Ahead of our 2024 Lexus Song Quest in association with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation, we caught up with 2022 Winner, Filipe Manu, to see how life has been after the competition.
What have you been up to these last couple of years since winning the 2022 Lexus Song Quest?
Immediately after winning the Lexus, I made my solo debut as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. It was the 20th anniversary of this production and was made even more special as I took the stage as the first-ever Tongan to perform there, topped off by the attendance of H.E. Hon. Titilupe Fanetupouvava’u Tu’ivakano, the High Commissioner of Tonga to the United Kingdom. Since then, I have made my role and house debuts as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore at Glyndebourne, Eduardo in The Exterminating Angel by Thomas Adès at the Opéra National de Paris, and Ernesto in Don Pasquale at the Hamburg Staatsoper. Additionally, I won the prestigious Tenor Viñas Competition, one of the most highly regarded opera competitions in the world, known for discovering and nurturing some of the finest operatic talents. Now, I’m at the end of my first season as a full-time freelance artist, and I’m lucky to say that I’ve gone on to make a few more notable role and house debuts since then.
Are there any notable performances or projects you’ve been involved in since winning the competition?
Just because it’s fresh in my mind, I have just finished performing Ferrando in a new production of Così fan tutte at the iconic Wiener Staatsoper. Having sung the arias of this role since I first started studying at university, and then to perform it in the birth country of Mozart, with the iconic orchestra of the Wiener Staatsoper and an amazing team both on and off stage – I’m still pinching myself.
Where are you now based?
I’m currently based in London, but I’m on the hunt for a new base on mainland Europe.
How has winning the Lexus Song Quest helped your career development?
Winning the Lexus Song Quest has been instrumental in my career development. The monetary assistance has helped cover a portion of the immense upfront costs of starting as a freelance artist. Beyond the financial support, it feels special to join a list of winners that includes Dame Malvina Major and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, which is both an honour and a source of inspiration.
What was it like being a part of the Lexus Song Quest experience and then winning it?
As a high school student, I reluctantly attended the Lexus Song Quest at the urging of my music teacher, Claire Caldwell. Ever since that evening, after seeing Aivale Cole win the competition, I made it a goal of mine to at least enter. When I became eligible, I entered the competition, but I never could have imagined that from sitting in the audience of the Auckland Town Hall as a 16-year-old, I would go on to win that same competition 13 years later — it felt like a full-circle moment.
Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations that you’re particularly looking forward to?
I’m back in New Zealand this Christmas for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s annual performance of The Messiah in Wellington – there’s nothing like singing at home for a home audience.
What advice would you give to the Semi-Finalists who are preparing for their Lexus Song Quest journey?
To the Semi-Finalists, my advice would be to embrace every moment of this competition. Use this time to learn as much as you can, not just about your voice, but about yourself as an artist. Stay true to your unique sound and interpretation, as that is what will set you apart. Remember, every great artist has faced challenges, and it’s how you overcome them that shapes your future. Most importantly, enjoy the process and the incredible opportunity to share your talent with others. Kia kaha!
