A Night of Timeless Arias and Refined Voices
On Saturday evening, 11 October 2025, the doors of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe’s Courtauld Gallery opened for an extraordinary cultural event: the ZACMA Opera Festival, in collaboration with Festival of Song and the Friends of the Gallery. The black-tie affair, proclaimed in advance as “A Night of Timeless Arias and Refined Voices,” lived up to its promise—bringing together operatic tradition, exceptional talent and an audience dressed for elegance.
Setting the tone
As reported in coverage by GreedySouth, “The National Gallery hosts the Opera Festival: A night of timeless arias and redefined voices” captured the spirit of the event. GREEDYSOUTH From its origins in ancient drama to its modern operatic forms, opera remains as relevant today—bringing together music, theatre and high expression. ZACMA representative Simbarashe Makavanaga emphasised that the artform “spans centuries and continents,” and is thriving in Zimbabwe through performances such as this one.
The Festival of Song was proud to partner with ZACMA and the Friends of the Gallery to deliver this memorable evening. The event affirmed cultural organisations working together can raise the bar for performing arts in Zimbabwe.
The quality of the performances was extraordinary, and the audience response was decisive. We congratulate the top three who stood out:
Chiedza Maenzanise – Winner
Tarumbidza Kashiri – Second Place
Thulani Zwana – Third Place
Their artistry, stage presence and connection with the audience set them apart in a field of high calibre.
The Opera Festival sets an inspiring tone for our next main event: Festival of Song Season 4, scheduled for 22 November 2025 in Bulawayo. With the momentum of this evening behind us, we eagerly anticipate expanding our reach, nurturing more talent, and cultivating intercultural peace through choral excellence.
We invite you to join us on this journey. The Festival of Song exists because of partners, artists and audiences who believe in the power of voice. Together with ZACMA, FOG and our supporters, we’re committed to building Zimbabwe’s musical legacy—one refined voice at a time.
