Andre Rieu Gives Local Soprano A Big Break On Stage
Local soprano gets big break on stage
Louise McAuliffe
26 April 2010
Nokrismesi Skota, who is also known as ‘Kimi’, is performing with the classical music orchestra of Andre Rieu, which is currently touring South Africa.
Nokrismesi Skota performs on stage with Andre Rieu and his orchestra
She began her musical career in a choral training programme with the Cape Town Opera ten years ago. Thereafter, she registered at the University of Cape Town in 2001, where she studied the art of professional opera singing.
Earlier this year she received a call saying that Andre Rieu was looking for a female black soprano. Skota told Sowetan: " I immediately sent in my resume and a few recordings for his consideration. After a week or so, Andre called me and said that he liked my voice and asked if I could fly to Holland for rehearsals".
"Fortunately for me I was available. I spent a week with the orchestra getting to know how they work and learning the music. I continued to rehearse and learn the words to the songs when I arrived home. I also had to practice the dance moves that I had to perform onstage.
"Everyone in the orchestra including Andre was very supportive and it has been fun working with them," she says.
"This opportunity has been a blessing in disguise, it has come just at the right time in my career, and I believe that it is going to open many doors."
Skota, who is currently touring with Andre Rieu and his orchestra, introduced local content to the repertoire by singing a traditional lullaby ‘Tula Tula’, the ‘Sarie Marais’ and Vicky Samson’s ‘African Dream’.
sowetan.co.za
Categories: South Africa, 2010 Concerts
Tags: Andre Rieu
As much as I love Andre, I must ask -
Why advertise for a 'female, black, soprano' as opposed to a female vocalist with a particular sound or vocal range or quality?
Does he also advertise requirements such as slim, attractive?
This is the first time I have been P'd off with Andre, and hope that Kimi is being very well paid for her talent!
Hi Janice, I was getting ready to answer your post about all the wonderful qualities you were describing about Andre and then I had to laugh a little when this came through : ) Maybe I had better wait until you "make up" (haha) Kidding aside, I don't know why he advertised as he did except for the fact that he was in SA and wanted a local lady and she applied and he liked her voice. He could have said just local soprano (since that could be a vocal range which suited the music) then see who applies and pick who he liked best - regardless of color. Andre knows what he wants and usually gets it but there are better ways of advertising. I will post later Janice. Big Hugs to you. Bet you still love him!! I do too!! Once he gets under your skin you cannot get him out : )
Please let Andre Rieu consider Pretty Yende to sing with him next year when he comes to SA . She is a lovely lady with one of the most pure voices I have heard in SA. She is also, as her name says, VERY PRETTY.
Hi Jeanine Ann,
Of course I still love him!!!! don't all men show arrogance of some sort at some time??? - but if I were standing next to hime I'd probably slap him around on reading this!!!
The Maestro does certainly have privilege & last say as the show is 'all his'. We expect a certain amount of Ego & he quite rightly should pick & choose according to his desires & needs. I just can't help feeling that there is a very unfortunate 'derogatory' reference here; and as patient & kind as I try to be, I am very quick to comment on things that don't sit right with me - no matter what others think!
(He really does owe Kimi a higher salary for offering 'BLACK' in addition to her usual & expected talent & reportoire, don't you think?).
I wonder if Andre would take offence at all this, or simply just have a chuckle?? I would hope that if Kimi ever sees this comment she would just go straight in for the extra monetary bonus as well as see the honest intent & friendly humour around this!
(Sometimes,a Man's just a man no matter how good he looks)! Hmmmmmmmmm..yes!
Hi Janice,
I think what Andre was trying to do by asking for a local black soprano is to show the audience through special selected songs and a black woman singing them - something which typifies the black South African heritage as you can see by the photo I have attached. Does this make more sense to you and explain why he may have worded the ad the way he did? Will be back later with more comments. Hugs
Photo. . . . Jennifer Anne Fourie
P.S -
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS might be something our beloved Maestro will learn much more about very soon!
We do know that he is a Gentleman - perhaps just a 'tad' out of touch with some things.
Gotta laugh! I'm glad I received your response before I put myself to bed in a bad mood!
BIG HUGS!
I'm not here to argue the point, but I don't think Andre was being derogatory or arrogant,or egotistic at all. I see nothing wrong with his request, especially because of the country he's to be playing in. I'm sure the young lady sees no offense either. This will give her a great opportunity.
