Emma Renzi

Emma Renzi (1926-) was an opera singer and teacher.

Biography

Emma Renzi was born Emmarentia Scheepers in Heidelberg, Transvaal, in 1926. She received her first vocal training from Esther Mentz in Johannesburg before enrolling at the South African College of Music in 1943 for a B. Mus. degree. In 1947 she furthered her studies in London under Joan Cross and started touring with the Carl Rosa Opera Company in 1951.

Renzi continued her studies in 1954 under Roy Henderson while singing with the English Opera Group. She shared the second prize with Teresa Berganza at the International Singing Competition in Genève in 1956 and became the first South African to sing at the Edinburgh Festival in 1957. In 1958 she continued her training in Catania, Sicily under maestro Santonocito, performing as lyric-dramatic soprano. From 1961 to 1962 she sang dramatic roles in Karlsruhe, Germany. Based in Milan since 1963 and singing in many Italian theatres, she started singing under the name Emma Renzi.

Renzi made her debut at La Scala in the role of Abigail in Nabucco, in 1966, substituting Elena Suliotis. She was not only the first South African singer ever to sing at La Scala but also the first to make a career in Italy, which she concluded in 1978. In the sixties and seventies, she performed in major European cities as well as the United States and South America.

In 1980 she accepted the post as director of the Opera School of the Pretoria Technikon.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

She made intermittent appearances in opera in South Africa in 1963 (Tosca), 1964 (Il trovatore), 1965 and 1966 (Nabucco). Emma Renzi participated in the opening productions of two of the major theatres in South Africa, singing Amelia in Un ballo in maschera for the opening of the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg in 1962 and excerpts from Aida in the opening production “Applause” of the State Theatre in Pretoria in 1981. She was also due to perform in Aida for the opening of the Nico Malan Theatre in Cape Town in 1971, but fell ill.

Sources

Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow[1]. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.[2]

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