Arrowtown opera singer Austin Haynes, left, performs in The Butterfly Lovers in Singapore last year. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
The 23-year-old countertenor is one of five finalists who’ll perform at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre, vying for a share of $92,000 in prizes, including a $50,000 cash prize for the winner.
Dating back 68 years, the opera singing competition has launched the careers of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated singers, including Dame Malvina Major, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Phillip Rhodes, Sol3 Mio’s Amitai Pati and Jonathan Lemalu.
The other finalists are mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg (Ngāhinapōuri, Waipa), Kiwi-born Tongan tenor Manase Latu, Maori bass Morgan-Andrew King (Taharoa, Waikato) and South African-born soprano Tayla Alexander.
