(Nozuko
Teto)
World-renowned opera singer heads back to
local shores.
From a small-town girl hailing from Mbizana
in the Eastern Cape to an international Opera success, Nozuko Teto has graced
stages around the world.
Teto first made her professional debut in
2011 in the title role of Suor Angelica
(Cape Town Opera), and during 2011/12 sang in various concerts at the Teatro
Comunale L. Pavarotti, Modena with the Puccini Festival Orchestra, and in
Amsterdam Concertgebouw with the Rotterdam Symphony Orchestra. In 2015/16 she
won the role of Mimì in La Bohème at
the ‘Toti Dal Monte’ Competition in Treviso, and later toured Italy receiving
great reviews.
“Singing has always been a part of my life.
From singing around the fireplace with my 7 siblings, to forming gospel groups
with my neighbours where we sang in funerals, to secondary and high school
choir experiences”.
Once Teto discovered her love for opera
there was no turning back. “Mr Dumela, my secondary and high school choir
conductor would not take no for an answer; he walked the path with me through
to university in 2003. He shared the potential he saw in me with the late Dr K
K Stofile (a medical doctor from Mbizana and an adult choir conductor),” she says.
“They did all they could to expose the students who were gifted to as many
opportunities as possible”.
While opera is embraced the world-over, in
South Africa Teto has had very little exposure which has ultimately led her to
build her brand and pursue her passion overseas. “The love for Opera overseas
is unlike anything that I have ever experienced before. It truly takes you
places. My home base and first love is South Africa and I spend most of my time
off-season in KwaZulu-Natal; I’ve realised that I can be based in South Africa
and still achieve maximum exposure as a global brand” she explains.
Teto does however believe that opera is
increasing in popularity in South Africa and that the elitist stigma around it
is slowly falling away. “I initially believed that there was absolutely no
chance of earning a living through music performance in South Africa, until I
explored the entrepreneurial route and started seeing myself as a brand worth
selling”.
Her company, Adesso Enterprises (Pty) Ltd
is a powerful business platform which looks to create opportunity not only for herself
but for those around her as well. “My purpose is to change lives through music,
motivational talks and master classes”.
Believing that success is best enjoyed when
shared with others, she looks to uplift, inspire and instil confidence in
talented youths and will be working alongside some well-known local performers
to scour impoverished areas in search of raw, untapped talent. “We will
initially kick-off in KwaZulu-Natal, visiting areas such as Albert Park,
Clermont and LaMontville. We are looking for youths aged between 14 to 25 who
possess raw singing and performing power” she explains.
“We want to provide them with a safe space
where they feel empowered to perform. We want to refocus their efforts on
something positive and provide them with a platform which could potentially
propel their careers” she says.
In addition, Teto will be hosting an
intimate Gala Concert on April 26, 2019 in Durban. This interactive event will
reintroduce opera fans and music aficionados to her and the proceeds will go to
the Opera Clinic. “We need to put together school packs for our performers as
well as food packs for them to consume during their training sessions with us.
We urge any potential sponsors to please come forward and to help us give these
students and Opera in SA a voice again.”
For more information visit https://www.eno.org/artists/nozuko-teto/
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