1. On 26 January 2020, Mimi was inaugurated as a living legend in the South African Legends Museum.
13 Facts About Mimi Coertse
1. 2.
Mimi Coertse was one of only 20 South African legends of whom a bust was made.
3.
Mimi Coertse, born in Durban, matriculated at the Helpmekaar Girls High School in Johannesburg.
4.
Mimi Coertse began vocal studies in South Africa in 1949.
5.
Mimi Coertse left South Africa in September 1953 for London, and then went via The Hague to Vienna.
6.
Mimi Coertse made her debut in January 1955 as the "first flower girl" in Wagner's Parsifal at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Karl Bohm conducting.
7.
Mimi Coertse sang in Basel at the Teatro San Carlo.
8.
Mimi Coertse's roles were limited in the United Kingdom as the Equity boycott of South Africa due to Apartheid, prevented its members from having anything to do with South Africa's entertainment industry.
9.
Mimi Coertse sang the soprano part in Bach's Matthaus-Passion at Fritz Wunderlich's first appearance in Vienna in 1958, when he performed the tenor arias with Julius Patzak singing the Evangelist.
10.
In 1966, Mimi Coertse was honoured by the President of Austria with the title Osterreichischer Kammersanger, for her ten years of work as a permanent member at the Vienna State Opera.
11.
Mimi Coertse returned to the Vienna State Opera for a single farewell performance as Elisabetta in Don Carlo on 14 December 1978.
12.
On 26 January 2020, Mimi Coertse was inaugurated as a living legend in the South African Legends Museum.
13.
Mimi Coertse was one of only 20 South African legends of whom a bust was made.