Pene Pati 4000_SF Rigoletto 4 (c) Cory Weaver, SFO
Pene Pati

Pene Pati

Tenor
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“A New Zealander who boasts a lithe and radiant tone, deep theatrical instincts and plenty of charisma”

(San Francisco Chronicle)

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Pene Pati
© M.-Etxeverria, Opéra de Bordeaux
Pati_© Neue Stimmen-

According to Opera Now, Samonan tenor Pene Pati ​“is purely and simply the vocal embodiment of the Duke of Mantua, possessing the vocal swagger, the freshness of voice, and the creative energy that makes the Duke lovable”. Pati debuted in Verdi’s Rigoletto in the 2016/17 season while still an Adler Fellow at San Francisco Opera under Music Director Nicola Luisotti, and to unanimous critical acclaim. Other experience gained during his time with the Company includes the expansion of his repertoire to include Ernesto (Don Pasquale), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Alfredo (La traviata), Des Grieux (Manon) and Roberto Devereux.

Pene Pati came to international attention after numerous high-profile competition successes, taking both Second and Audience Prize at Operalia (2015), Second Prize at Neue Stimmen (2015), First Prize at the Montserrat Caballé International Aria Competition (2014), as well as the prestigious Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge ​‘Bel Canto’ Award (2012).

Since graduating as an Adler Fellow at the end of 2017, Pati has joined New Zealand’s Festival Opera for a new production of Madama Butterfly, appeared as Alfredo for Opera San José, and made his role debut as Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore) for NZ Opera. The current season brings a European operatic debut as Percy (Anna Bolena) at Opéra National de Bordeaux under Paul Daniel, a production of La traviata at Hawaii Opera Theatre, and a recital debut at Matinée Musicale Cincinnati. Pene also appears with the orchestra of Opéra National de Bordeaux and Paul Daniel for his first Carmina Burana.

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Verdi- Rigoletto ‘Moving Moment’ © San Francisco Opera
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Verdi: La traviata - Lunge da lei…De miei bollenti spiriti - Neue Stimmen final 2015 © Neue Stimmen
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Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore - Una furtiva lagrima - Neue Stimmen final 2015 © Neue Stimmen
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Gounod: Faust - Salut, demeure chaste et pure - Neue Stimmen semi-final 2015 © Neue Stimmen
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La traviata © Opera San Jose

“The pain of the text was palpable in ​“Non t’amo piu” and his high notes were electrifying…you could only marvel at the expressive quality and control of his softest phrases, which could effortlessly transition to a stunning climax. His impassioned ​“Core n’grato” was rich, powerful and from the heart.”

(Cincinnati Business Courier, March 2019)

“He sang with warm, Italianate tenor sound and managed adroitly to make his character more than a dim-witted yokel.”

(Opera Magazine, November 2018)

“We can only say that he must be the most exceptional tenor discovery in the last ten years”

(Opéra-Online, November 2018)

“the surprise of the night was tenor Pene Pati, a wonderful discovery as Riccardo Percy…He has an extremely attractive voice, bigger than that of a pure light tenor, very homogeneous throughout the entire range”

(Seen and Heard, November 2018)

“Unquestionably the stars of the show are the young New Zealanders Amina Edris and Pene Pati, as Adina and Nemorino. These are two tremendously exciting young singers with rich, expressive stage personalities…Pati’s striking, powerful voice put his stamp on Una furtive lagrima, making it sound fresh and tender.”

(Scoop Culture, May 2018)

“The central love interest of Amina Edris and Pene Pati offers some absolutely superb, effortless singing, and real dramatic ability.”

(Dominion Post, May 2018)

“Pati, born for the beauties of bel canto, spins an effortless ​‘Una furtiva lagrima’”

(New Zealand Herald, May 2018)

“Pene Pati was making his New York debut and he sang with a beautiful tone in ​“La donna è mobile”

(Opera Wire, December 2017)

“His ​“La donna è mobile” revealed a gleaming tenor with effortless high notes. No wonder he has an array of awards and prizes that would be the envy of any young opera singer.”

(Seen & Heard, December 2017)

“The fluency and brilliance of Pene Pati’s singing, most notably, is a delight that never stales”

(San Francisco Chronicle, December 2017)

“tenor Pene Pati showed off a warm, powerful voice in a selection from Donizetti’s unfinished opera Il Duca d’Alba. It was a good choice, with plenty of the high notes where Pene has such thrilling squillo.”

(San Francisco Classical Voice, December 2017)

“Ingénu tenor Pene Pati is purely and simply the vocal embodiment of the Duke of Mantua, possessing the vocal swagger, the freshness of voice, and the creative energy that makes the Duke, indeed all youth, lovable. The artistic achievement of this debut in a major role on a major stage was formidable, this young artist fusing surprisingly graceful stage movement with nearly impeccable vocal delivery. And there was solid tenorial attitude. Aplenty.”

(Opera Today, June 2017)

“Tenor Pene Pati made his San Francisco Opera debut as the Duke of Mantua…[he] was an absolute revelation. He has a sweet, honeyed timbre and his top notes appear to be effortless. His phrasing, expression and breath control are superb”

(Bachtrack, June 2017)

“the Duke of Mantua, sung by tenor and Adler fellow Pene Pati. Pati comes across as an almost boyish, though exuberantly puckish, playboy…[his voice] was clarion clear and hit all the high notes, most notably in his Act 3 showpiece aria ​“La donna è mobile.”

(San Francisco Examiner, June 2017)

“For sheer tonal pleasure, Pati’s Duke made a connection. His tenor was buttery and suavely delivered.”

(San Francisco Chronicle, June 2017)

“It seemed luxury casting to have the rising New Zealand tenor Pene Pati as the messenger.”

(Opera Magazine, February 2017)

“Pati in a sumptuous, broad-beamed account of Verdi’s ​“Quando le sere al placido” from Luisa Miller.”

(San Francisco Chronicle, December 2016)

“Tenor Pene Pati was an unusually vivid and powerful Messenger”

(San Francisco Classical Voice, November 2016)

“runner-up was the New Zealander Pene Pati; in ​‘Tomba degli avi miei’ from Lucia di Lammermoor his tone floated beautifully, and he has thrust and passion to spare at the top”

(Opera Magazine, September 2015)

“By far the most talented and promising singer was the Samoan-born Aucklander tenor Darren Pene Pati, who sang Tombe degli avi miei…[he] had a wonderful Italianate sound and superb vocal control harnessed to subtle phrasing [and] could effortless fill the Royal Opera House.”

(Seen & Heard, July 2015)

“New Zealander Darren Pene Pati was the one with the special tenor voice. Unsurprisingly, he took the audience prize for male singer.”

(Financial Times, July 2015)

“Unspoken but unignorable is the pressure for young opera singers to own the stage and inhabit a character. Hence the golden-voiced New Zealand tenor Darren Pene Pati won the audience prize with Donizetti’s Tombe degli avi miei”

(The Times, July 2015)

“First up was Pene Pati, a New Zealander who boasts a lithe and radiant tone, deep theatrical instincts and plenty of charisma…In the final scene from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, he gave a full-throated, suavely phrased performance, replete with ardour and elegance and driving to a thrilling, perfectly placed high note.”

(San Francisco Chronicle)

“You will know him for years to come, and thrill to his voice of golden trumpet just as the crowded house in San Francisco did tonight…Pati took the final note [in the final scene of Lucia di Lammermoor], with an open-throated, flawless, powerful high D…and held it pure and solid, not a show-off, just a peak moment, which seemed to go on for minutes.”

(San Francisco Examiner)
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