LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston’s epic concert in South Africa, staged after President Nelson Mandela’s historic election, will hit theaters this fall.
Houston’s 1994 performance has been turned into a fully remastered theatrical release called “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban),” according to a statement Tuesday from several collaborators, including Houston’s estate, Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing.
The limited theatrical screening debuts on October 23 and features the late singer’s never-before-released show from Durban, South Africa. The project precedes a new live album, “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)”, which will be released on November 8.
“She loved South Africa; she loved the people, and she loved Nelson Mandela,” said Pat Houston, the singer’s sister-in-law and Houston executor, who is executive producer of the concert film. “This concert is one of the most dramatic concerts of her career. On this momentous 30th anniversary, we are thrilled to be able to release this film not only to her fans, but also to the people of South Africa and the new generation.”
In 1994, Houston took to the stage for three concerts in South Africa, including Durban at the Kings Park Stadium, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Her performances took place in a newly united post-apartheid country following Mandela’s historic election victory.
The concerts attracted more than 200,000 visitors in a show full of celebration of freedom, hope and unity. Proceeds from her concerts benefited numerous local South African children’s charities through her foundation.
For the film, Houston’s performance was remastered into 4K video and enhanced audio. The concert film will be shown in almost 900 cinemas in more than 25 countries.
“It was my first time in South Africa, and I don’t think I was really prepared for how this trip would change me forever,” said Rickey Minor, a three-time Emmy winner and Houston’s musical director for 25 years. “The energy was electric and the crowd was incredible as we celebrated the end of apartheid. Whitney shared her love and let her light shine.”
Earlier that year, Houston won three Grammys, including album of the year for the soundtrack to “The Bodyguard.” She won record of the year and best female pop vocal performance for the huge hit “I Will Always Love You.”
Houston was one of the world’s best-selling artists with her effortless, powerful vocals, rooted in the Black Church but made palatable to the masses with her pop persona. She sold more than 200 million records worldwide during her 25-year career and won six Grammys, 16 Billboard Music Awards and two Emmys before her death in 2012.
Houston’s live album will include some of her biggest hits from “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “How Will I Know,” “I Have Nothing” and “Greatest Love of All.” It will also feature the unreleased song. “Love is.”
“The message of hope and unity from the performance in Durban, South Africa remains as relevant today as it was thirty years ago,” said Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing. “Fans will be amazed at how powerful this is. on the big screen.”
