Opera trio SOL3 MIO promise special show

SOL3 MIO will be performing at Napier Municipal Theatre.

The powerful voices of three Kiwi opera singers have made an impression across the globe - now Hawke's Bay audiences get to experience SOL3 MIO at two sold-out shows.

The trio are back with two "extra-special" performances at Napier Municipal Theatre, following news that Hawke's Bay Opera House will be closing its doors for earthquake assessment.

"It's a shame we can't play at the Opera House, but we understand that public safety must come first," SOL3 MIO's Pene Pati said.

"Fortunately, we can move the show just down the road to the Municipal Theatre - Amitai, Moses and I will make sure that this show is extra special."

Co-promoter Campbell Smith from Civic Events apologised for the move, saying circumstances were out of their hands and unavoidable.

"We hope fans can make it to the replacement show in Napier; if they are unable to do so, there will be a full refund."

Nimon and Sons will be running a return bus service from Hawke's Bay Opera House and Havelock North Information Centre to the new venue for $20.

Comprising two tenor brothers, Pene and Amitai Pati from Mangere, and their North Shore baritone cousin Moses Mackay, SOL3 MIO combines moving operatic voices with a dash of Samoan humour.

Their first concert in Hawke's Bay was held at Black Barn Vineyard in Havelock North last month and makes their return all the more exciting.

"That was something quite special, it's something we weren't expecting at all, there were a lot of people who came out to see us, which was amazing," Mackay said.

"We really enjoyed Napier and Hawke's Bay so we are looking forward to being back."

Their power as a trio is undeniable, but how the lads first came together was a stroke of luck. "We were all individual singers but before all this, we went to the same university, sung in the New Zealand Youth Choir so our background was almost identical - we were all chasing the opera dream.

"It was a really spontaneous thing when we got up on stage together - the brothers bond between us comes naturally - someone piped up and said, 'hey, you should be a group'."

Within a year, all three were chosen to go to Wales for tuition under the highly esteemed Dennis O'Neill - which cost over $100,000. They launched SOL3 MIO with a series of fund-raisers to get them there - beginning with a half-filled hall at Massey High School, and ending with a sell-out at Auckland's Town Hall.

Their self-titled album was recently released and not only features their singing abilities but instrumental skills. " ... we recorded it in London, at Real World Studios ... we had all these ideas and they said 'but who plays the instruments' we were like 'we do' - everything on there is us."

SOL3 MIO will perform at Napier Municipal Theatre on Tuesday, March 11 and Wednesday, March 12.