Two months after the life-changing performance at King Charles III's coronation last year, South African opera singer Pretty Yende said she went through a tough time as she lost her mother. "My heart broke into a thousand pieces, and I couldn't make a sound. I lost my voice. I've had to relearn a lot, including singing itself as I couldn't." Pretty said she misses her mother's physical presence. "I miss her physical presence and calling at awkward hours. She'd always calm my soul," she said.

GRIEF AND JOY

The Mpumalanga-born singer, who has performed in many other international theatres, admitted that the year 2023 was full of incredible highs and some unbelievable lows. "From almost a hundred shows that took me all over the world, a once-in-a-lifetime performance at West Minster for His Majesty's King Charles the III Coronation and never done before," she said. "I have learned...and it is helping me in my time of grief. The year 2023 has been quite a journey, with utmost beauty, grace, as well as sadness. Such is life..."

WORLD STAGE

But on the bright side, the goodwill ambassador at the World Health Organization started the year 2024 as the first opera singer to be made an ambassador of the House of Dior. Traveling to Paris for her first appearance as the House of Dior ambassador, Pretty attended Maria Grazia Chiuri's new collection presentation and a celebratory dinner for the 400th anniversary of Chateau de Versailles. There, she met the likes of Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, and Queen Camilla.The luxury brand, Dior chose the soprano singer to join its global ambassadors which include award-winning actress, Natalie Portman, the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award winner, Anya-Taylor Joy.