Barbara Veenemans is without a doubt one of South Africa's most versatile and respected opera sopranos. Here are just a few highlights:
During her incredible 50-year singing career, Barbara wowed audiences across South Africa, performing for all the major opera companies and receiving rave reviews. Her specialities were opera, operetta and musicals. As a concert artist, she toured extensively, not only throughout South Africa, but also in Namibia (South-West Africa) and Zimbabwe (Rhodesia). Her concert partners included the legendary Ge Korsten, Mimi Coertse, Rudi Neitz, George Kok and Lawrence Folley.
Her stage highlights included the roles of Adele in Die Fledermaus for PACT, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro for PACT, Zerlina in Don Giovanni for PACT, Marsinah in the musical Kismet for PACT, Resi in the musical The Great Waltz for PACT, Despina in Cosi fan tutte for PACT, Karolka in Jenufa for PACT, Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow for PACT, Kathy in The Student Prince for CAPAB, Saffi in The Gypsy Baron for PACOFS, Frasquita in Carmen for PACT, Annie in the musical Annie get your Gun for PACT and PACOFS, Mascha in The Czarevitch for PACT, and she sang in several opera and operetta concert galas.
She also sang the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus during the grand opening of the State Theatre in Pretoria in 1981. In 1986, she made her first appearance in the Who's Who of Southern Africa. She was also one of the first South African singers to appear on South African Television in 1976. She went on to appear in several music programmes on television during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1996, she released an Afrikaans light music album entitled Kom Terug, which featured a selection of her most beloved light music hits.
Barbara was a highly sought-after judge at various Eisteddfods in Pretoria and Johannesburg. She was also the first choir conductor for the Verwoerdburgse Meisieskoor and the first conductor of the Pretoriase Kinderkoor under the auspices of the University of Pretoria in the 1960s – what an achievement! Barbara's passion for music shone through as she excelled as compère at various corporate functions, while her talent as a music director and advisor for several music album productions was unparalleled.
To read more about Barbara's impressive career please visit her page at
http://www.veenemanssopranos.yolasite.com/barbara-veenemans.php
______________________________________________________________________________________________