Photo: None credited · Public domain · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regional
Gé Korsten
Person · male · South Africa · Rotterdam · born 1927 · died 1999 · recording since 1999
South African opera singer (1927–1999)
Also known as Ге Корстен
Timeline
11 events▣ Album 8◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1920s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: The Heart & Soul of Gé Korsten
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
Biography
English biography421 words · 3 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1362772233
Biography
Gérard Korsten (popularly known as Gé) (6 December 1927 - 29 September 1999) was a South African opera tenor and actor who had a great influence on Afrikaans culture.
Born in Schiedam, as the youngest of eight children, Korsten and his family emigrated to South Africa when he was nine years old. He married Elna Burger and had five children, among them renowned conductor and violinist Gérard Korsten.
Career
Initially he worked as an electrician, but from the age of 20, started singing in choirs. However, he received his first formal vocal training in 1952, when he was well into his 20s, studying under Adelheid Armhold at the South African College of Music.
In 1955 he moved to Pretoria, where he was one of the founder members of the Pretoria opera company. In 1956, he debuted as Canio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci.
Korsten won a bursary to study in Vienna in 1962, where he received tuition under Judith Hellwig. During this period he had the opportunity to perform in Vienna and Munich, but he never sang professionally outside South Africa, mainly due to family considerations. It was only in 1970 that Korsten sold his business to devote himself to full-time singing. In the course of his operatic career, Korsten appeared on stage more than 3,000 times, playing 23 roles in most of the major operas.
In 1965, Korsten started his career in light music, with his album Gé Korsten Sing Uit Die Hart (English: Gé Korsten Sings From The Heart), and soon became a best-selling recording artist, with a career spanning 40 years. Nine of his 58 albums achieved gold status. Most of his recorded work is light Afrikaans music, including the song "Liefling" (English: Sweetheart). His popularity as a singer also led to lead roles in films such as Hoor My Lied (English: Hear My Song), Lied In My Hart (English: Song In My Heart) and A New Life, all of which included singing scenes. He received six Sarie awards and, in 1979, an ARTES award for his TV program Gé Sing (English: Gé Sings).
In his later life, Korsten was well known for his role as family patriarch Walt Vorster in the long-running South African soap opera Egoli: Place of Gold.
In 1985, he was appointed the managing director of the Cape Performing Arts Board (CAPAB) in Cape Town, a post which he held until 1989.
Death
In 1999, he committed suicide with a self inflicted gunshot to his right temple, with the motive possibly being that he suffered from cancer.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 13 | 93.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 11 | 87.9th |
| Recording span (years) | 0 | 9.4th |
| Genres | 0 | 0th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (16 release groups · 13 studio albums)
Albums · 13
The Heart & Soul of Gé Korsten
1999 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 49 tracks · 2:39:27
