South African soprano, Pumeza Matshikiza continues her meteoric rise on the global stage, following a series of powerful performances that have solidified her as one of opera’s most compelling voices.
Recently Pumeza, Matshikiza performed the title role in Verdi’s Aida at the legendary Teatro Greco in Siracusa, Italy, as part of the Festival Lirico dei Teatri di Pietra. The epic production staged in an open-air amphitheatre before more than 7,000 audience members marked her biggest Italian operatic performance ever. Just days earlier, she performed at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic during the Classical Pride celebration, delivering a bold and emotional program that left audiences in awe.
“To bring a powerful role to life in such a historic and resonant space was a true privilege,” said Matshikiza. “Aida’s strength, her quiet dignity and inner conflict – they kept me going on stage. This was a dream come true. I come from a township, and now I stand on the world’s greatest stages.”
A graduate of the University of Cape Town and the Royal College of Music in London, Matshikiza is known for her rich, magnetic voice and her unique ability to infuse emotion into every note. Her Aida debut in Italy was met with glowing reviews, with international media praising her as “one of the most authoritative figures on the opera scene.”
“Aida is a story that strips you bare,” she said. “It’s about love that can’t survive in the world as it is. It’s about exile, identity, and the invisible borders between people, nations, and what we love. In a time when displacement, division, and sacrifice are daily realities, this story hits differently.”
These landmark performances follow a string of high-profile engagements, including the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s Good Morning, Beauty at London’s Barbican, and a concert at Paris’ Olympia Hall under Le Festival de Paris.
Her upcoming 2025/26 season includes:
● Continuation of the tour with Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov, from Paris to Ljubljana
● A UK Christmas tour with Bryn Terfel ( past season)
● A solo recital at Paris’ Le Théâtre de l’Œuvre
● Tippett’s A Child of Our Time with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
● Paris Theatre Champs-Elysées, Porgy and Bess
● A celebration of South African composers accompanying William Kentridge’s Exhibition in Essen, Germany. Pumeza will.also.read her poetry in this installation.
Matshikiza is also an exclusive Decca Records artist, with two solo albums: Voice of Hope and Arias, which blend classical repertoire with African traditional sounds, a reflection of her multifaceted identity and roots.
From the townships of Cape Town to opera’s grandest stages, Pumeza Matshikiza continues to inspire through her artistry, resilience, and grace.
Follow Pumeza Matshikiza:
Website: www.pumezamatshikiza.com
Instagram: @pumezasoprano
Facebook: @PumezaOfficial
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