i am very happy. i am very happy to be part of this amazing contest. i am going to be honest, the main thing, yes, is to win. but why i go to the competition is to learn. most of the time in these big competitions there are people who are established singers, so you learn how they behave on stage. but winning is important, right? winning is also important! cecilia s talent shines through, and is bringing her recognition. but it has not been an easy path for black opera singers. the royal opera house
flee their homes in greece as forest fires burn out of control. the country faces its most intense heatwave for more than 30 years. and thousands take to the streets of amsterdam as the city celebrates the 20 anniversary of its gay pride parade. now, gina badawi meets two opera stars who are grappling with the new world of opera. zine app by dalloway. zine app by dalloway. i have been an opera fan for decades and i want to share my passion with you. so i am on a mission to tell you about some of the names in opera who are making it fit for the future. meet south african soprano masabane cecilia rangwanasha, who loves song contests, and is tipped to become a superstar.
what we want is for people to dress up and come to see us, and come to the opera house and the concert hall. what does the future hold for young singers in an opera world that has been transformed by technology, social media, and demands for greater diversity? and, could the changes make opera better and more popular? let me take you to the opera. passionate singing applause south african soprano masabane cecilia rangwanasha
cecilia is a special talent, and it s notjust because of her voice, which is of course glorious, and especially for her age as well. she is an outstanding talent, considering how young she is. but it is also the fabulous warmth she brings to her performing. there is a real humanity and depth of experience which belies her age, and that s what communicates to an audience, and why they are so excited when they see and hear her on stage. now meet french tenor benjamin bernheim, who has big ideas about the future of opera. he is already in great demand at opera houses all over the world.
yes, i know in south africa now it is getting, people now know about it, than when i started. because we have the culture of singing, which is choral music and african music, which is actually not farfrom opera. in the autumn of 2021, cecilia is taking a major step in her career when she becomes a house soloist with the swiss national opera in the capital, bern. cecilia is a special talent, and it s notjust because of her voice, which is of course glorious, and especially for her age as well. she is an outstanding talent, considering how young she is. but it is also the fabulous warmth she brings to her performing. there is a real humanity and depth of experience which belies her age, and that s what communicates to an audience, and why they are so excited when they see and