Pretty Yende cancels Vienna State Opera performance after being hospitalised

Just days after making history by being the first African singer to perform solo for the coronation of a British monarch, opera singer Pretty Yende has had to cancel her performances after being hospitalised.

The South African-born soprano penned an apology for fans who were expecting her last performance of Manon at Wiener Staatsoper. Pretty explained on her Instagram she had sustained a serious injury.

“I’m so sorry to report I will not be able to perform my last performance of Manon @wienerstaatsoper due to sustaining a serious injury during my second performance on the stage before going to sing at the coronation. I was hoping my injury would subside, but unfortunately it’s not the case and I have to follow medical advice from my doctors and take care to heal as quickly as possible.

“I would like to send my sincerest apologies to my colleagues and the theatre, deepest thanks as they were incredibly kind to me during the last performances after my injury,” she wrote.

Talking to Matteo Witt before she sang for the king, Pretty said she was honoured.

“I'm too excited to be nervous,” she said.

“It's an incredible time of my life as a young girl, as a South African, as an artist. Only joy floods my heart.”

Months after singing at Windsor, a phone call interrupted rehearsals at the Vienna State Opera to ask the 38-year-old if she would perform at the coronation in London on May 6.

“This was my audition, I guess,” said Yende, recalling the evening at Windsor during a backstage interview at the opera house.

“That was the first time I met the king.

“He was very kind, very warm,” she said.

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