NZ opera a rare sell-out: 'We don't have to rehearse the romantic scenes'
Internationally acclaimed opera singers Pene Pati and Amina Edris are starring in a rare sell-out production of Jules Massenet's 'Manon' in Wellington, New Zealand. The real-life couple brings personal chemistry to the doomed romance, which is being celebrated as a significant cultural event for the capital.
Why it matters
The production highlights the growing prestige of New Zealand's opera scene and the global success of Pacific and Middle Eastern performers in classical arts.
Kiwi-Samoan tenor Pene Pati and Kiwi-Egyptian soprano Amina Edris star in the French opera Manon.
Morning Report Ingrid Hipkiss and John Campbell 4 August 2026 3 min read Caption: Amina Edris and Pene Pati Photo credit: Supplied Wellington Opera's season of Manon , one of the most popular works in French opera, is a sellout, very rare for a New Zealand opera.
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