Pumeza Matshikiza and Simon Lepper

Described as ‘one of today’s most exciting new operatic voices’ by The Independent, South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza released her debut album Voice of Hope in 2014 followed by Arias with pieces by Puccini, Catalani, Ravel and Mozart in May 2016.

She brings her exquisite lyric voice and emotional sensitivity to bear on Schumann’s vividly emotional Frauenliebe und Leben together with Strauss’ sublimely beautiful Four Last Songs.

“I think I’ve found the new Maria Callas… What initially arrested me, and went on fascinating me, was not only the beauty of her singing, one of the loveliest lightish lyric sopranos I have heard in the flesh, but also commitment to the role she was performing.”

The Spectator

Simon Lepper, ‘whose prowess as a pianist is fused with a real sensitivity to words and to the voice’ (The Times) is a Howard Assembly Room favourite, having accompanied artists including Gweneth-Ann Rand, Christopher Purves and Mark Padmore at the venue in recent years.