Ahead of thousands of applicants, the New Zealand Tongan tenor Manase Latu and New Zealand Samoan bass Samson Setu have won places on the prestigious New York Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, led by the Met’s music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
They are the first New Zealand and the first Pasifika singers to participate in the world-renowned program, which has trained a number of famous international artists including Dawn Upshaw, Christine Goerke and Lisette Oropesa.
2019 IFAC HANDA Australian singing competition. (Left to right) Samson Setu, Dr Te Oti Rakena, Manase Latu Photo: TOM TRUONG | N32 MEDIA
This incredible opportunity was made possible by the group of opera patrons called Circle100 who award an annual scholarship to young New Zealand singers. Last year Circle100 patron and acclaimed NZ tenor Simon O’Neill invited the then director of the Lindemann program Sophie Joyce to hear 14 of our finest voices audition for the scholarship.
Manase Latu and Samson were awarded Circle100’s scholarship and career progression awards totalling $25,000. And off the back of that, Sophie Joyce invited them to audition for the Lindemann.
The pair made an impression on other auditionees when they arrived at the Metropolitan Opera with Quinn Kelsey, a good friend of theirs and regular Met soloist. The Hawaiian baritone gave the young singers a tour of the whole opera house including the vast stage and orchestra pit.
“It was the coolest thing. It was like getting dropped off to your school ball in a really flash car,” says Samson.
Bass-baritone Samson Setu Photo: Supplied
The Met attracts some of the world’s best talent and Samson is looking forward to honing his craft with world-renowned coaches and vocal teachers and becoming a better all-round performer.
“These kinds of experiences you can't put a price on. I’m going to go there and be like a sponge and absorb as much information as I can.”
While he was there for his audition, Samson had the chance to work with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
“I got to work on two arias with Yannick, it was so crazy. But to be honest I didn’t know who he was until I got the email asking us to come and sing at the Lindemann."
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director Metropolitan Opera Photo: ©Rose Callahan 2018
"When I got that email and it mentioned his name, I googled him then and I was like ‘holy’ this guy is a bit of a big deal. Although he’s a pint-sized man he’s huge in terms of the opera stage and the opera world, so he was amazing. I hope I get to work with him again ‘cause I spent maybe twenty minutes with him but I learned so much."
The thought of heading to New York in the midst of a pandemic doesn’t worry Samson.
“I’m a South Auckland boy. I didn’t grow up in a pretty neighbourhood, so it’s nothing new to me. I’m looking forward to just being there and being in the moment. Obviously, there are going to be some challenges ahead, but nothing worth having is going to come easy. So, living in a city like that is just another challenge that I’ll have to face."
Manase Latu will also join the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program Photo: NZ Festival
Samson is happy to have his good friend ‘Nase’ with him and they’ve already found their third flatmate, a South African singer who is also on the Lindemann Program. “Having a team around you makes things easier.”
Samson has always been surrounded by a strong community. The church, where his grandfather was a pastor and his Samoan culture are what ground him – it’s the foundation for who he is today, both as a person and a singer.
“No matter where I go, I always give praise back to God. I’m so grateful for my upbringing and my culture, but I think if I hadn’t gone to Dilworth I would not be singing today.”
Samson credits Dilworth College Choir with opening the door to classical singing and giving him a pathway to the New Zealand Youth Choir, where he learned the value of musicianship. When he started in the choir he realised that he was the only one who couldn’t read music.
The 26-year-old sees his development as “a marathon, not a sprint” and isn’t concerned about the reduced opportunities for performance under Covid-19 restrictions. The Lindemann Young Artist Development Program is a two-year course and Samson is looking forward to building and honing his skills in the first year.
“I’m looking forward to whatever they give us and if a performing opportunity turns up then I am going to take it with both hands and run it up the guts.”
A passionate rugby player Samson will have to find another physical outlet in New York City.
“Since I’ve been back in New Zealand, I’ve attempted to get the boots back on. It’s a liberating feeling being out on the field as opposed to being in a practice room. I’ll have to find some other way to release the steam.”
David Morriss caught up with Manase Latu in July. Find out what he's been up to since the final of the 2018 Lexus Song Quest, here.
