Concert Review - Sol3 Mio, Auckland New Zealand, 2017

Sol3 Mio

23rd December 2017
Villa Maria Estate, Auckland, New Zealand.

Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Matt Henry Mendonca.

Auckland has many an impressive music venue, but when it comes to outdoor concerts, it is hard to go past a night at the beautiful Villa Maria Estate Estate. In what has now almost become a tradition, Sol3 Mio have once again returned to Villa Maria as part of their eight date ‘Christmas and Summer Tour’ around the country.

Patrons entering the venue were created by the wonderfully lush greens of the vineyards surrounding the Christmas themed stage in the middle, oversized presents piled on each corner with strings of lights hanging overhead. While not quite the perfect summer evening – the overhanging clouds and a bit of a breeze making it a little chilly during the first half of the set – spirits were high as the audience partook in the many varieties of wine on sale and soaked it up with a fine array of food; which ranged from dumplings and Asian slaw right down to donna kebabs and the good ole traditional kiwi hot chips with lashings of tom sauce.

MC for the night Jason Reeves kicked off proceedings by playing a bit of a question game – asking people to raise their hands if they had a grey car; the end of the game resulting in one embarrassed patron making their way rather quickly for the gates when it was revealed that they had left said grey car running.

As conductor Mr David Kay lead the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra – who all looked absolutely stunning – on stage the trio that are Sol3 Mio entered in what had to be some of the finest suits in town, the crowd erupting in applause at their appearance. Beginning the evening in breathtaking style ‘Torna A Surriento’ had the audience transfixed; that was until Amitai Pati began to sing and his brother Pene walked over and started to brush his shoulder, the audience bursting into laughter as Pene looked straight into the camera and gave one of his signature smiles.

Sol3 Mio a wonderful play on the Samoan slang for brother and the Italian word for ‘My’ have during their career managed to do something that many would have thought impossible, they have made opera cool, an art form for the younger generations to crave, and a career to aspire to. Mixing the traditional with a humour that only two brothers and a cousin could bring to the stage, Sol3 Mio have had three number one albums in New Zealand, their popularity having no bounds when it comes to the New Zealand demographic.

Indeed the audience ranges in age from babes in arms to the very elderly, but all obviously love each and every second of the musical beauty flowing from the stage. Following their rendition of ‘Marechiare’ the trio quickly moved into the more Christmas themed portion of the first half of the set, songs such as ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and ‘Rockin Around the Christmas Tree’ triggering a sing-a-long amongst those fans that quite obviously love Christmas more than any other time of the year.

After teasing their dear cousin Moses and telling him he was no longer required on stage, Pene and Amitai delivered an astounding version of ‘La Donna E’ Mobile’ from Rigoletto; explaining to the audience that not only had both the brothers recently performed together in the title roles, but Pene’s wife, the Egyptian born opera singer Amina Edris had also performed right alongside them in the role of the countess; easily a moment of pride for both of their families. But it was Bizets Pearl Fishers Duet performed by Pene and Moses that brought the first of many tears to the eye, Pene’s operatic tenor intertwining with Moses baritone to produce something so utterly moving you would have had to be made of stone not to have been touched. Dropping back again into their more audience focused routine the trio soon had a fan up on stage and were serenading her with ‘Maria’ from Westside Story while jokingly calling her Patricia in the very next breath, their cheeky smiles even having the APO laughing along with them.

For all of their talent and outstanding on stage presence, there was only one song this evening that just didn’t quite gel, the appearance of special guest singer Bic Runga not even managing to redeem it; ‘Fairytale of New York’ by The Pogues just requiring that far heavier and raucous touch to truly make it work, the song having to be heavily edited due to the family nature of the show not doing it any favours.

In a well scheduled program the interval gave the audience a chance to grab some more sustenance before settling in for the second half of the night which was led by the angelic voices of the Dilworth Choir who regaled all with a medley of traditional Christmas hymns before the trio once again returned to the stage – sans jackets – to deliver a few more musical treats. Jokes of Pene being “salty” over the fact that he still did not have fibre at his house were a nice intro into an original Christmas tune written by Moses Mackay entitled ‘Return to Santa’, the trio displaying their skills in the instrument department as well as they moved from piano to double bass, Pene choosing to play the tambourine “like a rattlesnake!”

The 1949 Robert Alex Anderson song ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ was followed by a dedication to the Pati brothers father; ‘Blue Bayou’ seeing many sing the words quietly to themselves as they let the trio on stage carry it away. However when both ‘Volare’ and ‘Delilah’ were delivered the audience held nothing back as they jumped from their seats and gave it everything they had, the comradery between complete strangers making the night just that ever bit more special. A stirring speech by Pene in regards to just how far he has come in his career – Pene recently being awarded The Freddy Award for Best Emerging Opera Singer and being compared to the one and only Luciano Pavarotti – had many of the fans gifting him a well-deserved standing ovation. The trio’s version of ‘Time To Say Goodbye’ also saw the audience of thousands rise to their feet; Sol3 Mio proving that they are indeed world class as their voices ascended effortlessly into the night sky. Fans raising their red glow sticks and phone lights on high, swayed in unison, many overcome emotionally by what can only be described as flawless singing. The trio linking arms with conductor David Kay then finished the evening appropriately on Auld Lang Syne, their wishes of peace and love to one and all genuinely heartfelt.

An undoubtedly uplifting night for one and all, long may this Christmas tradition continue.

Sol3 Mio perform live in AUckland, New Zealand 2017. Image by Matt Henry Photography.

Were you there at Villa Maria Estate for this beautiful Christmas show? Or have you seen Sol3 Mio perform live some other time? Tell us about it in the comments below!