South African opera legend Mimi Coertse died on April 27 at the age of 93.

Among those mourning the loss is Brakpan opera singer Andries Aldrich, who told the Brakpan Herald that Mimi, a world-renowned opera singer, was “the diva who believed in me.”

“Mimi was one of the most iconic sopranos of our time and a woman who forever changed the course of my life,” he said.

The baritone recalled that in August 2010, he heard a local radio presenter introduce a recording of a South African singer believed to hold a world record for performing Mozart’s Queen of the Night more than 520 times in four different languages.

“As the music started, I heard a voice that was magical. It lifted to heights one can only dream of,” he said.

“That was the voice of “Onse Mimi” singing the aria Der Hölle Rache from The Magic Flute by Mozart.

“That recording, made more than 50 years prior, changed my life completely. I knew there and then I also wanted to create magic with my voice like this wonder woman had just done.”

He first met Mimi in 2011, when he was just 17 years old.

“From the very beginning, I was in absolute awe of her. Here stood a legend, a coloratura soprano (the highest voice in the opera repertoire) whose voice carried some of the purest, most breathtaking high notes imaginable,” he said.

“Yet beyond her extraordinary artistry was a warmth, generosity of spirit and a great sense of humour that made her instantly approachable.

“What began as admiration quickly grew into a treasured friendship.”

Andries shared that Mimi believed in him as a young singer, often offering guidance and thoughtful advice on his voice.

“I had the immense privilege of singing for her at her home in Pretoria, sharing arias from the great operatic repertoire as well as her beloved Afrikaans art songs, including O Boereplaas and Die Sewe Boerneef Liedjies. Those moments remain among the most cherished of my musical journey,” he said.

In 2021, Andries was honoured to be part of a tribute concert dedicated to Mimi at Foxwood House in Houghton Estate, performing alongside some of South Africa’s finest opera singers.

“We celebrated a woman whose voice had captivated audiences across the globe, from the Vienna State Opera to the Royal Opera House and La Scala,” he said.

“She was not only a national treasure but a global phenomenon. How many people can say they sat down for coffee with their ultimate hero? I am profoundly proud to say that I did, with Mimi.

“Onse Mimi, as she is so lovingly known, was more than a world-class soprano. She was a mentor, a friend and a source of inspiration who ignited a dream in a young boy to become a singer.

“Many times I performed at concerts where Mimi was a guest, and it was always heartwarming to see how the music touched her and made her happy.

“Her legacy will live on not only through her extraordinary recordings and accolades but through the countless lives she touched with her kindness, wisdom, wit and unwavering belief in others.

“She will always hold a special place in my heart.”

ALSO CHECK: Brakpan SPCA opens case after neglected dog disappears

ALSO CHECK: EMPD leads major motorcycle compliance operation in Brakpan