23 Facts About Pretty Yende

Pretty Yende was born on 6 March 1985 and is a South African operatic coloratura soprano.

Pretty Yende has performed leading roles at opera houses internationally, including La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera.

Pretty Yende performed at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.

Pretty Yende graduated from the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.

Pretty Yende won two prizes in the 2008 International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch: the Prize of the Province of North Brabant, and the Engagement Opera Riga, which gave her the opportunity to take part in the new year concert at the Latvian National Opera in December.

Pretty Yende won first prize in operetta and opera at the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition 2009 in Vienna.

In 2010, Pretty Yende won prizes at three competitions: first prize at the Vincenzo Bellini International Competition, first prize at the International Singing Competition of Savonlinna Opera Festival, and sixth prize at the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition.

Pretty Yende appeared in four roles the following season, the Priestess in Verdi's Aida, Barbarina in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Norina in Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Musetta in Puccini's La boheme.

Pretty Yende appeared in the closing concert of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 9 July 2010, two days before the final, alongside Bryan Adams and Andrea Bocelli.

Pretty Yende was featured in Bocelli's Live in Central Park concert on 15 September 2011, which was aired on PBS's Great Performances and released as Concerto: One Night in Central Park.

Pretty Yende made her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York City on 17 January 2013, in the role of Adele in Rossini's Le comte Ory, stepping in for Nino Machaidze; she performed alongside tenor Juan Diego Florez in the title role She subsequently stepped in for Cecilia Bartoli in the same role at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna.

In 2023 Pretty Yende performed at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.

Pretty Yende sang "Sacred Fire", a piece written by Sarah Class to a text by Grahame Davies for the coronation.

Pretty Yende accused French border police of police brutality and racial discrimination.

Pretty Yende said she was strip searched and held in a dark room with all her belongings taken.

Pretty Yende did present her residence permit issued in Milan, with which she had always travelled throughout Europe, yet they said she needed a separate one-time visa, while Yende and her lawyer claimed she had all the documents required.

Pretty Yende won an Arca d'oro Italia Young Talents Award in 2012, and performed a recital in Turin on 30 March 2013 owing to the award.

Pretty Yende was conferred the Silver Order of Ikhamanga on 27 April 2013.

Pretty Yende was one of the winners of the 2013 Women of the Year Awards by Glamour South Africa.

Pretty Yende won the Best Recording Solo Recital Award for her album A Journey in the 2017 International Opera Awards, and was awarded the International Achiever Award in the 23rd South African Music Awards.

Pretty Yende won a Readers' Award in the 2018 International Opera Awards, and the Cologne Opera Award, received during the city's Floraball.

Pretty Yende signed a long-term recording contract with Sony Classical in October 2015.

Pretty Yende's first recording under this Sony contract was "A Journey".