Pasifika opera singers take up with New York Met

Two New Zealand-based Pasifika singers have  secured places on the prestigious New York Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. 

Tenor Manase Latu, who is of Tongan descent, and bass-baritone Samson Setu, who is Samoan, are former students from the University of Auckland's New Zealand School of Music.

They the first New Zealand or 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 this month, by Zoom.

That's also how I caught up with them for a chat about working in opera as Pasifika, and began by asking Manase Latu what the New York Met fellowship means to them.