Original Story Published by: Jenni Baxter, www.sapeople.com
Photo Source: Louis Heyneman
(Above) Pretty Yende felt humbled by the Italian Knighthood
Italian ambassador Emanuele Pollio made an amazing speech in which he called Pretty both a daughter of South Africa and of Italy; and joked that she could steal his job because she has been “an extraordinary ambassador of the Italian culture in South Africa”.
She is the youngest South African ever awarded this prestigious decoration.
Pretty said afterwards on social media: “This has been the most extraordinary gift I could have ever wished for. Ordine Stella d’Italia (OSI)- an Italian knighthood presented by the Italian Consul in Cape Town Emanuele Pollio.
“Being a recipient of ‘The Order/knight of the Star of Italy’ deeply humbles and fills me with immense gratitude for such an extraordinary decoration.
Pollio said the decoration couldn’t suit her better since ‘opera’ means italy, and ‘opera’ means Pretty Yende in South Africa.
One of the first to congratulate her was Louis Heyneman, CEO at Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, who was present at the event. Her South African mentor, Professor Angelo Gobbato – originally from Milan – was also there (seen in the pictures below).
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