By RNZ.co.nz
After a glittering Grand Final featuring five wonderful NZ operas singers and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, one has been named the winner with a surprise appearance by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa congratulates Filipe Manu, winner of the Lexus Song Quest 2022 Photo: Hagen Hopkins
The winner of the 2022 Lexus Song Quest is tenor Filipe Manu, a New Zealand-raised Tongan currently based in Bern, Switzerland, where he is a member of the newly founded soloists ensemble of Stadttheater Bern.
First prize is $20,000 and a Study Scholarship of $27,000, plus economy international travel up to the value of $3000.
Filipe Manu, winner of the Lexus Song Quest 2022 Photo: Hagen Hopkins
In second place is soprano Felicity Tomkins, who is currently studying towards her Artist Diploma in Opera Vocal Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of tenor Stuart Skelton. The prize is $10,000 and a Study Scholarship of $10,000 from the Dame Malvina Major Foundation.
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono, a 24-year-old tenor from Hawke’s Bay, won the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation $15,000 scholarship for the singer with exceptional potential. Emmanuel is currently a Dame Malvina Major Studio Artist with New Zealand Opera. He was first introduced to music through learning hymns at church and singing songs with family. Since the age of 16, Emmanuel has been an active member of Hawkeās Bay Youth Initiative āProject Prima Voltaā ā a music programme that helps empower young people through the art of classical music.
Lexus Song Quest 2022, Front L-R Amelia Berry, Filipe Manu, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sarah Hubbard, Felicity Tomkins, Rear Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono & Teddy Tahu Rhodes Photo: Hagen Hopkins
Hotly-contested and judged live on the night, the quest sees five opera hopefuls take the stage in the biggest event of their performing lives, singing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. There is up to $95,000 in prizes and a career-changing title up for grabs in the Lexus Song Quest 2022 Grand Final.
The finalists were Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaonoa, Amelia Berry, Filipe Manu, Sarah Hubbard, and Felicity Tomkins.
RNZ Concert presenter Clarissa Dunn hosted the awards, which was held at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington.
Each finalist performed a song accompanied by pianist Terence Dennis, and two arias accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Judd.
The programme:
FIRST HALF – Songs/Lieder
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
MOORE: The Lake Isle of Innisfree
Amelia Berry
SIBELIUS: Flickan kom ifrƄn sin Ƥlsklings mƶte
Filipe Manu
STRAUSS: Morgen
Sarah Hubbard
DELIBES: Les filles de Cadix
Felicity Tomkins
RACHMANINOV: Dreams
Interval: Clarissa Dunn talks to 2022 Lexus Song Quest judge Teddy Tahu Rhodes about his career since he won the 1991 Song Quest.
SECOND HALF – Arias
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
VERDI: De’ miei bollenti spiriti (La Traviata)
Amelia Berry
MOZART: Ach, ich liebte (The Abduction from the Seraglio)
Filipe Manu
DONIZETTI: Spirto gentil (La favorita)
Sarah Hubbard
MOZART: Durch ZƤrtlichkeit (The Abduction from the Seraglio)
Felicity Tomkins
NICOLAI: Nun eilt herbei (The Merry Wives of Windsor)
Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono
GOUNOD: Ah! lĆØve-toi, soleil! (Romeo et Juliette)
Amelia Berry
DELIBES: OĆ¹ va la jeune Hindoue? (Bell Song, Lakme)
Filipe Manu
GOUNOD: Ah! lĆØve-toi, soleil! (Romeo et Juliette)
Sarah Hubbard
FLOYD: The Trees on the Mountain (Susannah)
Felicity Tomkins
MASSENET: Il est doux, il est bon (HĆ©rodiade)
ORCHESTRAL INTERLUDE
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/James Judd
SMETANA: Vltava (The Moldau)
WINNER ANNOUNCED
Recorded 23 July 2022, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert.
Presenter: Clarissa Dunn, Producer: David McCaw, Engineer: Darryl Stack
