BY SITHA MALIWA:
When two of South Africa’s finest soprano voices meet on one stage, the result promises to be far more than a concert. It will be a celebration of courage, artistry and the extraordinary power of women to command space through music.
This Women’s Month, acclaimed South African lyric soprano Sasa Yende joins forces with Cape Town-born lyric coloratura soprano Yolisa Ngwexana for A Fabulous Duo: Art Songs and Opera – a rare collaboration set to bring the drama, emotion and grandeur of classical music to life.
The special performance takes place on Friday, 28 August 2026 at 17:00 at Inanda Sandton, Johannesburg, offering audiences an intimate encounter with two powerful voices from South Africa’s growing classical music landscape.
For Yende, the evening represents both an artistic milestone and a deeply personal celebration.
“As professional South African opera singers, we are committed to making classical music more accessible and visible, while showcasing the depth of talent in our country,” says Yende.
“Performing during Women’s Month feels especially meaningful. It is a chance to honour the strength, beauty and resilience of women through music that speaks from the heart.”
Yende has steadily carved out a reputation as one of South Africa’s respected young classical voices. A Music graduate of North-West University, she continues to refine her craft under renowned vocal teacher Mr Mhlaba Buthelezi.
Her career has already taken her from prestigious South African stages to international audiences.
Among her notable achievements is her portrayal of Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore in 2022, a demanding operatic role that showcased her vocal range and theatrical ability. She has also performed as a soloist at the Kuhle Kwethu Music Festival with the Clermont Choir Foundation and featured in the prestigious 10 South African Sopranos concert at The Playhouse Company alongside the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Yende is also a two-time winner of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture Singing Competition, taking the title in both 2022 and 2023.
Her journey has continued to gather momentum. She has appeared as a guest soloist at the 8th Annual Joburg Choral Festival, performed with Sitt Opera at the Roodepoort Theatre, and earned recognition from the international classical music platform Der neue Merker.
Her international footprint includes a performance in Mississippi, USA, while she also reached the Top 10 finalists of the UNISA National Voice Competition.
Yende has performed before high-profile audiences, including at the Vita Basadi Awards and the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth Africa Region. In 2025, she brought her artistry into the world of fashion when she was featured at Celebrity Drive SA during designer David Tlale’s runway showcase.
For Yende, music is not simply about performance. It is also about creating opportunities for others. A former Creative Arts educator, she remains actively involved in nurturing young talent as an adjudicator and singing coach for the South African Schools Choral Eisteddfod.
Her commitment to developing the next generation of performers adds another dimension to her artistic journey – one rooted not only in personal achievement, but also in mentorship and the belief that South Africa’s young voices deserve to be heard.
Joining Yende for the special evening is Yolisa Ngwexana, a lyric coloratura soprano from Cape Town whose growing international experience adds another compelling dimension to the performance. Together, the two sopranos promise an evening of soaring vocals, intricate melodies, powerful storytelling and the emotional intensity for which opera and art song are renowned.
A Fabulous Duo: Art Songs and Opera arrives at a significant moment. Women’s Month is traditionally a time to reflect on the achievements, struggles and resilience of women – and this concert offers a different way of telling that story. Through every aria, every note and every breath, Yende and Ngwexana will place women’s artistry, ambition and excellence centre stage.
Event Details: A Fabulous Duo: Art Songs and Opera
Performers: Sasa Yende, lyric soprano & Yolisa Ngwexana, lyric coloratura soprano
Date: Friday, 28 August 2026
Time: 17:00
Venue: Inanda Sandton, Johannesburg – @NewsSA_Online
Follow us on our social media platforms below: