International Head Judge, Sumi Jo announced the prize winners in the 2024 Lexus Song Quest at the Michael Fowler Centre on Saturday night.
Winner: Katie Trigg (mezzo soprano)
Runner-up: Manase Latu (tenor)
Third place: Austin Haynes (counter-tenor)
RNZ Concert presenter Clarissa Dunn is your host on stage as we hear five young Finalists in action as they sing it out for the coveted prize and a share of $92,000.
Each finalist sings one song with piano accompaniment and two arias accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Finalists: Austin Haynes (counter-tenor), Tayla Alexander (soprano), Morgan-Andrew King (bass), Katie Trigg (mezzo), Manase Latu (tenor)
Tonight's singers are performing:
FIRST HALF - Songs/Lieder
Austin Haynes
HAHN: Infidélité
Tayla Alexander
HEGGIE: Animal Passion, from Natural Selection
Morgan-Andrew King
Taituwha KING: Te Oohaakii a Tūranga
Katie Trigg
SCHUMANN: Mondnacht, from Liederkreis
Manase Latu
SCHUBERT: Der Neugierige, from Die Schöne Müllerin
Pianist Terence Dennis accompanied the songs
GRAMMY Award-winning soprano Sumi Jo, Head Judge for the 2024 Lexus Song Quest talks to Clarissa Dunn about her phenomenal singing career.
SECOND HALF - Arias
Austin Haynes
HANDEL: O mirror of our fickle state!, from Samson
Tayla Alexander
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Snow Maiden Aria, from The Snow Maiden
Morgan-Andrew King
MOZART: O Isis & Osiris, from The Magic Flute
Katie Trigg
HANDEL: Iris, hence away, from Semele
Manase Latu
MOZART: Il mio tesoro, from Don Giovanni
Austin Haynes
HANDEL: Vivi tiranno, from Rodelinda
Tayla Alexander
DVORAK: Song to the moon, from Rusalka
Morgan-Andrew King
VERDI: Infelice e tuo credevi, from Ernani
Katie Trigg
MASSENET: Air des lettres, from Werther
Manase Latu
GOUNOD: Salut! demeure chaste et pure, from Faust
Orchestral Interlude
WAGNER: Tristan & Isolde, Prelude
Performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hamish McKeich
Recorded 3 August 2024, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Presenter: Clarissa Dunn
Producer: David McCaw
Sound Engineer: Darryl Stack