The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Who is Nellie du Toit and what is the extent of her career as singer and voice teacher? The voidin South African historiography in respect to the life and work of South African performingartists gave rise to investigate the career of Nellie du Toit. Known as one of South Africa's mostillustrious opera singers of the 1960's and 1970's, who made her career exclusively in SouthAfrica, she is regarded as one of the most sought after voice teachers. Her career as singerspanned almost three decades. As voice teacher her career of over forty years is still ongoing.This study traces her biographical details chronologically beginning with her youth years in avery musical family. Her full-time music studies took place at the South African College ofMusic in Cape Town, from 1950 to 1952. Here her singing teacher Madame Adelheid Armholdand Gregorio Fiasconaro, head of the Opera School, were influential in laying the foundationsfor her career. After a period of over a year in England Du Toit was one of several young SouthAfrican singers to contribute to pioneering opera in South Africa, often sung in the vernacular.Du Toit sang in forty-five opera seasons for the Provincial Arts Councils in the seventeen yearsbetween 1963 and 1979, when her opera career ended. In 1986 she returned to the opera stage asthe Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss. This was also her final farewell asopera singer. The title role in Madama Butterfly can be regarded as her hallmark. Her stunningportrayal of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor was regarded as a mile stone in South African operahistory, as was her interpretation of Jenůfa. She was also hailed as a Mozart singer. Not only wasshe regarded as one of the world's best 'Butterflies at the International Madame ButterflyCompetition in Japan in 1970, but has she also been awarded three Nederburg Opera Prizes.Apart from opera, Du Toit gave numerous recitals of classical and light classical music, regularlysang in orchestral concerts and oratorio and was active as broadcasting artist. Her work as voiceteacher always ran parallel to her singing activities. Her academic career at the Universities atStellenbosch and Cape Town spanned fourteen years: from 1980 to 1993.Nellie du Toit's achievements in music were laureated with the Medal of Honour from theAcademy of Arts and Sciences in 1986 and an Honorary Doctorate from the University ofStellenbosch in 1998.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University