Manase Latu is a Tongan tenor with First Class Honours as a Bachelor of Music from the University of Auckland and a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music in London as a Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Scholar. Most recently, Manase completed the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, making his Met debut in the 2021-22 season as Second Player in Hamlet. He participated in the annual Lindemann Program recital series held at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, sang the role of a Trojan Soldier in Idomeneo and the First Guard in The Magic Flute. He was a former Dame Malvina Major Emerging Artist and Freemason’s Artist, helping him land major roles with the New Zealand Opera and Auckland Philharmonic.
Manase was the recipient of the University of Auckland’s 40 under 40 award, Circle100 Scholarship, finalist in the 2018 Lexus Song Quest, winner of the New Zealand Aria Competition, and the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. This year he is performing Rossini’s Le Comte Ory as the title role.
