---
title: "‘Dream come true’ – soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha commands her place on the world opera stage"
description: "Reaching the upper echelons of the opera world is difficult enough, but doing so when one is from an area where the art form is not widely popular is even more impressive. Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is Daily Maverick's Artist of the Year runner-up."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "DM ARTIST OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP 2022"
author: "Tim Malinzi"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/tim-malinzi/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-29-soprano-masabane-cecilia-rangwanasha-fulfils-opera-dream/"
published: "2022-12-29T11:54:00"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 436
---

# ‘Dream come true’ – soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha commands her place on the world opera stage

> Reaching the upper echelons of the opera world is difficult enough, but doing so when one is from an area where the art form is not widely popular is even more impressive. Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is Daily Maverick's Artist of the Year runner-up.

By Tim Malinzi · Published 29 December 2022, 13:54 SAST

## Key points
- Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is a world-renowned soprano who has toured the globe and won numerous international awards in her short career
- Despite growing up in Limpopo, Rangwanasha pursued her love for opera and completed postgraduate studies at UCT and the Royal Opera House's Young Artists Programme in London
- She is now the house soloist at Stadttheater Bern in Switzerland, performing twice a week, with most of her time spent on rehearsals
- She sang Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem at the BBC Proms series of concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall, won the song prize in the 2021 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition and was chosen for BBC Radio’s New Generation Artist Programme
- In March 2023, Rangwanasha will be performing Liu in Turandot at the Royal Opera House – an achievement she described as “a dream come true”

## Content

Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is a world-renowned soprano who has toured the globe and won numerous international awards in her relatively short career.

“I feel very blessed,” Rangwanasha told *DM168*.

“To be where I am today... it’s something I never dreamt of. It was too far from what I could dream of.”

Growing up in Limpopo, [Rangwanasha](https://masabanececiliarangwanasha.com/) explains, opera was not something that was seen as “relatable” or something that could turn into a viable career path.

Nevertheless, [Rangwanasha decided to venture down the road less travelled](https://www.classicfm.com/events/classic-fm-live/april-2022-royal-albert-hall-pictures/) and pursue her love for the art form. After enrolling in the performing arts department at Tshwane University of Technology, she completed her postgraduate degree at the University of Cape Town.

From there she moved to London where she was a part of the Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House for two years.

She is now the house soloist at the Stadttheater Bern in Switzerland.

*Read in*Daily Maverick*: “*[*Zelensky, the Jewish lawyer-turned-comic-turned-actual president who pulled off a military miracle*](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-28-the-jewish-lawyer-turned-comic-turned-president-behind-a-miracle/)*”*

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On average, Rangwanasha estimates, she performs twice a week, with most of her time spent on rehearsals.

A major highlight in 2022 was singing the soprano part of Giuseppe Verdi’s *Requiem* on the first night of the BBC Proms series of concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall. She also won the song prize in the 2021 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, and this year was one of two performers chosen for BBC Radio’s New Generation Artist Programme.

In March 2023, Rangwanasha will be performing Liu in *Turandot* at the Royal Opera House – an achievement she described as “a dream come true”. **DM168**

*Malinzi is an intern from Stellenbosch University’s Centre of Journalism and Media Studies honours programme.*

#### **How we chose the People of the Year winners**

In the past, *Daily Maverick* journalists decided who they thought warranted the title of Person of the Year, but for the second year running, we have[asked readers to vote for their preferred choice](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-01-vote-for-daily-mavericks-people-of-the-year-2022/), with the proviso that we still have the final say. Choosing the annual winners is a labour of love because that’s what it takes to get a bunch of *DM* editors to decide whether they agree or disagree with the choices of 13,000 readers. Over the next few days, we shall republish online all the results in various categories. – *Heather Robertson,*DM168*editor*

*This story first appeared in our weekly*Daily Maverick 168*newspaper, which is available countrywide for R25.*

![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DM-24122022001.jpg)