Rina Hugo singing "Singend, klingend ruft Dich das Glück" from Frühjahrsparade by Robert Stolz

Rina Hugo singing "Singend, klingend ruft Dich das Glück" from Frühjahrsparade by Robert Stolz Conductor: János Ács Recorded: 8 July 1986 at the Pretoria State Theatre Rina was born in Umtata on 13 March 1949 . Ma Fienie noticed Rina's talent first. The only girl child sings everywhere in the house, playing make believe piano on the living room coffee table. Singing and music classes follow and a voice develops that makes many people sit up straight. She matriculates at the Huguenot Girls' High School where she is also selected as deputy head girl. She goes to Potchefstroom University to qualify herself as a music teacher. Love also intervenes. Fellow student Johan van Rensburg, himself a music student and leader of the Alabama Student Society, falls in love with Rina, telling her to also be part of the group. She gets acquainted with the singing of the light song and does it equally well. She obtained her B.Mus degree from Potchefstroom University at the end of 1970. She and Johan married on March 27, 1971. Rina sees opportunity for everything - The marriage, light songs, classical singing and everything that goes with it. Johan becomes a music lecturer at the University's conservatory, Rina a music teacher at the Highschool Gimnasium in Potchefstroom. In 1973 Johan received a scholarship to continue his music studies at the Berklee College Of Music, in Boston, USA. In 1975 Rina obtained her Master's degree in Singing at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Back on South African soil, a singing career begins that speaks of excellent versatility. In 1978 she was named South Africa's overall winner of the prestigious ATKV Crescendo competition. Shortly afterwards she represented South Africa in the Eighth International Singing Competition in Rio de Janeiro. Rina Hugo has always been described as one of the most versatile singers in her career. The area in which she maintains herself with distinction spans virtually all genres that can be practiced by a soloist, namely: opera, oratorio, operettas, musicals, the art song and light music. During her successful career, her records and CDs have been awarded gold and platinum status numerous times, she has received numerous honors and won important music awards. She has also been named the most popular singer in the country and has performed in almost all TV music programs that were on the air. Her TV recordings also include two special documentary programs entitled "Die Lied Wat Suiwer Klink" which was broadcast on SABC-TV in 1998 as a tribute to her excellence and versatility. In the eighties, she was one of the first Afrikaans artists to give two performances in front of packed audiences at Sun City. She plays roles in, among others, The Magic Flute, Falstaff, The Marriage of Figaro, The Sound of Music and The Student Prince. She represents South Africa twice at the Flemish National Song Festival in Belgium. A bright pink rose was named after her. More interesting facts can be found here: https://www.rinahugo.co.za/