Helenè Bester sings Nana Mouskouri with Helene Bester and Heinrich Pelser, which will be presented at Emperors Palace’s Theatre of Marcellus on Sunday, 10 August 2025, at 15:00. This unique show was launched to great acclaim at the Oppiwater Arts Festival and was an instant hit production. It was written and directed by Frans Swart of Lefra Productions and Heinrich Pelser, who is also Helenè’s accompanist during the Mouskouri shows.
Helenè says, “I have always hoped to do a Nana show. I am crazy about her voice, and my sister and I grew up with her music.” We really thought that she was a friend of my mom’s, because they looked so much alike. I believe the time is ripe for me to do the show now, as I’m not sure I would have been able to interpret her music so well ten years ago. “My voice is older and perhaps has a more mature sound, which I believe is favoured by her target audience. I studied her music videos to observe how she moved on stage, what she did with her hands and how she addressed an audience. One wants to be as credible as possible.”
Director Frans Swart agrees: “When Helenè approached me about this project, I was immediately excited. Who better than the talented Helenè to pay tribute to the timeless and elegant Nana Mouskouri?”
It was an exciting decision for Helenè to pay tribute to Nana Mouskouri. “Even today, Nana is still just as popular, because people of my age also listen to her music. We let her music live on. She sold 300 million records and can speak and sing in five languages. As a result, she is well known in so many countries,” says Helenè. “She is beloved among her fans. She is humble and does not jump up and down to promote her music. She made well-known songs even better known, and every song she recorded was a hit, e.g., Cucurrucucu, Only love, White rose of Athens, and others. And OF COURSE, her daughter’s name is also Helenè—with the exact same pronunciation as mine. Which shows you, maybe she and my mom might be family yet!”
Bookings at www.LTickets.co.za 011 815 3000 or www.helenesingnana.co.za
This production is presented with the proud support of Afrikaans100, Ambassador Execudrive, Blu Blood, Britz Couriers & Removals, Feeste.net, Featherview Optometrists, Fleur by Julene Rokebrand, Hollywood Costumes, LTickets, Lift Airlines, Mannah Guest Lodge, Mobilis Auto, RSG, Van Loveren and WS Pianos.