The Mimi Coertse collection

HIGH NOTE: AUCTION OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART OF SINGER'S FAVOURITES

- Citizen reporter

Mimi Coertse, famed opera singer, is universally known as "The Voice for South Africa," a title she earned in the '50s, '60s and '70s when she indefatigably sang the most famous soprano roles on international opera house stages, defying the global cultural boycott against South Africa at the time.

Few know that she was also an avid art collector. Her voice exemplified the misfortunes of many well-known female roles in the best-loved operas: the perturbation of Lucia; the despair of Norma; the sorrow of Konstanze; the dirge of Violetta.