Biography
Formidable South African mezzo-soprano Siphokazi Molteno is poised to become one of the most important voices of her generation. Of her performances in the 2023 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, The Guardian’s Rian Evans raved: “For many – and I include myself among them – Molteno’s glorious mezzo was the most memorable voice and, across the week, she showed an unusually wide choice of repertoire, from Mahler to South African songs and, in this final, the richness ran right through her considerable vocal range in Octavian’s aria ‘Wie du warst’ from Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. An intensity of demeanour disappeared when, in her last aria, Rossini’s ‘Una voce poco fa’ – more usually a soprano lollipop – she was relaxed, comfortably comic and showing herself to be a mezzo with knockout coloratura, a rare talent.”
In the 2025-26 season, she returns to the Metropolitan Opera as La Bersi in Andrea Chénier alongside Piotr Beczała and Sonya Yoncheva, conducted by Daniele Rustioni. The production is broadcast worldwide “Live in HD” in cinemas. Molteno makes her company debut at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City in the title role of La cenerentola and in her debut with the Calgary Opera she reprises the role of Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. On the concert stage, she makes her highly anticipated debut with the LA Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel in Die Walküre and gives a solo recital at Wigmore Hall with her frequent recital partner, pianist Kamal Khan.
