Samoan Tenor Pene Pati Rises to Opera Stardom

Once doubted, the New Zealand-raised singer has become one of opera's most-watched new talents.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Pene Pati, a 38-year-old Samoan tenor from New Zealand, has risen to become one of opera's most promising young stars. Despite being cautioned as a 20-year-old not to pursue an opera career, Pati has gone on to perform at top opera houses around the world, including recent debuts at the Paris Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera in London, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Why it matters

Pati's success story challenges stereotypes about who can succeed in the traditionally European-dominated world of opera. His rise from doubted Samoan singer to international opera star inspires hope and representation for other aspiring artists from underrepresented backgrounds.

The details

Pati, who now lives in Paris, has had a meteoric rise in the opera world over the past decade. After winning a music competition in Australia and studying at the Wales International Academy of Voice, he entered the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program in 2013. He went on to become an Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera in 2016 and made his company debut that year as the Duke in Verdi's 'Rigoletto'. Since then, he has debuted at major opera houses across Europe and the US, including the Paris Opera, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera in London, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

  • Pati entered the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program in 2013.
  • Pati became an Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera in 2016.
  • Pati made his San Francisco Opera debut as the Duke in Verdi's 'Rigoletto' in 2017.
  • Pati made his European opera debut in Bordeaux, France in 2018.
  • Pati made his debut at the Paris Opera in 2021, the Vienna State Opera in 2022, the Royal Opera in London in 2024, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2025.

The players

Pene Pati

A 38-year-old Samoan tenor from New Zealand who has risen to become one of opera's most promising young stars, performing at top opera houses around the world.

Robert Wiremu

Pati's vocal coach who initially cautioned him against pursuing an opera career, saying 'Don't be afraid if you don't make it'.

Amina Edris

Pati's wife and occasional recital partner, whom he met during auditions for the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program in 2013.

Peter Gelb

The general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, who said 'He's a tenor with enormous potential'.

Raphaël Pichon

The conductor who chose Pati to perform in his first staged performances of Massenet's 'Werther' at the Opéra Comique in Paris.

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What they’re saying

“Lots of people want to become a singer because they want the lifestyle. Whereas for me, I did it out of spite, to be honest. It was somebody who said: `Don't be angry if you don't cut it as an opera singer because as a Polynesian, there are not many opera singers.' And that part of me thought: How do I prove him wrong?”

— Pene Pati (WBAL)

“He didn't say I wasn't a good singer. He just said: `Don't be afraid if you don't make it.'”

— Pene Pati (WBAL)

“The moment he set a foot on stage, it became electric. When he's around, it's like the sun is here suddenly.”

— Adèle Charvet, mezzo-soprano (WBAL)

“He's such a warm person in real life and that openness, it translates to something very honest with the audience. Without planning this we went down a quite extreme path with the character in the way he went towards these inward explosions rather than the outward ones.”

— Ted Huffman, director (WBAL)

“The most important thing about Pene for me is just humanity. It's a man who wants to share, wants to communicate his passion, his music. It's properly unique, how solar, how luminous is this man.”

— Raphaël Pichon, conductor (WBAL)

What’s next

Pati will return to the Metropolitan Opera next season to perform in Puccini's 'La Bohème'. He will also make his debut at Milan's Teatro alla Scala this summer, singing the role of Edgardo in Donizetti's 'Lucia di Lammermoor'.

The takeaway

Pene Pati's remarkable rise from a doubted Samoan singer to an internationally acclaimed opera star challenges stereotypes and inspires hope for aspiring artists from underrepresented backgrounds. His warm, charismatic stage presence and commitment to sharing his passion for music have made him one of opera's most watched new talents.