Voice of Hope (album)

Voice of Hope
Cover of the artist's debut album internationally showing "Pumeza" as a stage name
Studio album by Pumeza
Released	3 March 2014 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland 6 October 2014 (International)
Recorded	2013-2014
Label	Decca Records
Pumeza chronology
/ Voice of Hope (2014)
Singles from Voice of Hope
"God Bless Africa" Released: 2014
Germany, Austria, Switzerland release
Cover of special release to German, Austrian and Swiss markets

Voice of Hope is a 2014 album by South African opera singer Pumeza (full name Pumeza Matshikiza). The album was released on Decca label.

Releases and contents

The album was first released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on 3 March 2014 with 18 tracks. An international edition was released later with a different cover and an amended order of track list and just 15 tracks.

The album includes four arias ("O mio babbino caro", "Signore, ascolta!" and "Donde lieta uscì" from Puccini and "Vedrai, carino" from Mozart) all with musical accompaniment from Staatsorchester Stuttgart and Simon Hewett. The other tracks are mostly performed with the accompaniment of Aurora Orchestra and Iain Farrington. There is also the song "Lakutshon Ilanga (When The Sun Sets)" performed with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Iain Farrington.

The last track of the international album, "Freedom Come All Ye" was a collaboration and performed by Pumeza Matshikiza with Sura Susso, Mamadou Ndiaye Cissokho, Fiona Hamilton and Phil Cunningham.

The earlier version destined for German, Austrian and Swiss markets contains four tracks that have not been included in the international release, namely "Ntyilo Ntyilo (Little Bird)", "Baxabene Oxam (Click Song 2)", "Senzeni Na? (What Have We Done?)" and the South African national antheme "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika (God Bless Africa)". In two of these tracks, "Senzeni Na?" and "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika", she invited the African Children's Choir to sing with her.

Track list

The international edition contains 15 tracks. A special edition was released for Germany, Austria and Switzerland with a different cover and with three additional tracks not found on the international release.

International release

Germany, Austria and Switzerland release

Charts

The album has charted in Tracklisten, the official Danish Albums Chart.

1. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Pumeza – Voice of Hope". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
2. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Pumeza – Voice of Hope". Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
3. ↑ "Pumeza Matshikiza | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved 18 October 2014.