Tenor: My Name Is Pati

I love documentaries that come out of nowhere and cover topics I never thought I would be interested in. Rebecca Tansley’s films, Tenor: My Name Is Patiis the story of one of the greatest operatic tenors of this generation. You won’t know who he is or where he came from.

The person I am talking about is Pene Pati, the eldest son of the Samoan family. His father ran a strict household but was also musical. On Sundays, Pene was forced to join the church choir, and then spent years singing for the elderly at the nursing home where her parents worked as nurses. Next to him was his older brother, Amitai, who stood by the uncomfortable Pene and gave him courage and support. Penne, who was gifted with a rich, clear tenor voice, was excluded from the school rugby team. HMS PinaforePeople are starting to notice.

In college, Pene Bohemia And without understanding a word of Italian, he was hooked. Singing became a dream he pursued. In 2009, he won the New Zealand National Arias Competition and was accepted to the School of Music in Cardiff, Wales. Needing to raise money for second year tuition, Pene teamed up with Amitai and their close friend, baritone Moses Mackay, to form Sol3 Mio, a trio that blended opera, pop and Samoan music.

Back home, their album went platinum. But success came with a problem. They raised enough money for Amitai and Moses, but not for Pene. Samoan values ​​of humility and putting others first meant he stayed home while his brothers and friends took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Penet’s decision would cost him dearly, as it was seen as a sign of weakness and evidence that he did not have the passion to pursue opera… Or so they say.

“In college, Pene saw the following productions: Bohemia And without understanding a word of Italian, he was hooked. Singing became a dream he pursued.”

I remember thinking it was going to be a long play when I hit it, and then Pene Pati started singing. His beautiful tenor voice stopped me in my tracks, and I could only watch his story unfold.

His deep Samoan roots are present from frame one. Family and culture are everything to him, and he can carry his culture anywhere in the world. He is a big man with a gentle soul who always blames others before himself. The Pati family was poor by Western standards, so their rise to fame was not easy. His first job out of college was hardly a job at all. He taught himself to become a sound engineer at school, but the school couldn’t afford to pay him.

Pene’s hard work and dedication will ultimately pay off. His talent was irresistible to anyone with an opera background. His infectious smile is irresistible. This says a lot about the idea of ​​merit. Pene is not where he is because of his Samoan heritage or because the opera community needs to diversify. Pene is where he is today because of true talent. He is a great tenor. period. The fact that he was accepted to the San Francisco Opera in one audition says it all.

Why watch Tenor: My Name Is Pati That person is Pene Pati. He is a true example of how far good nature and talent and a brilliant human being can take you. Even better, even if you’re not an opera fan right now… The thing is, you might be an opera fan by the time the credits roll.

For screening information, please visit: Tenor: My Name Is Pati Official website.