The life and creative path of the ‘African prima donna’ from Chernihiv, Xenia Belmas, is still waiting for its researcher. Her voice has captivated millions of opera fans around the world. Having lived in South Africa for almost half a century, she always fondly remembered her homeland.
Olena Podobied, historian
Xenia Belmas was a Ukrainian and south african opera and chamber singer (soprano) who has performed on the stages of the world’s leading opera houses in Odesa, Milan, Paris, Sydney, and Johannesburg, the founder of the Durban Music School in South Africa, and one of the first ethnic Ukrainians in South Africa.
Xenia Belmas was born on January 23, 1890 in Chernihiv. Music accompanied Xenia from her childhood. Her mother and older sister were her first teachers, and her first group was a church choir. Unable to imagine her life without the world of music, Xenia entered the Kyiv Conservatory. She successfully performed on the stages of Odesa and Kyiv. During the Ukrainian Revolution, she lost her husband and decided to leave her homeland.
From 1921 she was in exile. In Poland, she married conductor Oleksandr Kichyn. The couple decided to conquer Western Europe. In Wiesbaden, Xenia Belmas made records, thanks to which we can still hear her voice today. Then she moved to Milan, where practiced performing Italian repertoire.
Then Belmas set out to conquer Paris and succeeded. In 1926, she performed successfully as a soloist in Aida at the Paris Opera House. In that very year, she received thunderous applause from the audience of La Scala, one of the top theaters in the world located in Milan. In 1928, Xenia Belmas and the La Scala company embarked on a tour of Australia, successfully showcasing their talents and captivating audiences throughout the country.
From 1934, Xenia Belmas lived in South Africa Republic and became one of the first ethnic Ukrainians in this country. She gave concerts in Cape Town, one of the largest cities in South Africa. Xenia fulfilled her dream of establishing an opera school in Durban, situated on the eastern shore of South Africa. Her influence cleared the path for numerous high school graduates to thrive in the music industry. Xenia Belmas aimed to bring grand opera to South Africa, making it more accessible for people to enjoy. Her students successfully performed on various stages and always remembered their “madam” with great gratitude. She consistently served Ukrainian national dishes to her guests, leaving a lasting impression on them.
Xenia Belmas died on February 02, 1981, in Durban. Her ashes were reburied on September 03, 2000, in Kyiv at the Baikove Cemetery.
