Cape Philharmonic Orchestra violinist Simiso Radebe gave a moving performance of Nessun Dorma at the V&A Waterfront in the Mother City.
Cape Town, South Africa (06 January 2026) – It’s not his first rodeo. Simiso has been spotted at the Waterfront on several different occasions. He often draws interest for his impressive repertoire reimagined on the violin.
His most recent crowd-pleaser, shared to Facebook, amassing over 26,000 views, was a beautiful rendition of the famous Nessun Dorma.
The post was shared by Brian van Hansen, who wrote: “Another magnificent performance by Simiso Radebe at the Waterfront!”
Some of his Simiso’s performances there have included renditions of Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You, Time to Say Goodbye, Rema’s Calm Down and even the Game of Thrones theme tune.
While we might be lucky enough to encounter Simiso’s way with music in public spaces like the Waterfront, he boasts an incredible musical background rooted in formal classical training.
According to the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, he first picked up a violin at the age of eight through the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble in Diepkloof. By 13, he was already travelling internationally with the ensemble and performing as a soloist. His early commitment to music earned him a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. There, he finished his Diploma of Higher Education in Performance through the University of London.
After landing back in South Africa, he joined the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and has also worked with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra. Beyond orchestral work, Simiso has collaborated with popular local artists including Lira, the late Sibongile Khumalo and the Bala Brothers, and he’s performed for audiences including Oprah, Michelle Obama as well as South Africa’s current and former presidents.
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