New Zealand-born Tongan tenor Manase Latu has been selected as one of the five top finalists for the 2024 Lexus Song Quest, Aotearoa’s premier opera singing competition. The announcement came on 28 July after two semi-final concerts at St Andrew’s on The Terrace in Wellington.
Grammy Award-winning South Korean soprano Sumi Jo, who judged the finalists, said, “Choosing a top five from such a skilled group of semi-finalists has been incredibly challenging. Beyond having a beautiful voice with impeccable tone, technique, and musicality, it’s essential to possess star quality and charisma that immediately captivates the audience.”
Latu, a previous finalist in the 2018 Lexus Song Quest, holds a Bachelor of Music with first-class honours from the University of Auckland and a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies from the Royal College of Music in London.
The Grand Final Gala will be held on 3 August at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.
