Young NZ Opera School talents and surprise guest shine at Whanganui recital - Lin Ferguson

Former NZ Opera School student Filipe Manu, described as one of the opera world’s “most personable rising stars“, joined four of this year's students at the recital. Photo / Karen Hughes

New Zealand Opera School Artists

Recital At The Museum

Whanganui Regional Museum

Wednesday, January 8

Review by Lin Ferguson

Well, all you can say is don’t you just love music!

A capacity audience, four exciting emerging young opera singers with remarkable accompanist Bruce Greenfield and the scene was set.

In fact, this scene has been well and truly set for the 31 years of the New Zealand Opera School in Whanganui.

The four students - sopranos Niamh Bentley and Olivia Forbes, tenor Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono and baritone Samuel McKeever - were all exciting and seriously talented.

We were treated to arias and a few well-known songs from musicals.

It is such a glorious venue, with its high domed ceiling capturing every crystal note and musical nuance.

Jordan’s rendition of the balcony aria from Gounod’s opera Romeo And Juliet was quite beautiful, his voice gentle and warm.

And his duet with Niamh was the perfect pairing for this Donizetti piece with smooth phrasing so lyrical and fine.

Somewhere from the musical West Side Story, sung by Olivia, was quietly beautiful. So smooth and lilting, that it made you fall in love with the song all over again.

Sam, centre stage, wooing us with the oldie but goodie Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, was a great treat and sung with such love and feeling.

Jordan enchanted us with that old and ever-beautiful song from Brigadoon, Almost Like Being in Love. It was a lyrical and moving performance.

While we were lulled and contented with these four young singers, an award-winning former student from 13 years ago, Filipe Manu, stepped out - a young Tongan tenor already commanding the world stage.

He was in Auckland last month to sing in the Messiah and decided to come to Whanganui to visit his old school.

Described as one of the world’s “most personable rising stars“, he thrilled the audience with his virtuosity.

His glorious voice was a treat for this audience and the applause was staggering. It was a perfect example of this school’s valuable worth to our young and talented singers.

Long may it last.