Disc 11Liefling3:122Hier Is 'n Mens3:273Rina4:044Totsiens, Vaarwel My Marie3:095Seeman3:176Myne Vir Ewig3:247Op Vleuels Van Verlange4:068Sing Seeman Sing2:579Liefdeslied2:4710Donkerooie Rose3:0311Algoabaai3:1312Erika2:1213Vergeet My Nie3:3314Sonder Jou3:0215Die Hartseerwals3:0716Reen3:0317Glimlag3:0018La Montanara3:1419Dink Somtyds Nog Aan My2:4720In My Seemanshart2:5421Huistoe3:4722Ek Kyk Graag So Diep In Joe Oe3:1323Wees Lief Vir My3:5524Liefling Kom Terug2:4925Ontwaak Beminde (O Sole Mia)2:33Disc 21The Impossible Dream3:052Touch The Wind3:323Drinking Song2:084Donkey Serenade3:345On The Street Where You Live3:186Stranger In Paradise3:437Maria3:078Valencia3:069Serenade (Student Prince)3:1810Santa Lucia2:3411What Now My Love2:4112Spanish Eyes3:0413Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Hertz3:5014Ave Maria3:0515Nessun Dorma3:1716Una Furtiva4:2217Celeste Aida5:0118Exodus3:3019Walk Away2:5820Oh What A Beautiful Morning2:5921Rose Marie3:5622The Lord's Prayer3:1323Hear My Song2:4724It's Now Or Never3:311999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 59:56
1Nessun Dorma2:382Hier is 'n mens3:263O solo mio2:554Drinking song from Student Prince La Traviata2:5351000 soene3:236I believe2:527Ek volg 'n ster3:048Seeman3:159You'll never walk alone3:2510Granada3:5811Liefling3:1012The great pretender2:5413Napolitan medley4:5914Hear my song2:0815Jerusalem5:2916Opera medley3:1817Mooi ou Kaapland3:1518Jesus of Nazareth2:542001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:07:50
1Seeman3:162Nicolene3:173Ek Kyk Graag So Diep in Jou Oë3:134Die Hartseer Wals3:065Algoa Baai3:146Sonder Jou3:027Sing Seeman2:568Sing3:019Glimlag3:2710Hier Is 'n Mens5:1111Jerusalem3:5512Lied Van Die Lewe3:25131000 Soene3:0414Reën3:0715Kufsteinlied3:1716Mooi Ou Kaapland3:1717Die Hawekafe2:5618Die Hemelspoort4:0219Wees Lief Vir My3:5520Liefling3:092004 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 36:53
1Jerusalem3:212Laat Die Liewe Kinders Kom Na Die Heer3:223Praat Ek Mense, Eng'Letale2:304Heilig Die Heer3:555Bly by My2:426Doen Slegs U Wil Heer3:077O Rus in Jesus2:018God Sy Met U Tot Ons Weer Ontmoet3:459Eer Aan Die Vader2:4810Lewende Water3:5711Stille Nag2:5012Al Jul Volke Klap Jul Hande - My Enigste Troos2:352006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Will You Remember2Moonlight And Roses3Donkey Serenade4True Love5Games That Lovers Play6Wanting You7One Day When We Were Young8Only A Rose9Love Is My Reason10People Will Say11Greensleeves12We'll Gather Lilacs2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 32:33
1Sing, Seeman, Sing2:572Mooiste Land2:253Die Ou Kalahari2:444Liefde Vir Jou3:095Agmat2:526Groene Velde Van My Land3:047Tienduisend Myl2:358Moet Ek Gaan?2:319My Verlange3:0910Suid-Afrika2:1211Net 'n Stille Uurtjie2:4812Vaarwel2:07Afrikaanse Goue Stemme: Ge Korsten
2008 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:08:15
1Ek Kyk Graag So Diep In Jou Oe3:152Lied Van Die Lewe3:183Love Changes Everything3:294Hier Is 'N Mens3:565Naby My3:3561000 Soene3:227Sing Seeman Sing3:538Sonder Jou3:279Nicolene2:5810Greensleeves3:0411Santa Fe3:1912Die Hartseer wals2:5413Seeman3:0814Jerusalem5:1315Psalm 232:4916Die Hawekafee2:5817Liefling Ons Twee Word Ook Ouer3:2918Amazing Grace3:4119Algoa Baai3:1620Die Klokke Sal Lui3:112014 · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 34:08
1Glimlag3:002Santa Fe3:313Papa3:0141000 Soene3:225Lied Van Die Lewe3:526Hier Is ’N Mens3:257Seeman3:148Wees Lief Vir My3:539Algoa Baai3:1210Glo In Die Lewe3:38— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks
1Mag Die Heer U Seen2Welk 'n Vriend Ons Het In Jesus3Hoor Die Blye Eng'lelied4Voorwaarts Christenstryders5O Christus Diepst' Verlange6Die Onse Vader7Land Van Verlange8Nader My God By U9Nader Aan U10Son Van My Siel11Bly By My Heer12God Sy Met U Tot Ons Weer Ontmoet— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 39:18
Sonder Jou3:02Stap Saam Met My Deur Die Lewe2:31Een Om My Hand Te Neem3:52Ek Kyk Graag So Diep In Jou Oë3:12Vergeet My Nie3:32My Seun3:17Wees Lief Vir My3:54Eensame Nagte3:07Nooi Van Verre2:48Luister Maryna3:05Hartseermelodie3:41Jy's Die Een3:17— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 37:28
