Thurston experienced 'best feeling' at Song Quest

RIGHT NOTES: Christian Thurston (centre) was third in the prestigious Lexus Song Quest. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Standing on stage for 90 seconds waiting for his cue to sing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra was enough time for Rotorua baritone Christian Thurston to calm his nerves.

So much so, his performance landed him third place in the prestigious 2014 Lexus Song Quest finals on Saturday.

The 23-year-old performed O Carlo, Ascolta from Don Carlos in the finals. "It's eight-and-a-half minutes long and the first 90 seconds is just the orchestra," he said. "Standing on stage for those 90 seconds was one of the best feelings of my life. I was nervous leading up to it but as soon as I walked out on to the stage all my nerves went away."

The Lexus Song Quest is held every two years, and Mr Thurston said he was happy to have been included in the top six but never expected to win one of the prizes so soon into his performing career.

"I was the youngest in the country, getting third at my age is so good. I didn't expect it - I was just happy to be part of the night. I was really happy to be there but I think my final aria did it. It got my technique into gear."

He said he was overwhelmed with the support he had received from friends and family who travelled to Auckland for the finals.

Auckland soprano Isabella Moore was crowned winner and south Auckland baritone Benson Wilson second. Mr Thurston also performed Rachmaninoff's When Yesterday We Met accompanied by pianist Terence Dennis and Avant de quitter ces lieux from Gounod's Faust.

Mr Thurston receives a study scholarship of $5000 and a cash prize of $5000. Finalists each receive cash prizes of $3500. He is part of the New Zealand Opera Emerging Artists internship and next year will audition for performing arts schools in the United States, including Juilliard.

The Lexus Song Quest has launched the careers of some of New Zealand's most celebrated opera stars including Dames Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina Major, Jonathan Lemalu, Madeleine Pierard and Phillip Rhodes.

Now studying in a prestigious UK opera school, 2012 winner Amitai Pati is one third of the hugely successful trio Sol3 Mio, whose record went platinum and bested Lorde by becoming New Zealand's biggest selling album of 2013.

Mr Thurston will perform alongside the second and first placegetters tonight at the Lexus Recital Concert at the Opera House in Wellington.