The glorious voices of Pene, his brother Amitai and their cousin Moses Mackay rose over one another in a mock battle that was mirrored in their teasing on-stage demeanour before meeting in concert for the stupendous final forte the audience was waiting for.
Two more gorgeous Italian numbers followed: Marechiare and the ever-popular Mamma, which Moses dedicated to the singers' mothers.
"Welcome to Mangere!" Pene enthused before he and Moses left the stage so Amitai could kick off a bracket of solos and duets with an exquisite rendition of the Spanish love song No Puede Ser.
Special guest sopranos Isabella Moore and Amina Edris (Amitai and Pene's respective 'partners in crime') were introduced next. Isabella to perform the heart-rending O Mio Babbino Caro and Amina to join Pene in — what's this? — "a love duet".
Perhaps more perceptive audience members picked the future course of the evening at this point, but I doubt it. The leading lady herself was unaware of what was in store, after all.
Further throwing us off the scent, Amina then proceeded to charm the masses with a cheeky turn as Manon, from the opera of the same name, as she sang about living the good life because she wouldn't be young forever.
On more than one occasion her assured performance and stratospheric notes prompted outbreaks of premature applause, which she halted first with a good-natured "I'm not done" and thereafter with a grin and waggling finger.
Isabella and Amina concluded the bracket with Lakme's soaring Flower Duet before Sol3 Mio returned with a rendition of Amazing Grace that was powerful in its simplicity.
"I know you know it," Moses joked with the crowd before they began.
"Do not sing with us. You'll put us off."
Rounding out the first half was a stirring You'll Never Walk Alone which the boys recounted having nervously sung to a mixed crowd of Liverpool and Everton supporters in England earlier this year.
After the interval, Pene promised, 'Mr Sparkles' would do his magic as darkness set in over the vineyard.
The concert was billed as Christmas in the Vines and the festive nature was more apparent as the second half began with three carols: Po Marie (Silent Night), Little Drummer Boy and White Christmas.
It can be a struggle to get Kiwi audiences singing along, but this crowd was more than happy to join in as instructed — or almost as instructed. That's Amore had everyone on their feet dancing and mumbling any words they could recall.
Moses took the opportunity to rewrite some of the lyrics: "When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine ... then you're very drunk."
The sun had set, the glow sticks were out, the wine probably was flowing and everywhere I looked people — both on-stage and off — were grinning from ear to ear.
Seizing the mood, Sol3 Mio delivered a Nella Fantasia that tugged at the heartstrings. A highlight among a concert of highlights.
We weren't to know the stage was being set for an even grander finale, though Moses' Some Enchanted Evening solo hinted at magic in the summer air.
And then the surprise — Pene, who'd joked about being nervous right at the start, finally revealed what the real reason for that was.
He invited Amina to accompany him back on stage saying he was going to sing her the beautiful German aria Dein ist mein ganzes Herz: "This is my song to you my darling."
As it concluded, he brought members of both their families on stage to present her with red roses, before bending to one knee and asking her to marry him.
The audience erupted in applause and waved their glow sticks as Amina accepted his offer.
It was an enchanted evening in Mangere all right — and surely one concert Sol3 Mio themselves will never forget.
* Sol3 Mio will perform again at Auckland Zoo on Friday, February, 20th, 2015. For more information and details of other dates in their nationwide 'There and Back' tour early next year, see sol3mio.com.
Sol3 Mio
Where: Villa Maria Estate, Auckland
When: Sunday, December 21