1Without A Song3:022Aan My Beminde = Because2:293Come Back To Sorrento3:444Edelweiss2:365The Song Of Songs4:186Granada3:187Catari! Catari!3:148Vir Jou Alleen = For You Alone2:219Trees2:2910Ontwalk Beminde = O Sole Mio3:1311Only A Rose4:0412Goeienag = Yesterday2:40— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks
1Hier Is 'n Mens.2Liefling Ek Wag.3Net By Jou.4Dit Gaan Jou Goed, Dit Gaan Jou Wel.5Op Die Groot Oseaan.6O Sole Mio7Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da8Valencia9In Ou Venesie10Wat Is So Mooi In Die Liefde— · studio album
Search SpotifySearch YouTube Music
Tracklist · 12 tracks · 35:04
1Annakie3:012Erika2:103Verre Lande3:184Die Vrolike Musikant2:225Verlang Jy Ook?3:026Stil Soos Die Nag3:167Kom Nou Kêrels3:038By Die Ou Meulstroom3:029My Hart Verlang Na Die Boland2:4910Ou Karooland3:0511Die Goeie Kameraad2:2912Slaap Nou3:27
Album · 3
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Liefling / In My SeemanshartSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 24 tracks · 1:12:351Liefling3:09 2Ek Bring Rose vir Jou2:49 3Rina4:02 4Totsiens Vaarwel My Marie3:06 5Paradys2:57 6Jy’s die Liefde in My Lewe2:34 7My Berst Ware Liefde2:46 8Algoabaai3:10 9La Montanara3:08 10Jonge Liefde2:46 11Stilfontein2:35 12Dink Somtyds Nog Aan My2:43 13In My Seemanshart2:51 14Die Boomelaar2:14 15Liefdeslied2:44 16Donkerrooi Rose3:01 17Ag Danielief3:33 18Matrooslied3:11 19Vleuels van Verlange4:04 20Mag die Hemel Jou Vergewe3:08 21Lana3:21 22Rosemarie3:16 23Ek is ’n Jong Soldaat2:25 24Reen3:02 | Compilation | 19 September 2011 | |
| 2011 | Seeman / Hoor My LiedSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 26 tracks · 1:09:451Seeman3:15 2Jy Is My Liefling2:33 3Boereseun3:30 4Ou Musikant3:05 5Huisie In Die Berge3:13 6Die Skadu Van Ou Tafelberg3:07 7Die Blonde Matroos2:54 8Draai, Draai, Draai2:17 9Draf Maar Aan Ou Ryperd3:07 10Skemeruurtjie3:09 11Aan Die Einde Van Die Dag2:40 12Goeienag2:49 13Hear My Song2:44 14Die ABC2:10 15Die Heidelied2:34 16M'Appari Tutt Amor3:30 17Onse Vader2:24 18So Deep Is The Night2:55 19Als Flotter Geist2:42 20Funiculi Funicula2:34 21Bonsoir Mademoiselle1:31 22Stille Nag2:15 23Green Grow The Lilacs2:32 24Bonkie Se Donkie2:21 25Boeretuintjie1:50 26Questo O Quella2:04 | Compilation | 30 September 2011 | |
| — | Ter Nagedagtenis AanSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 25 tracks · 1:17:001Seeman3:15 2Jerusalem5:06 3Liefling3:09 4Groene Velde Van My Land3:02 5Sing Seeman Sing2:54 6Just A Closer Walk With Thee2:17 7Jy Is Myne3:44 8Jonge Liefde2:48 9Touch The Wind3:29 10Hear My Song2:46 11Erika2:17 12Hier Is 'n Mens3:25 13Ek Bring Rose Vir Jou2:50 14Die Hartseerwals3:05 15Algoabaai3:12 16Moet Ek Gaan?2:29 17In My Seemanshart2:52 18La Montanara3:12 19Reën3:02 20Dit Gaan Jou Goed, Dit Gaan Jou Wel2:45 21Lieflike Droom2:46 22Liefdestyd3:14 23Ave Maria3:05 24On The Street Where You Live3:15 25The Impossible Dream3:01 | Compilation | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Gé Korsten head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 9 | 54.3th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 16 | 85.4th |
| Studio albums | 13 | 93.5th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 11 | 87.9th |
| Recording span (years) | 0 | 9.4th |
| Genres | 0 | 0th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Korsten_Canio.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c57b7054-7297-4ade-bf67-e4eb1b1170e6discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c57b7054-7297-4ade-bf67-e4eb1b1170e6core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3642605seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9_Korstenbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9_Korsten
Why this artist is in the database
- List of South African musicians
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: None credited · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q3642605 · MusicBrainz: c57b7054-7297-4ade-bf67-e4eb1b1170e6
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