Soprano Virginia Oosthuizen has died at the age of 90 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The soprano was one of South Africa’s most distinguished operatic sopranos whose career spanned several decades.

Born in 1933 in Stellenbosch, Oosthuizen studied singing under Margaret Wandelt at the Stellenbosch Conservatoire and furthered her vocal studies with Maria Hittorff in Vienna. She made her European debut in 1963 and went on to sing at many of the greatest stages in the world.

The soprano also performed Lieder to great acclaim. Oosthuizen’s passion for Lieder was reflected in her popular radio series, “The Song,” on FMR, where she collaborated with Dave Kruger.

From 1973 to 1978, she lectured at the South African College of Music.