Internationally acclaimed US-based opera singer Thando Mjandana has taken his “strong, clear voice” to big stages in Europe.
The Eastern Cape-born tenor is a former member of the Jette Parker Artists Programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera. He has performed in Odoardo Ariodante, Messenger Theodora, Philistine Samson et Dalila, Noble of Brabant Lohengrin and as Gastone Vicomte de Letorières in La traviata.
Before jetting off to Washington DC, Mjandana stopped at TshisaPod at Arena Holdings to provide an insight into his opera singing career.
“Since leaving the programme I have been heard throughout the UK including as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with the Welsh National Opera, Nemorion in L’elisir d’amore for the Longborough Festival Opera, Acis in Acis and Galatea and the Sailor in Dido and Aeneas at the Waterperry Opera Festival and was heard in recital and the premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Odyssey with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group,” he said.
A regular at the Dutch National Opera House, Mjandana made his debut as Nelson and Crab Man in Porgy and Bess and returned for Jeanine Tesori’s Blue and Roberto Devereux.
In the current season he made his debut in Madrid at the Teatro Real as the Messenger in Handel’s Theodora and returns to Amsterdam as the title singer in the world premiere of How Anansi Freed the Stories of the World.
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LISTEN | Tenor Thando Mjandana on his opera journey
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Internationally acclaimed US-based opera singer Thando Mjandana has taken his “strong, clear voice” to big stages in Europe.
The Eastern Cape-born tenor is a former member of the Jette Parker Artists Programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera. He has performed in Odoardo Ariodante, Messenger Theodora, Philistine Samson et Dalila, Noble of Brabant Lohengrin and as Gastone Vicomte de Letorières in La traviata.
Before jetting off to Washington DC, Mjandana stopped at TshisaPod at Arena Holdings to provide an insight into his opera singing career.
“Since leaving the programme I have been heard throughout the UK including as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with the Welsh National Opera, Nemorion in L’elisir d’amore for the Longborough Festival Opera, Acis in Acis and Galatea and the Sailor in Dido and Aeneas at the Waterperry Opera Festival and was heard in recital and the premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Odyssey with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group,” he said.
A regular at the Dutch National Opera House, Mjandana made his debut as Nelson and Crab Man in Porgy and Bess and returned for Jeanine Tesori’s Blue and Roberto Devereux.
In the current season he made his debut in Madrid at the Teatro Real as the Messenger in Handel’s Theodora and returns to Amsterdam as the title singer in the world premiere of How Anansi Freed the Stories of the World.
Join the conversation:
Mjandana trained at the University of Cape Town Opera School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, obtaining a master's in performance.
He was recognised with the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Award in the 2022 Voice of Black Opera Competition, announced as a finalist of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Gold Medal Competition in May 2021, placed first and third at the Amawzwi Omzansi International Opera Competition and most recently was a semifinalist in the Operalia 2023 Competition.
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