Sevilla — Verdi’s Requiem opens the ROSS season
18 September 2026
Masabane made her Spanish debut on 17 and 18 September, singing the soprano part in Verdi’s Requiem with the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla and the Coro del Teatro de la Maestranza under Lucas Macías, alongside Silvia Tro Santaffé, Enea Scala and Marko Mimica. Juan José Roldán of El Correo de Andalucía awarded the performance five stars, calling it the most overwhelming live account of the work he had heard, and singled out Masabane’s Libera me as “a brilliant display, full of passion and lyricism”.
Forthcoming — Detroit Opera, Tosca
November 2026
“These performances mark my debut with Detroit Opera and my worldwide role debut as Floria Tosca. I am looking forward to sharing the stage with tenor Nathan Granner as Cavaradossi and bass-baritone Alfred Walker as Scarpia. It is very exciting.” Detroit Opera’s production moves the action from 1800 Rome to 1930s Italy and centres on the theme of faith.
Forthcoming — Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
“I am looking forward to being with the Gürzenich-Orchester in Cologne. Founded in 1827, it has premiered outstanding Romantic works by Brahms, Richard Strauss and Mahler.”
Covent Garden — The Countess
June 2026
“I really enjoyed the role of Contessa d’Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Royal Ballet & Opera, and previously with my friends at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. Until my team told me, I had not realised I was making history as the first Black person to perform the role on the Covent Garden stage.”
Christmas message
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden — December 2025
“This year of 2025 has been wonderful, not only on the stage which I love but with my family. I am at one of my operatic homes, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for Turandot on 15, 18, 20 and 23 December under Maestro Daniel Oren, with Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov, and the extraordinary Royal Opera Chorus led by William Spaulding and Genevieve Ellis. My dear son is growing and already well travelled, and is having his first Christmas, which is magical. Handel’s Messiah is hummed as we sing — ‘Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace’. Thank you for your support. I wish you hope and peace. Blessings from us all as a family this Christmas. Masabane Cecilia xxx”
G20 Summit gala, Johannesburg
23 November 2025
“A great honour and privilege to be part of the G20 South Africa Summit gala opening, in the company of Bongani J Kubheka and the Johannesburg Chamber Orchestra led by Maestro Kutlwano Masote. Music plays a pivotal role in fostering global unity, and expressing lyrics in different languages brings me closer to everyone I meet. As I travel I recognise that the spirit of African Ubuntu is present everywhere — the world cannot endure in isolation. Every success to this unique summit; may it spread unity and peace. Blessings to you all, Masabane Cecilia xxx”
London — Strauss’s Four Last Songs with the Philharmonia
1 November 2025
“After the wonderful Met in New York, I am in London with Maestro Thomas Søndergård and the Philharmonia Orchestra: 4 November at The Anvil, Basingstoke, and 6 November at the Royal Festival Hall. Jessye Norman loved Strauss’s Four Last Songs and recorded them beautifully. Composed in 1948 when Strauss was 84, and premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in 1950 after his death, the work is a true partnership between voice and orchestra. I feel a real magnetism when singing it. Every blessing to you all, Masabane Cecilia x”
New York — Metropolitan Opera debut
16 October 2025
“2025 has been an eventful year, as my dreams from the stage have grown to include motherhood. We travelled to New York after our son’s birth for a magical opening night. I recalled my masterclass with Sir Antonio Pappano on the Royal Opera House stage five years ago, learning of my love for Calaf and my views on Turandot. I wished my mother could have been there; she was my inspiration and is my heavenly guide. I return briefly to South Africa in November for the G20, then to Covent Garden in December and January. Thank you all for following my journey. With blessings to you all, Masabane Cecilia x”
