Manase Latu Wins IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition
Congratulations to tenor Manase Latu (23), who won the 2019 Marianne Mathy Scholarship (‘The Mathy’) in the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Prize, as well as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Prize with his performance of Tradito, Schernito from Mozart’s Così fan tutte. As part of The Mathy, Manase Latu also received Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center Audition Prize, Lili Ussher Portrait, Oral History Award and The The Mathy statuette
Congratulations also to Bianca Bacchiella, (Royal Northern College of Music Award, Merenda Legacy Prize), Josi Ann Ellem (Noëmi Nadelmann Prize, Canberra Symphony Orchestra Prize), Rebecca Hart (Guildhall School of Music & Drama Award, Nelly Apt Prize, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs Prize and the MOST® Audience Prize) and Samson Setu (International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI) New York Scholarship and the Saarbrücken Opera House Prize).
All Finalists received the Opera Australia Prize.
Dr Nicholas Milton AM and the Opera Australia Orchestra accompanied the finalists and entertained the audience with thrilling performances of Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin, The Light Cavalry Overture by von Suppe, Finlandia by Sibelius and a sprightly version of Tico Tico.
Guest Artist Isabella Moore (2014 Mathy Winner) opened the second half of the concert with Verdi’s ‘Morrò, ma prima in grazia’ from Un ballo in maschera.
The winners were determined by the adjudication panel comprising Noëmi Nadelmann (National Adjudicator), Jeffrey Black, Joanne Goodman and Narelle Yeo.
The finals concert was recorded live at the Chatswood Concourse, Sydney on 19 September 2019 by ABC Classic and will be broadcast on ABC Classic FM.
