Reaching high notes abroad

Though they ply their trade abroad, two of South Africa's most popular opera singers think their art form is far from dying out in this country.

The names of Piet Retief's 27-year-old Pretty Yende and Jacques Imbrailo, 34, are on everyone's lips in Europe and the US at the moment. The Huffington Post listed both of them in its list of the 10 Hottest Opera Stars of 2013 two weeks ago.

Yende is the darling of the US press after making her debut as Countess Adele in Le Comte Ory, being staged at the Metropolitan Opera, in New York.

In the UK, Imbrailo is making a splash too as he prepares for his title role in the Glyndebourne Festival's first performance this year of Billy Budd.

Yende and Imbrailo are among many opera singers who live and work overseas. Others include Sweden-based Nkosazana Dimande and Njabulo Madlala, who lives in London.

Do these artists base themselves abroad to make a better living or do they think there is no audience for their art in South Africa?

Imbrailo, who begins Billy Budd rehearsals on June 28, said: "To put it simply, [abroad] is where the work is. There are good but limited opportunities in South Africa and there are so many young singers coming through that they need to look abroad for opportunities."

He left for the UK nine years ago to take up a scholarship at the Royal College and has been there since - even finding and marrying his wife, Cara, there.

But South African upstarts face an uphill battle because of the cost of studying and training overseas.

Imbrailo recalls that his final year at the Royal College cost about R180000.

"I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship, otherwise it would have been unaffordable," he said.

Yende agreed, but also sees her work abroad as an opportunity to raise the profile of the genre back home.

"Coming here to be part of this world gives me more opportunities to be noticed by the world's greatest opera houses and to keep the South African flag high.

"Most of us are motivated to come and explore this world then go back home to inspire other young, up-and-coming artists."

Yende, who sang with Andrea Bocelli in New York's Central Park two years ago, was approached after soprano Nino Machaidze, who was originally cast as Countess Adele, dropped out because of illness.

Mike Silverman, of the Associated Press, called Yende a "gifted and ingratiating performer"; The New York Times noted her "combination of musical talent and mental toughness and acuity".

Phelo Bala, the youngest of the Bala brothers who has popularised a new form of "Popera", admitted that, despite the numerous recitals, especially in Cape Town, the earning potential locally was another contributing factor to singers seeking pastures green abroad.

He said: "In South Africa you'd be doing it for the love - you won't be making much money, so it would be about how passionate you are about the music".

"I don't think that opera [in South Africa] is a dying art though. It's always had its market - I just think it's taken more seriously overseas. I go to these concerts and there are always small audiences compared to other genres."