Hi Jeanine Ann & Shirley,
It does make sense & obviously I'm the one who's been arrogant in my comments. My apologies!
HUGS!
hi I can understand why Andre' advertised for a black south africian that is what he wanted, that is what he got i dont think in this day & age black is derogitory,he just did'nt want a white singer leave the poor man alone,he does'nt pussyfoot around lets face it the singer could'nt have been offended otherwise she would'nt have answered the add would she. fay
I see actually nothing wrong with the question for a black singer, as Fay Roberts puts it, he goes in that country and wants somebody from the country on his stage. But you should all see the point that André is just a human being and makes not everybody happy, even so he can do what he wants, Jeanine Ann will always defend him, haaaaaaaa! Not I. My admiring part of André is even going downwards, I am getting bored, have to see him less.
Hi Inge, you are right about me defending Andre. Why would your admiration of Andre go down? You have been a fan for a long time as far as I know. I wish I could see him more. I usually have two concerts per year but may have to cut down due to the financial conditions but never by choice. Hugs
Hi Jeanine Ann, yes I was a long time admirer of André and his JSO but it gets boring when it is always the same. I still like the Viennese music, but I can get that somewhere else , too, he seems to make less every time. When you can predict what he says next, it is time to find an other nice concert.
I am actually quite embarrased about all
the comments about Kimi and the ad. Mr
Rieu has over the last few years always
given local talent their due and a chance to perform. They might not be as
polished as their european counterparts
but they do deserve a chance and what better way to get known than to perform with andrer rieu and his orchestra.We are living in a country where the native
talent is sadly not acknowledged due to
colour I am sad to say.Bravo to Andre that as a foreigner he understood the
challange better than we do here.
I'm sorry you are embarrassed but I thought we had all agreed., that it was a good thing that Andre did.
There was no question of the quality of the chosen Artist; but a very poor choice of words & lack of thought in my criticism which was totally unfounded. I'm the one who's embarrasseed!
kind regards,
My dear Janice, I am cetainly not going to tar & feather you!
Yes Shirley, I agree and Fay has said it all. Time to move on. There is plenty more to talk about. Maybe we need another photos. : ) Hugs
Hi Shirley, and thank you for your kind words as I surely 'have' beaten myself up since this comment. I have great respect for the Maestro, the gift he shares, his dedicated fan base, & his personal & Professional choices. We perhaps all know that he fills a great need in our hearts, and being such a nice & open man himself, it feels right to engage in banter & opinion - yet of course boundaries are important! There was no intent on may part to offend anyone, or lack appreciation of any talented Artist.
Lesson learned and time to move on to the next pleasures he gives; and yes - another great photo would be priceless! Good news is that in my doldrums past few days, his You'll Never Walk Alone CD was delivered to me. So much healing in this for me as many of the songs on this CD are those my Mother sang, & those I grew up with.
kindest regards
oh dear life is far to short to keep on about the use of one word,as said earlier Andre'had something in his mind of what he wanted,if he used a white person from SA my can you imagine the critics,God BLess The Great Man & all he does, I personally can't thank him enough for all his Beautiful DVDs,my pension really does'nt allow me to go to his Concerts my daughter & I went to his concert in Sydney last october,she turned 50 & had a choice party or Andre' guess her choice my girl has special needs,&Andre's music has given her a really new taste in music,like me she never gets sick of watching dvds or listning to his cds,I frankly don't care if the music is similar, its a new presentation different dialogue we are never bored,likewise jasper[cat],but then we love The Man and all,remember what He has given us, enough said I think,I really hate to hear or see Him rubbished !!!fay
I saw the concert of men. Rieu in SA on Dutch tv last evening. And fully enjoyed it. I cannot understand all the trouble about the ad for finding a female singer. Men. Rieu supports local singers for one. And secondly the concerts are known to have a sentimental, historical touch (e.i. the Australian concert) so it is to be expected that certain old, traditional SA songs (with Dutch roots!) are going to be sung by new, upcoming, coloured SA singers. This is just the way he sees the future of SA: een pad dat alle mensen samen opgaan ongeacht kleur... heeft niets met politieke correctheid te maken. That is the message in this concert: muziek verbindt zonder kleur!
groeten uit Nederland,
Ronald de Graaff.
This is very true.Mimi Coertse says "Music is not bounded by colour, religion, politics or time. It builds bridges".