blog post Pretty Yende makes her Met broadcast debut in Rossini's Le Comte Ory

As debuts go, it probably wasn't what she'd imagined. In fact, if the video exists, it's only a matter of time before it makes it's way to YouTube and the infamous Failblog.

South-African soprano Pretty Yende tripped and fell when she made her entrance during the overture to Rossini's Le Comte Ory on its opening night at the Metropolitan Opera on Jan. 17. But she boldly carried on. Reviews said it was a shaky start but she quickly settled down and by all accounts sang beautifully. Yende jumped at the chance when she got the call to sing the role just a month before her debut.

In 2011, Yende swept the Operalia competition, winning first prize, the zarzuela prize as well as the people's prize. She was the first to sweep the competition. That same year she sang in Central Park with the New York Philharmonic and tenor Andrea Bocelli.

It was safe to say it was only going to be a matter of time before she made her Met debut.

Here's an excerpt from her opening night performance. She's singing opposite one of the big star tenors of our day, Juan Diego Flórez.

Yende has a fascinating life story, well worth exploring and I've placed a link to an interesting telegraph story below.

Cast:

Pretty Yende, Countess Adèle
Karine Deshayes, Isolier
Susanne Resmark, Ragonde
Juan Diego Flórez, Count Ory
Nathan Gunn, Raimbaud
Nicola Ulivieri, the tutor

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Maurizio Benini, conductor

Here is a link to the synopsis and a link to the libretto.

Related:

Article on Pretty Yende on the Telegraph website
Pretty Yende sings Bellini
Juan Diego Florez and Diana Damrau in the Comte Ory Met production of 2011