South Auckland opera singers to perform at The Met in New York

Ripu Bhatia Reporter from Community News

Two south Aucklanders have secured places on the prestigious New York Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.

Tongan tenor Manase Latu and Samoan bass-baritone Samson Setu were offered their places ahead of thousands of applications, and are the first New Zealand and the first Pasifika singers to participate in the world-renowned programme.

While they were due to be in New York in August, pandemic travel restrictions have meant they started their classes in early September, by Zoom.

Both grew up in South Auckland, and in an environment where music was a big part of their lives, at church, at Sunday school, at community gatherings.

“We were very shocked and didn't know what to say,” Manase said.

“But we thought, you know what, let’s go to New York and sing for them and we did and one thing led to another and well, we’re both heading off the Met!”

While Manase learned he been accepted onto the programme earlier this year, Samson only learned of his success in July, just as he had concluded that he hadn’t been accepted and had decided to become a plumber.

“The pandemic had made me reflect on my future, and was just about to enrol in plumber’s apprenticeship when they [the Met] emailed me to ask me if was still interested,” Samson said.

They are excited to be going together as “brothers”.