


Siyabonga Maqungo
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South African tenor Siyabonga Maqungo is celebrated for his luminous vocal colour, emotional honesty, and charming stage presence. Whether portraying a bright-eyed David (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) or Rossini’s elegant Count Almaviva (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Maqungo’s sincerity and warmth consistently resonate with audiences.
A member of the ensemble at Staatsoper Unter den Linden since the 2020/21 season, Maqungo has performed a wide range of repertoire, including Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Jaquino (Fidelio), Froh (Das Rheingold), and most recently Henry Morosus (Die schweigsame Frau) in a new production marking the beginning of Christian Thielemann’s tenure as Music Director.
His growing international career includes a house debut at Teatro alla Scala as Froh in David McVicar’s new staging of Das Rheingold, and the title role in Mitridate, re di Ponto at Teatro Real, conducted by Ivor Bolton in a production by Claus Guth.
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In the current season, Maqungo continues to shine in Berlin, performing all of Mozart’s principal tenor roles. He makes his debut as Belmonte in a new production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, directed by Andrea Moses and conducted by Thomas Guggeis, and returns to the role of Henry Morosus under Christian Thielemann. His concert career also expands with debuts including the Munich Philharmonic under Riccardo Minasi, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Nathalie Stutzman, and Strasbourg Philharmonic under Aziz Shokhakimov, in repertoire spanning Beethoven, Mozart, and Puccini. He joins Freiburg Barockorchester under René Jacobs for a major European tour performing Il Giustino by Cavalli and returns to La Scala for Der Ring des Nibelungen under Simone Young.
Maqungo has performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with both the Orchestre de Paris under Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestra e Coro dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Lahav Shani. His affinity for sacred and oratorio repertoire — such as Britten’s War Requiem and the Evangelist in Bach’s Passions—highlights his compelling storytelling. A passionate recitalist, he frequently collaborates with pianist Klaus Sallmann, presenting carefully curated programmes across Berlin.
His discography includes a standout performance as Pong in Puccini’s Turandot, released by Warner Classics and conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano — a recording nominated for a 2023 International Opera Award.
Born and raised in South Africa, Maqungo began his musical studies at North-West University and continued at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln with Josef Protschka. He was awarded second prize at the 2018 Portofino International Opera Competition, followed by a Young Singer nomination at the 2019 International Opera Awards.
Contacts
Shirley Thomson Senior Director, VOICE at HarrisonParrott | Head of CSR
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“Here is a Mozartian tenor like we rarely hear, of admirable poetry and delicacy, with an ability to nuance dynamics and colors as we dream of.”
“Maqungo mastered the trills and coloratura that darker-voiced tenors often struggle with. His angry aria […] at the end of the first act was a joy to hear.”
“South African tenor Siyabonga Maqungo’s Walther von der Vogelweide exalts Tannhäuser’s sacrifice of sensuality in a clear and luminous light.”
“Siyabonga Maqungo’s Walther von der Vogelweide stands out because of its auspicious, characteristically silvery glowing sound.”