Sāmoan tenor debuts at the Met Opera

Singing sensation Pene Pati has wowed audiences at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera in New York.

The Sāmoa-born tenor performed as the lecherous Duke in the Italian libretto Rigoletto by Guiseppe Verdi.

As the womanising Duke of Mantua, Pati sang the iconic aria La donna è mobile, directly translated as ‘Woman is fickle’.

The Metropolitan Opera is the largest classical music organisation in North America, and ticket prices for the performances range from NZ$160 to NZ$1200.

Pati, whose parents immigrated to Māngere in 1989, said it was an honour to represent Sāmoa and Aotearoa.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey, allowing me to get to this stage.”

After the premiere, Pati gifted a Sāmoan ula necklance to cast mate and lead soprano, Erin Morley, who raved about the performance.

“There is nothing quite like the energy of a Met opening night, Monday was electric," Morley said.

“Huge congratulations to my friend Pene Pati for his Met debut … sweetest tenor around.”

Tenor Pene Pati performs as the Duke in Verdi's Rigoletti. Photo/Met Opera

His achievement follows a season of La Bohème with the Royal Ballet and Opera in London, where he featured in the main cast alongside his wife, soprano Amina Edris.

Pati is part of the Sol3 Mio trio alongside Moses Mackay and his brother Amitai Pati.

The Metropolitan Opera performance will be broadcast on RNZ Concert on Saturday, 18 January, from 7pm.