South African conductor Ofentse Pitse took South Africa to Bridgerton, leading some of the best pieces from Netflix’s Queen Charlotte, and working with Alicia Keys. Have a listen!
Global (11 May, 2023) — If you’ve watched ‘Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story’ and fell in love with the soundtrack (along with Venus and Farmer George’s story), your ears might perk up in learning that a South African conductor was behind some of the tale’s most incredible pieces.
Ofentse Pitse from Tshwane led an incredible rendition of Alicia Key’s ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ which was brilliant for more reasons than the music itself.
The 74-piece Global Orchestra (dubbed Queen Charlotte’s Global Orchestra) was made up entirely of women of colour as Netflix shared, and Ofentse is one of the only black female conductors in the world, as well as South Africa’s first.
The piece played during the new Queen Charlotte and King George III’s first ball moment, hosted at the Danbury’s; bringing goosebumps to everyone who watched the scene.
Ofentse worked with Alicia Keys herself, as the Bridgerton revamp of the song marked its 20th anniversary.
“If I Ain’t Got You re-imagined with this 70-plus piece Global Orchestra made up entirely of women of color is SOOOO crazzzy! I had REAL tears in my eyes when we recorded this!”—Alicia Keys.
Watch: ‘If I Ain’t Got You’, The Bridgerton Version
In addition, another legendary love song ‘African Queen’ was also reimagined for the show with a 22-piece all-female orchestra and Ofentse at the helm of the piece.
The music video captures moments of Cape Town and African queens gorgeously, making South Africans feel even more lucky to have our regal moment.
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As Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story imagines a world where people of colour were elevated in social ranks far before history caught up thanks to the black Queen’s reign, the journey to empowerment we see in the show alongside the details behind the music couldn’t be more perfect.
If you haven’t yet, you can catch Queen Charlotte on Netflix. P.S: It gives the original Bridgerton’s a speedy run for their money!
Meanwhile, another South African used her musical gifts at a real-life royal event as Pretty Yende stole the show during King Charles III’s Coronation.
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