webber… girl choristers imported from the Chapel Choir of Methodist College, Belfast, and from Truro Cathedral Choir… One of the liturgical sections of the ceremony will be performed in Welsh, while a second item will include sections in three Celtic languages.

    The price we all have to pay for monarchy?!

    • Alan says:

      I wonder are UK subjects aware of how totally ridiculous this seems to so much of the rest to rest of the world

      • TishaDoll says:

        Really, ridiculous to whom exactly….

        • Tiredofitall says:

          To all those who have borne witness to the pathetic antics of that family of degenerate fools. Disney manages its tourist attractions better.

        • Sue Sonata Form says:

          The people of the USA with an old-aged President who has Dementia. I wonder if there’ll be an Easter Bunny at the Coronation to steer Charles to the right place? I think we deserve to be told.

          • Westfan says:

            Another tiresome commenter. I’ll be perfectly happy to be as demented as Joe when I’m his age. Especially today of all days, after a trip to Ukraine. The former guy wouldn’t have the cojones to do it. Come to think of it, he’d be in Russia groveling in from of Putin instead……

          • soavemusica says:

            Most of the Americans acknowledge that there would be no war in Ukraine, had Bad Orange Man been the opponent of Putin.

            Remember a US president under whose term there was no waring around?

            The rest resolve their cognitive dissonance by having some more tears in soy latte.

          • Anonymous says:

            Biden probably still knows the proper use of capital letters.

          • Tiredofitall says:

            Sue Sonata Form must be German, if a little inconsistent.

          • MuddyBoots says:

            Sue you are way behind the times. Dementia Donny is no longer Prez. I propose cognitive tests for SlippedDisc posters!

          • Robin Tunnah says:

            What’s the evidence that Biden has dementia?

          • Hayne says:

            Don’t play the fool.

      • Player says:

        The Coronation, or the diversity bingo it seems to require?

        Most people are well aware that a coronation is possibly the least democratic or diverse thing one could imagine.

        And are (mostly) cool with that.

    • Pianofortissimo says:

      Beautiful. All indigenous languages will be represented. Maybe some section in Latin jusst to remember the good old times when the British were Roman?

    • William Evans says:

      Charles in King of the United Kingdom, after all. Would you prefer an exclusively London-centric ‘cast’?

    • soavemusica says:

      When it comes to South-African sopranos, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha would have been vocally an exceedingly better choice.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKzSkT5PpBs

      Then again, anointing a king belongs to the Old Covenant, not New Covenant – which only contains anointing of the sick…No temporal rulers in spiritual matters…

      James 5:
      14 “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

  • Morgan says:

    . . . or simply don’t care.

  • Irisheyesaresmiling. says:

    Methodist College Belfast has had a exceptional music department for decades. Former pupils include pianists Barry Douglas (Tchaikovsky Winner) Michael McHale, plus members of top orchestras – LSO, RPO, LPO, BBC, Philharmonia, ECO just for starters! And all sang in the Chapel Choir…

  • resounding says:

    Is that to channel the colonial spirit of the Cullinan diamonds in the Queen’s crown, or in some way to compensate for their presence?

  • Thula Mhlope says:

    Prima la Musica, poi lo Spettacolo

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    “Old” favourites? Surely Charles himself is one of the very oldest ever to be crowned King. Anywhere.

    • Tiredofitall says:

      What’s your beef with older people? Do they cease to exist in your book? Let’s put you in the ring with Jane Fonda and see who comes out the winner.

  • Tiredofitall says:

    I believe Pretty Yende has proved her musical and celebrity worth to be referred to by her name in the headline and not by a generic “South African Soprano”. It is a dogwhistle that this is simply a woke choice.

    It is not.

  • Has-been says:

    Sad/frustrating to see such negativity over what should be a celebratory event in GB.

  • Mathew Carstens says:

    Why not throw in the bag some Hip- Hop lyrics by some Arabic artist, while the country is overrun with muslims

  • Helen Kamioner says:

    Kiri’s performance of Let the bright Seraphim is unforgettable

  • Bass One says:

    As a former Duke of Cornwall I would have thought he might have included something from George Lloyd, a foremost 20th.C composer. As it is we will have to suffer something from Karl Jenkins. No doubt he will have already composed four bars (repeat.)

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