Emma Renzi: Van operasangeres tot sangpedagoog: ʼn Filosofiese blik

Abstract

Hierdie artikel is in ‘n sekere sin ʼn outobiografie oor Emma Renzi, wat op 8 April 2023 97 jaar oud geword het. Renzi was ‘n internasionaal erkende Suid-Afrikaanse operasangeres wat in die tweede fase van haar roemryke loopbaan ook ‘n pedagoog en rolmodel vir talle sangers was. Die oorgang van sangeres tot besonder begaafde pedagoog was ʼn doelbewuste besluit wat sy geneem het om volgens haar oortuigings haar lewe en haar talente op die mees doelmatige wyse te kon uitleef. Dit is hierdie lewensloop wat in hierdie artikel onder die loep geneem en ontleed word. Vanweë die aard van ons verbintenis gaan die gesprekke in hierdie artikel oor Renzi se professionele loopbaan, haar herinneringe aan ‘n spesifieke era, tegniese aspekte in die onderrig van sang en uitdagings van ‘n professionele sangloopbaan. Die rykdom van Renzi se eerstehandse ervaringe en kennis van style in verskillende genres van sang is van onskatbare waarde vir die ontwikkeling van jong sangers en dosente. Dit is ook van historiese belang vir Suid-Afrikaners om die nalatenskap van ‘n sanger te vereer wat tydens haar loopbaan internasionale roem verwerf het en dit haar lewenstaak gemaak het om die insigte wat sy verwerf het aan haar studente oor te dra. Op hierdie wyse het sy hulle dus gevorm met professionaliteit, deernis en insig om self roemryke en vervullende loopbane te volg. Outobiografiese navorsing sluit narratiewe asook die siening van ander gesaghebbendes in oor die geleefde ervaringe en die betekenis daarvan vir sangers en sangpedagoë. In hierdie studie was dit daarom moontlik om studente te lei en te vorm en nie bloot te onderrig nie. ‘n Raamwerk vir die artikel is gebou deur situasies asook spesiale ervaringe en uitdagings te beskryf. Probleme, lewensomstandighede en die informele interaksie tussen Renzi en die gehoor, dirigente, medesangers, agente en studente word uitgelig. Uiteindelik word daar op die betekenis van Renzi se loopbaan vir Suid-Afrikaners gewys. Renzi se geleefde ervaringe as internasionale sanger en erkende pedagoog bied ʼn waardevolle agtergrond vir sangers en onderwysers om sangers te help om hul volledige menswees te verwesenlik. Abstract In one sense, this article is an autobiography about Emma Renzi, who turned 97 on 8 April 2023. Renzi was an internationally celebrated South African opera singer who was also a pedagogue and a role model for many singers during the second phase of her illustrious career. The transition from singer to exceptionally gifted pedagogue was a conscious decision that she made to express her convictions that she should live her life and her talents in the most positive and focused way. It is thus this odyssey that is investigated and analysed in this article. Due to the nature of our bond, the discussions in this article focus on Renzi's professional career, her memories of a specific era, the technical aspects of singing instruction, and the challenges of a professional singing career. The wealth of Renzi's first-hand experiences and her knowledge of styles in various singing genres are invaluable for the development of young singers and instructors. It is also of historical importance for South Africans to honour the legacy of a singer who achieved international fame during her career and made it her life's mission to pass on the insights she gained to her students. In this way, she shaped them with professionalism, compassion, and understanding, enabling them to pursue illustrious and fulfilling careers of their own. Autobiographical research includes narratives as well as the views of other authorities about lived experiences and their significance for singers and singing pedagogues. In this study, it was possible to lead and shape students and not merely teach them. A framework for the article was constructed by describing special experiences and challenges. Problems, life conditions and the informal interaction between Renzi and the audience, conductors, co-singers, agents, and students are highlighted. Ultimately, the meaning of Renzi’s career is underlined for South Africans. Her lived experiences as an international singer and renowned pedagogue offer a valuable background for singers and teachers to help singers realise their full human capacity.